Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland)

Transcription

1 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland)

2 2 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Contents Introduction Introduction Retiring Normal Retirement (at age 65)... 7 Early Retirement at your request (before age 65)...7 Reductions to benefits on Early Retirement Early Retirement through Redundancy or Business Efficiency... 8 Flexible Retirement Late Retirement (after age 65)... 9 Deferring drawing your pension Ill-health Retirement... 9 Payment of deferred benefits Pension Credit Members The Rule of How are my retirement benefits worked out? Membership Final Pensionable Pay Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) How is my pension calculated?...15 Examples of pension calculations What options do I have on retirement? What are my options if I have been making extra contributions to boost my retirement benefits? What if my employer awards me additional pension and/or additional membership? What happens if I take up other employment after I retire? Can my pension be reduced or forfeited? Can I assign my Scheme benefits to someone else?....20

3 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 3 How are my retirement benefits paid and increased? What happens if payment of my benefits is delayed? How is my pension increased? Qualification for pensions increases When will the increase be paid? Who pays the increase? How will my Pensions Increase be calculated? How is the increase payable from the DWP calculated? Example of Pensions Increase Calculation How can I find out the amount of my GMP? What happens if I am not receiving GMP increases from the DWP? What effect will Income Tax have on my increased pension? Life Cover Life Cover - protection for your family What benefits will be paid if I die after retiring on pension? Death Grant Expression of Wish Form What are the conditions for a nominated cohabiting partner s survivor s pension? What if my pension is subject to a Pension Sharing Order/Earmarking Order? What effect does a GMP have on my survivor s pension? HMRC HMRC Tax Rules Helpful Information Definitions of Terms Help with Pension Problems Data Protection Act How to contact us Contact Details... 43

4 1: Introduction The information contained in this Retirement Guide applies to members who contributed to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) on or after 1st April This Guide is for general use and cannot cover every personal circumstance, nor does it cover specific protected rights that apply to a very limited number of employees. In the event of any dispute as to benefits due under the Scheme the appropriate legislation will prevail. This Guide does not confer any contractual or statutory rights and is provided for information purposes only.

5 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 5 Introduction This guide gives a description of the main retirement benefits that apply if you pay into the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland), hereafter known as the Scheme, on or after 1 April The Scheme is a final salary scheme and is administered by the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC). A final salary scheme means that the benefits paid under the Scheme are based on the length of your membership and your final pay. The benefits payable are an annual pension and the option to exchange part of your pension for a tax-free lump sum. If you were a member of the Scheme before 1st April 2009 you will have an automatic entitlement to a lump sum based on your membership before this date. The Scheme is expected to change to a career average pension scheme from 1 April This change affects how pensions are built up from 1 April 2015 and will not affect any pensions that are already in payment. These retirement benefits and other matters relating to retirement are explained in detail in this guide.

6 2: Retiring The Scheme s normal retirement age is 65.

7 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 7 Retiring The Scheme s normal retirement age is 65. You can retire and receive your Scheme benefits without any reductions from age 65. You may decide to retire earlier, or you may have to retire, perhaps because of redundancy or permanent ill-health. Your Scheme benefits, even in these circumstances, can provide you with an immediate retirement pension which could be enhanced. There is one important condition to be entitled to retirement benefits you must have been a member of the Scheme for at least three months, or have brought in a transfer from another pension scheme, or already have a deferred benefit elsewhere in the Scheme. Those who apply for illhealth benefits must have one year of membership in the Scheme. There are specific rules relating to each type of retirement, so this section looks at the different ways of retiring, and the implications. Normal Retirement (at age 65) The Scheme s normal retirement age is 65. You can retire and receive your Scheme benefits without any reductions from age 65. Early Retirement at your request (before age 65) Early retirement is available but you may need your employer s consent and your benefits may be reduced. If you are aged 60 to 64 You can retire and receive payment of your benefits at any time from age 60 onwards, and you do not need your employer s consent. If you are aged 55 to 59 You may be able to retire and receive payment of your benefits immediately but this is only possible with your employer s consent. Your employer will have a policy about how it deals with these applications. You can ask your employer for details of its policy. Reductions to benefits on Early Retirement If you choose to retire before age 65, your benefits may be reduced to take account of being paid for longer. How much your benefits are reduced by depends on how early you draw them. The reduction is based on the length of time (in years and days) that you retire early from the date your benefits are paid to age 65. The earlier you retire, the greater the reduction. However, if you were contributing to the Scheme on 30 September 2006, some or all of your benefits paid early could be protected from the reduction under what is called the Rule of 85. Please see the section on the Rule of 85. The reduction is calculated in accordance with guidance issued by the Government Actuary s Department. As a guide, the percentage reductions for retirements up

8 8 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) No. of years paid early Pension reduction Men Pension reduction Women Lump Sum Reduction % 6% 11% 16% 21% 25% 0% 6% 11% 15% 20% 24% 0% 3% 6% 8% 11% 14% to five years early are shown in the table above, which was issued in January Where the number of years is not exact, the reduction percentages are adjusted accordingly. If your benefits are paid more than five years early, the percentages shown above will differ. Your employer can agree to waive any reduction on compassionate grounds, but your employer must have a policy on this. If you wish to have reductions waived on compassionate grounds, please speak directly to your employer. Early Retirement through Redundancy or Business Efficiency If your employer makes you redundant, or you are retired on the grounds of business efficiency, and you are aged 55 or over, your benefits are payable immediately without any early retirement reductions. As these pension benefits are being paid early there is a cost to the Scheme. In the event of redundancy or efficiency this cost for early release of benefits is met by your employer. Your employer may also enhance your benefits at its discretion. Your employer can award you with up to ten years additional membership to improve your retirement benefits. It can also grant you up to 5,000 extra annual pension. Please note that these are discretions your employer can use if it so wishes. It must have a policy on when it will award additional pension or additional membership and you should contact your employer directly if you wish to enquire about this. t Flexible Retirement Can I have a gradual move into retirement? From age 55, if you reduce your hours or move to a less senior position on a reduced pay scale, and provided your employer agrees, you can draw some or all of the pension benefits you have built up helping you ease into retirement. As you will still be working for a Scheme employer, you will continue paying into the Scheme and building up further membership in the Scheme until you fully retire, unless you choose to opt out. Your employer must have a policy on flexible retirement and you should contact your employer directly if you wish to look into this option.

9 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 9 Will my pension and lump sum be reduced if I take flexible retirement? If you take flexible retirement before age 65, your benefits may be reduced to take account of their early payment unless your employer agrees to waive the reduction in whole or in part or you meet the Rule of 85. Please see section on 'The Rule of 85'. If you take flexible retirement after age 65, your benefits will be increased to reflect late payment. Membership built up to the date of flexible retirement will count in your continuing employment to decide whether you have the three months minimum membership to qualify for a benefit when you finally leave your continuing employment, but will not count towards any Rule of 85 protections you may have had. Late Retirement (after age 65) If you carry on working after age 65 you will continue to pay into the Scheme, building up further benefits. We will pay your pension when you retire, or when you reach the eve of your 75th birthday, or if you take flexible retirement with your employer s consent, whichever occurs first. If you draw your pension after age 65, it will be increased to reflect the fact that it was not paid at the normal retirement age of 65. Your pension has to be paid by your 75th birthday. Deferring drawing your pension If you wish, you may defer drawing your pension, even though you have stopped working. However, your pension must be paid by your 75th birthday. Your pension will be increased to reflect the fact that it was not paid at retirement. Ill-health Retirement If you have to leave work at any age due to permanent ill-health which prevents you from doing your job and you have at least one year s Scheme membership, the Scheme provides a tiered ill-health retirement package. To qualify for ill-health benefits, the Committee must be satisfied that you will be permanently unable to do your own job and have a reduced likelihood of being capable of undertaking another job before age 65. The Committee s decision is based on a report from an independent registered medical practitioner qualified in occupational health medicine and appointed by the Committee. Ill-health benefits can be paid at any age and are not reduced on account of early payment. The pension benefits payable are dependent on the severity of the illness and are described below: If you are permanently incapable of doing your own job and have no reasonable prospect of being capable of undertaking gainful employment before age 65, the pension is based on accrued membership plus 100% of prospective membership between leaving and age 65.

10 10 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) If you are permanently incapable of doing your own job and have a reasonable prospect of being capable of undertaking gainful employment before age 65, then the pension is based on accrued membership plus 25% of prospective membership between leaving and age 65. Gainful employment is defined as paid employment for not less than 30 hours in each week for a period of not less than 12 months. Permanently incapable is defined as the member will, more likely than not, be incapable until, at the earliest, his 65th birthday. If you work part-time, any extra membership awarded due to ill-health retirement will be reduced to reflect your part-time hours at leaving. For example, a 45 year old part-time employee who works 18 hours per week where the full-time equivalent is 36 hours would have one of the following enhancements applied in the event of his/her permanent ill-health. If the member is awarded 100% enhancement (tier 1), the prospective membership between age 45 and age 65 is 20 years. As the member is working 18/36 hours, the enhancement is calculated as follows: 20 years x 18/36 = 10 years If the member is awarded 25% enhancement (tier 2), he/she is eligible for 25% of the prospective membership to age % of the prospective membership to age 65 would be 5 years and the part-time enhancement would then be calculated as follows: Payment of deferred benefits If you left your employment before you were entitled to a pension, your benefits will have remained in the Scheme and are known as deferred benefits. Your benefits will have been calculated at your date of leaving and will be increased by Pensions Increase Orders until the date they come into payment. Deferred benefits normally come into payment at age 65, but may be paid earlier if you have Rule of 85 protections. If you wish to draw your pension benefits earlier than age 65, you may apply to do so but your benefits may be reduced in line with the Reductions to benefits on Early Retirement section. Alternatively, you may make an application to have the benefits brought into payment before age 65, without reduction, on the grounds of ill-health. Pension Credit Members If you are entitled to a benefit from the Scheme as a result of a court ordered Pension Share on divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, your benefits will be payable from age 65. These benefits will have been calculated at the date of divorce or dissolution and will increase in line with Pensions Increase Orders until the date they come into payment. If you wish to draw your pension benefits earlier than age 65, you may apply to do so but your benefits will be reduced in line with the Reductions to benefits on Early Retirement section. 5 years x 18/36 = 2.5 years

11 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 11 The Rule of 85 The Rule of 85 refers to a provision of the Scheme which allowed members who retired early to take their pension entitlements, without actuarial reduction, if the sum of their age and length of membership equalled 85 years or more. For the purposes of this rule, part-time membership counts towards the Rule of 85 at its full calendar length, for example, ten years part-time membership will count as ten years towards meeting the Rule of 85, although the membership which your pension benefits are based on will be the whole-time equivalent. Members over age 60 could retire early without needing their employer s consent; members over age 50 but less than age 60 required their employer s consent. Those existing members at 30 September 2006 who will be 60 or over and meet the Rule of 85 between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2020 will have full Rule of 85 protection to 31 March 2008 and have some Rule of 85 protection, on a sliding scale, to 31 March As this is a complex rule, you should contact NILGOSC for a quotation of the benefits payable if you are considering early retirement or flexible retirement before age 65. The Rule of 85 was abolished on 1 October 2006 in order to comply with the European Union Directive on Age Discrimination. Anyone who joined the Scheme after 30 September 2006 will have his or her pension benefits actuarially reduced if he/she retires before age 65 to take account of early payment. Existing members, who were contributing to the Scheme on 30 September 2006, have some Rule of 85 protections. These protections are as follows: All existing members at 30 September 2006 are protected until 31 March 2008 i.e. the benefits you accrue up to 31 March 2008 will be protected under the Rule of 85. Those existing members at 30 September 2006 who will be 60 or over and meet the 85 year rule by 31 March 2016 are fully protected i.e. the benefits you accrue up to 31 March 2016 will be protected under the Rule of 85.

12 3: How are my retirement benefits worked out? The two main factors used to calculate your Scheme pension are: your membership in the Scheme, and your final pensionable pay

13 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 13 How are my retirement benefits worked out? Your pension is based on your total membership in the Scheme and normally the pensionable pay you receive in your final year of service. If you work part-time, your Scheme membership will be converted to its whole-time equivalent length when working out your pension and your final pay is increased to what you would have received had you worked whole-time. Your Scheme benefits are made up of: An annual pension that, after leaving, increases every year in line with the cost of living for the rest of your life, and The option to exchange part of your pension for a tax-free lump sum paid on retirement. If you were a member before 1 April 2009 you will have an automatic entitlement to a lump sum relating to your membership before this date plus the option to exchange part of your pension for a bigger lump sum. The two main factors used to calculate your Scheme pension are: your membership in the Scheme, and your final pensionable pay. Membership The first important element used in working out your pension is your membership. This normally includes: The number of years and days you have been a contributing Scheme member (with part-time employment converted to its whole-time equivalent length) but excluding the following: membership for which you already receive a Scheme pension or hold a deferred Scheme pension. membership from any concurrent job you may have, and any Scheme membership in respect of which you have received a refund or have transferred the pension rights to another scheme. Membership purchased by a transfer from another scheme. Membership transferred in from another scheme will count as pre 1 April 2009 membership if you were contributing to the Scheme on 31 March 2009; otherwise it will count as post 31 March 2009 membership. Any extra membership you have bought with additional contributions. Any extra membership awarded by your employer. Any extra membership awarded by the Scheme if you are retired because of permanent ill-health.

14 14 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Although the calendar length of your membership is used to decide if you are eligible for a benefit, your membership is reduced to its whole-time equivalent length to calculate the amount of your retirement benefits. For example, if you work half-time for ten years, your benefits would be calculated on five years membership, but the pay used would be scaled up to a whole-time equivalent. Final Pensionable Pay The other important element used in working out your benefits is your final pensionable pay. Pensionable pay is the total of all salary, wages and payments such as contractual overtime, shift allowance, bonus, acting up allowance or any other taxable benefit specified in your contract as being pensionable. It does not include: non-contractual overtime travelling or subsistence allowance pay in lieu of holidays payment in lieu of notice to terminate a contract of employment payment as an inducement not to terminate employment payment to buy out an existing term or condition of employment compensation for the purposes of achieving equal pay in relation to other employees or any amount treated as the money value for the provision of a motor vehicle. Your retirement benefits will normally be calculated on your final year s pensionable pay. However, your benefits can be calculated on one of the two previous years pay if better and, if you downgrade in your last ten years with your employer, you have the option to notify NILGOSC in writing, at least one month prior to your date of leaving, that you wish to have your benefits based on the average of any three consecutive years in the last ten years (ending on a 31 March). If you are working part-time when you leave the Scheme, or worked part-time at some point during your last year of membership, your final pay is the wholetime pay that you would have received if you had worked whole-time. If your pay is reduced in your last year because of sickness, your final pay will be the pay that you would have received if you had not been off sick. If you have maternity, paternity or adoption leave in your final pay period for which you paid (or are deemed to have paid) pension contributions, final pay includes the pay you would have received had you not been on maternity, paternity or adoption leave. If your pay was reduced or restricted for reasons beyond your control before 1 April 2009, you may have been issued with a Certificate of Protection from your employer. If you have been issued with this certificate and leave the Scheme within ten years of the reduction or restriction in your pay, then we will work out your final pay as the best year s pay in the last three years, or the average of the best consecutive three years in the last thirteen years after allowing for inflation. Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) If you were a member of the Scheme between 6th April 1978 and 5th April 1997 you may have earned a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). This was an amount of minimum pension which the Scheme had to guarantee to pay you at State Pension age or at the date of your retirement if later. When you retire, your Scheme pension for membership prior to 6 April 1997 will be compared with your GMP, and increased to the rate of your GMP should this be higher. In most cases, your Scheme pension is higher than your GMP.

15 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 15 How is my pension calculated? If you joined the Scheme after 1 April 2009 If you joined the Scheme after 1 April 2009, your annual pension is calculated by dividing your total membership by 60 and multiplying this figure by your final pay, i.e. Annual Pension = membership after 1 April 2009 x final pensionable pay 60 If you joined the Scheme before 1 April 2009 If you joined the Scheme before 1 April 2009, benefits based on your membership to 31 March 2009 will be calculated differently to those based on your membership from 1 April For membership built up to 31 March 2009, you receive a pension of 1/80th of your final pay multiplied by your membership to 31 March 2009 plus an automatic tax-free lump sum of three times this pension, i.e. Annual Pension = membership up to 31 March 2009 x final pensionable pay 80 AND Lump sum = membership up to 31 March 2009 x final pensionable pay x 3 80 PLUS For membership from 1 April 2009, your pension will be at the increased rate of 1/60th of your final pay multiplied by your membership from 1 April 2009, i.e. Annual Pension = membership from 1 April 2009 x final pensionable pay 60 There will be no automatic lump sum for membership accrued after 1 April 2009, but you will have the option to exchange some of your pension for extra tax-free lump sum. Lump Sum You can take a tax-free lump sum by giving up some of your annual pension. You can take up to 25% of the capital value of your Scheme benefits as a lump sum. For every 1 of annual pension that you give up you will receive 12 lump sum 1. In the same way, giving up 100 of your annual pension would give you 1,200 lump sum, and so on. In the current climate of long life expectancies and low interest rates, members are reminded that the cash sum may not be sufficient to replace the pension surrendered. If you are considering this option you are strongly recommended to contact an Independent Financial Adviser. 1 Limited to 312,500 (2014/2015) less the value of any other pension rights you have in payment.

16 16 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Examples of pension calculations Example of pension and lump sum calculation for membership built up after 31 March 2009 If you work whole-time Let s look at someone retiring at age 65 with 20 years whole-time membership in the Scheme and a final year s pay of 18,000. The annual pension is: 20 years x 1/60th x 18,000 = 6,000 Let s look at someone retiring at age 65 after 20 years working half-time i.e. 18 hours a week in a job where the wholetime hours would be 36 per week and with a part-time final pay of 9,000. Membership to be used in calculating benefits is scaled down to its wholetime equivalent: 20 years x = 10 years And the whole-time equivalent pay would be: 9, x 36 = 18,000 If (s)he decides to give up 1,500 pension for a cash lump sum, then: The reduced annual pension is: 6,000 less 1,500 = 4,500 And (s)he will get a tax free lump sum of: 1,500 x 12 = 18,000 If you work part-time The same calculation is used, but your membership is scaled down to the whole-time equivalent length based on your contractual hours and your final pay is scaled up to the whole-time equivalent rate. So the annual pension would be calculated as: 10 years x 1/60th x 18,000 = 3,000 If (s)he decides to give up 750 pension for a cash lump sum, then: The reduced annual pension is: 3,000 less 750 = 2,250 And (s)he will get a tax free lump sum of: 750 x 12 = 9,000 (S)he will have paid half the contributions and receive half the benefits of an equivalent whole-time person.

17 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 17 Example of pension and lump sum calculation if you have membership up to and after 31 March Let s look at someone who has 8 years membership up to 31 March 2009 and 24 years membership after then, when (s)he retires at age 65. His / her final year s pay on retirement is 20,000. Benefits based on the 8 years membership up to 31 March 2009: The annual pension is: 8 years x 1/80th x 20,000 = 2,000 Plus an automatic tax-free lump sum: 3 x pension of 2,000 = 6,000 Benefits based on the 24 years membership from 1 April 2009: The annual pension is: 24 years x 1/60th x 20,000 = 8,000 To give total benefits of: An annual pension 2,000 plus 8,000 = 10,000 Plus a tax-free lump sum = 6,000 If your hours have changed during your membership of the Scheme, your benefits will be calculated to reflect the changes. What options do I have on retirement? You may be able to alter your standard retirement package by taking an additional lump sum or getting a small pension paid as a one-off lump sum payment. Taking a lump sum As mentioned earlier, on retirement you will be able to take part of your benefits as a tax-free lump sum by giving up some of your pension. An option to take a lump sum has to be made in writing before your benefits are paid. It is important you contact NILGOSC well in advance of your intended retirement date so we can provide you with details, thus giving you plenty of time to make up your mind and seek financial advice if you wish. Your pension will be reduced in accordance with any election you make to receive a lump sum. Any subsequent pension for your husband, wife, civil partner, nominated cohabiting partner or children will not be affected if you decide to exchange part of your pension for a lump sum. If you have a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP), you may not reduce your pension to below the level of your GMP (see GMP section). Getting a small pension paid as a lump sum We may be able to pay a small pension as a one-off lump sum less a tax charge. This is known as trivial commutation. The circumstances where this may happen are restrictive, particularly if you have any other pension benefits. If the value of all pensions that you have (not just those with the LGPS (NI)) is less than 30,000, you may be able to receive them as a one-off lump sum. If the overall value of your LGPS (NI) pension alone is less than 10,000, you may also be able to receive this as a one-off lump sum. There are several HMRC conditions that must be met in both these circumstances. NILGOSC will also have to check if you have any other pension benefits and/or Scheme benefits before deciding whether your pension can be paid as a one-off lump sum.

18 18 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) What are my options if I have been making extra contributions to boost my retirement benefits? The retirement benefits available from making extra contributions fall into three categories: buying extra Scheme pension, buying extra years in the Scheme and paying Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to an in-house AVC scheme. Each of these categories is described below. Buying extra Scheme pension (Additional Regular Contributions) - ARCs) If you are buying extra Scheme pension, you will be credited with the extra pension that you have paid for. This will increase the value of your retirement benefits. If you qualify for ill-health retirement and are paying ARCs when you retire you will be credited with the entire additional pension that you set out to buy, even if you have not completed full payment for it. If you choose to retire early and draw your benefits before age 65, or retire on redundancy or business efficiency grounds, the extra pension you have bought will be reduced for early payment. If you draw your benefits on flexible retirement, you will be able to draw the extra pension you have paid for, although it will be reduced for early payment. You can choose to exchange some of the extra pension you have bought for a cash lump sum in the same way as your main Scheme pension. Buying extra years in the Scheme (Added Years) This option is only applicable if you elected to purchase added years before 1 April If you complete your contract, you will be credited with the extra years of membership that you have paid for and this will increase the value of your retirement benefits. If you retire on ill-health grounds whilst paying for added years, you will normally be credited with the whole extra period of membership that you set out to buy, even if you have not completed full payment for it. If you retire early because of redundancy or business efficiency whilst paying for extra years, you will have the opportunity to pay the remaining contributions due in a lump sum in order to complete your contract, provided you retire at least 12 months after making your election to buy the extra years. If you draw your benefits on flexible retirement you will continue to pay for any extra years you are buying. The benefits from the extra membership will not be paid until you finally retire, unless you have opted to stop paying the extra contributions before you take flexible retirement. If your benefits are reduced for early payment, then your benefits from the added years are reduced in the same way. Paying in-house Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) If you are paying Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) arranged through the Scheme (in-house AVCs), your contributions will cease when you retire (or cease two days before age 75 at the latest).

19 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 19 You can use your in-house AVC Fund to buy an annuity, to buy a top-up Scheme pension or take it as cash, subject to Her Majesty s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) limits. Buying an Annuity This is where an insurance company, bank or building society of your choice takes your AVC fund and pays you a pension in return. You can do this at the same time as you draw your Scheme benefits or you can choose to delay payment until any time up to the eve of your 75th birthday. An annuity is paid completely separately to your Scheme benefits. The amount of annuity depends on several factors, such as interest rates and your age. You also have some choice over the type of annuity, for example whether you want annual increases, and whether you also want to provide for dependants benefits. Buying a Top-up Scheme Pension If you retire with immediate payment of your benefits you may be able to use some or all of your AVC fund to buy a top-up pension from the Scheme either for yourself or yourself plus dependants benefits. The amount of the top-up pension is calculated using tables provided by the Government Actuary s Department. Taking your AVCs as cash If you draw your AVCs at the same time as your Scheme pension, you may be able to take some or all of your AVCs as a tax-free lump sum 2. If you retire (other than on flexible retirement) and decide to draw your AVCs later, you can normally only have up to 25% of your AVC fund as a lump sum. If you are paying for extra life cover through AVCs Any extra life cover paid for through AVCs will stop on leaving (or cease two days before age 75 if you carry on in work beyond that age). You can no longer pay AVCs after leaving/ after age 75. What if my employer awards me additional pension and /or additional membership? Your employer may, at its discretion, award you up to ten years additional membership (augmentation) and/or 5,000 annual pension. This award will be taken into account when calculating your benefits and, if awarded prior to retirement, will be included in your conversion options. What happens if I take up other employment after I retire? If you get a job outside of Local Government with an employer that does not participate in the Scheme, your Scheme pension will not be affected. If you get a job in Local Government or with an employer that participates in the Scheme, your pension may be reduced or suspended in accordance with the rules determined by NILGOSC. Under the Scheme Regulations, this is at the discretion of the Committee. The current policy of the Committee is that it does not reduce or suspend pensions of reemployed pensioners, although this policy is regularly reviewed and could be changed in the future. However, you must tell the Committee if you are re-employed by one of the Scheme employers. 2 Provided, when added to your LGPS lump sum it does not exceed 25% of the overall value of your LGPS benefits (including your AVC fund) and the total lump sum does not exceed 312,500 (2014/2015) less the value of any other pension rights you have in payment.

20 20 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Can my pension be reduced or forfeited? Your employer can reduce your pension benefits if you cease to be employed as a result of a criminal, negligent or fraudulent act, or omission on your part in connection with your employment. A Scheme member s pension rights can be forfeited if they have been convicted of a serious offence connected with their employment and their employer applies to the Department of the Environment for a forfeiture certificate. Can I assign my Scheme benefits to someone else? No. Your Scheme benefits are strictly personal and cannot be assigned to anyone else or used as security for a loan.

21 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 21

22 4: How are my retirement benefits paid and increased? Monthly pension payments will be made directly into a bank or building society account in your name. Every year, in April, pensions are increased in line with inflation by the Pensions Increase (Review) Order.

23 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 23 How are my retirement benefits paid and increased? Monthly pension payments will be made directly into a bank or building society account in your name. If you move abroad, similar arrangements can be made to pay your pension into a foreign bank account. Pension payment dates will normally fall on the last banking day of each month, with the only exception being the month of December when NILGOSC aims to make payments before the annual holidays. A pension payment advice will only be issued when your pension amount changes by more than 1 from the previous month, e.g. in April or May due to pension increases. Any lump sum payment will be made directly to your bank account. Qualification for pensions increases Pension increases are normally paid only to pensioners who are aged 55 or over. Increases are only paid to people who are below age 55 if the person concerned is: receiving a pension as a widow, widower, civil partner, nominated cohabiting partner or eligible child; or retired on ill-health grounds; or has his/ her deferred benefits brought into payment on ill-health grounds with no reasonable prospect of being capable of undertaking any gainful employment because of his/ her ill-health. What happens if payment of my benefits is delayed? If payment of your retirement benefits is delayed, NILGOSC must: pay interest on lump sum benefits that are paid more than one month after they become payable. pay interest on pensions that are paid more than a year after they become payable. How is my pension increased? Every year, in April, pensions are increased in line with inflation by the Pensions Increase (Review) Order. The benefit of this inflation proofing is that as the cost of living increases, so will your pension. If you retire early before age 55 and are not entitled to increases, for example, if you were a deferred member and your benefits are brought into payment on grounds of ill-health, but you are not permanently unfit for all work, you are normally paid at a flat rate until age 55, when your pension will be increased to the level it would have been, had it been increased every year by the rise in the cost of living since your date of leaving. When will the increase be paid? The increase is applied on the first Monday in April after 5 April. Your April pension payment will be made up of the number of days prior to the increase date, payable at the old rate, plus the pension for the remainder of April payable at the increased rate.

24 24 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Who pays the increase? If you are below State Pension age NILGOSC pays the full increase on your pension. If you joined the Scheme before 6th April 1997 and have reached State Pension age, your pension from us includes a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). This is because the Scheme is contracted out of the State Second Pension Scheme, previously known as the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS). As a condition of contracting out for service before 1997, the Scheme had to guarantee that the pension benefits payable would be no less than a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). If you participated in the Scheme between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 1997 you will have earned a GMP. This GMP is not a separate benefit paid in addition to your Scheme pension but the pension we pay you must equal or exceed your GMP. If you have a GMP, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will have to pay some or all of the increase on this part of your pension. The DWP will pay it along with your State Pension. Every year NILGOSC will calculate the increase relating to your pension, however we may have to do so before the DWP has notified us of your GMP details. If this happens we may have to increase or reduce later pension payments to adjust for any overpayment or underpayment. We shall, of course, notify you in advance before doing so. If you joined the Scheme on or after 6 April 1997 you will not have a GMP and NILGOSC will pay all of the increase on your pension. How will my Pensions Increase be calculated? Prior to attaining State Pension age, your GMP entitlement does not affect the award of pensions increase and your pension will be increased fully by the percentage increase specified in the annual Pensions Increase (Review) Order (subject to you meeting the qualifying conditions). From State Pension age, your pension will be divided into three parts:- The amount of your GMP accrued in respect of service prior to 6th April This part of your pension is totally disregarded by NILGOSC when calculating your increase. The increase on this portion of your pension is paid fully by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of your State Pension. The amount of your GMP accrued in respect of service after 5 April 1988 and before 6 April NILGOSC must pay the first 3% of any increase payable on this portion of your pension. The balance (if any) will be paid by the DWP as part of your State Pension. The amount by which your pension exceeds your total GMP. NILGOSC is responsible for paying the full increase on this part of your pension. How is the increase payable from the DWP calculated? On your state benefit notification you will see two items:- 1. Your Additional Pension (AP). The Additional State Pension for employees was called the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS). The amount of SERPS pension

25 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 25 you received was based on a combination of the amount of your National Insurance contributions, and how much you earned. In April 2002, SERPS was reformed and the Additional State Pension is now known as the State Second Pension. 2. Your Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). (This may also be shown as a COD - Contracted Out Deduction.) The Additional Pension represents what you would have received had you been a member of SERPS and this amount is increased each year. The GMP (or COD) is then deducted from this amount and the difference represents the increase due to you. Example of Pensions Increase Calculation Please note: Basic State Pension is not increased by the Pensions Increase (Review) Orders that apply to your Scheme pension and any Additional State Pension or GMP. The percentage increase applied to your Basic State Pension will be the increase in earnings, the Consumer Price Index or 2.5% - whichever is higher. For illustration purposes, this example assumes that the same increase applies to both. Scheme Pension GMP pre-april 1988 of 1000 and GMP post-april 1988 of 500 5,000 per annum including State Pension Total Pension 4,700 per annum 9,700 per annum Assume pensions increase of 5% is payable Total increase you will receive is: Total pension after 5% increase is applied is: 5% x 9,700 = 485 9, = 10,185 per annum

26 26 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) The increase of 485 is paid as follows: Paid by NILGOSC Local Government Pension 5,000 Less GMP pre-april 88 1,000 Less GMP post-april ,500 Increase 5% of 3,500 = 175 Add increase up to 3% on Post-April 88 GMP 3% of 500 = 15 Total increase paid by NILGOSC 190 3,500 New Scheme Pension paid is 5, = 5,190 Paid by DWP State Pension 4,700 Increase 5% of 4,700 = 235 Add increase on pre-april 88 GMP 5% of 1, Add increase on post-april 88 GMP (5% - 3%) = 2% of Total increase paid by State 295 New State Pension paid 4, = 4,995 Total increase paid NILGOSC 190 State Pension Total

27 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 27 How can I find out the amount of my GMP? The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will normally notify you of this GMP amount when you claim your State Pension, or in the case of widows, widowers or civil partners pensions, shortly after the pension comes into payment. What happens if I am not receiving GMP increases from the DWP? What effect will Income Tax have on my increased pension? If, despite being awarded an increase in your gross pension, you find that the net amount of your April pension payment is less than your net March pension, this will normally be due to the deduction of extra tax to take account of the increases in both your State and Scheme pension. You will remember that although State Pensions are not taxed at source, they do nevertheless count as taxable income. If you have attained State Pension age (or you are a widow/widower) and you are not receiving increases on your GMP mentioned earlier from the DWP, NILGOSC will pay the increases to you until such time as the DWP again take over responsibility for such payments.

28 5: Life Cover A survivor s pension will be paid to your husband, wife, registered civil partner or your nominated cohabiting partner, providing they meet certain conditions.

29 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 29 Life Cover - protection for your family What benefits will be paid if I die after retiring on pension? The benefits detailed below apply to individuals who were contributing members of the Scheme on or after 1 April If you die after retiring on pension, your husband, wife, civil partner, cohabiting partner, next-of-kin or person dealing with your estate must immediately inform NILGOSC of your date of death. This is important to avoid overpayments and NILGOSC will then advise which of the following benefits are payable. A lump sum death grant is payable if your pension has been in payment for less than ten years and you are under age 75 at the date of death. The balance of the pension which would have been payable for ten years is paid as a lump sum. Please ensure that you have completed a Death Grant Expression of Wish form. A survivor s pension will be paid to your husband, wife, registered civil partner or your nominated cohabiting partner, providing they meet certain conditions. This pension is payable immediately after your death for the rest of his/ her life and will increase every year in line with the cost of living. For your husband, wife or civil partner: the pension payable is equal to 1/160th of your final pay times the membership your pension is based on. However, if you marry or form a civil partnership after retirement the pension could be less. In this case: your husband s or civil partner s pension is based on your membership after 5 April 1988 (excluding additional membership purchased by you or granted to you by your employer or the Scheme, unless you were married to your husband or had formed a civil partnership with your partner at some time whilst you paid into the Scheme) your wife s pension is based on your contracted-out membership after 5 April For your nominated cohabiting partner: the pension payable is equal to 1/160th of your final pay times your membership in the Scheme after 5 April 1988, unless you have paid Additional Survivor Benefit Contributions (ASBCs) to allow earlier membership to be included in the calculations. If you wish to nominate a cohabiting partner your relationship has to meet certain conditions laid down by the Scheme. Information on these conditions and how to make a nomination are set out in the What are the conditions for a nominated cohabiting partner s survivor s pension? section below. For your children: a child s pension is payable to eligible children and this will increase every year in line with the cost of living. A child is an eligible child of a deceased member if the child is wholly or mainly dependent on the member and is less than 18 years of age at the date of the member s death. If the child is continuing in full-time education, he/ she will be treated as a dependant until he/ she reaches the age of 23 (or earlier if he/ she completes his/ her course of study).

30 30 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) A child who is disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, that is, has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-today activities and has a condition that is sufficiently serious to prevent him/her following a normal employment or which would seriously impair his/her earning capacity may be treated as an eligible child. It will be necessary for the child to have a medical assessment with the Committee s doctor. The amount of pension depends on the number of eligible children you have: If a survivor s pension is being paid to your husband, wife, civil partner or nominated cohabiting partner, one child would receive 1/320th of your final pay times the membership your pension is based on, while two or more children would receive 1/160th shared equally between them. If there is no husband s, wife s, civil partner s or nominated cohabiting partner s pension being paid, one child would receive 1/240th of your final pay times the membership your pension is based on, while two or more children would receive 1/120th shared equally between them. Death Grant Expression of Wish Form The Scheme allows you to say who you would like any death grant to be paid to by completing an Expression of Wish form. All members are strongly advised to complete this form and ensure that it is kept up to date. A new form must be completed if marital or partnership status changes or if your wishes change. It should be noted that under the regulations, the Committee retains absolute discretion when deciding to whom to pay any death grant. This discretion enables the death grant normally to be paid free of inheritance tax. If any part of the death grant has not been paid within two years, it must be paid to your personal representatives, i.e. to your estate. The Death Grant Expression of Wish Form (LGS20) is available from NILGOSC or can be downloaded from our website What are the conditions for a nominated cohabiting partner s survivor s pension? To be able to nominate a cohabiting partner, of either the opposite or same sex, to receive a survivor s pension on your death, all of the following conditions must have applied for a continuous period of at least two years on the date you both sign the nomination form: both you and your nominated cohabiting partner are, and have been, free to marry each other or enter into a civil partnership with each other, and you and your nominated cohabiting partner have been living together as if you were husband and wife, or civil partners, and neither you nor your nominated cohabiting partner have been living with someone else as if you/they were husband and wife or civil partners, and either your nominated cohabiting partner is financially dependent on you or you are financially interdependent on each other. Your partner is financially dependent on you if you have the higher income. Financially interdependent means that you rely on your joint finances to support your standard of living. It does not mean that you need to be contributing equally. For example, if your partner s income is a lot more than yours, he or she may pay the mortgage and most of the bills, and you may pay for the weekly shopping.

31 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 31 A nomination can be made by completing a Nomination of Cohabiting Partner Form (LGS21) which is available from NILGOSC or it can be downloaded from our website A nomination is only valid if all of the above conditions have been met for a continuous period of at least two years on the date you both sign the form. On your death, a survivor s pension would be paid to your nominated cohabiting partner if: NILGOSC has the nomination form on file and the nomination has effect at the date of your death, and your nominated cohabiting partner satisfies NILGOSC that the above conditions had also been met for a continuous period of at least two years immediately prior to your death. What effect does a GMP have on my survivor s pension? A Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) is broadly equivalent to the State Earnings Related Pension which would have accrued in respect of service from 1st April 1978 to 5th April If your membership in the Scheme includes a GMP, your wife s pension for that part of your membership prior to 6 April 1997 must not be less than half your GMP. Your husband or civil partner s pension for that part of your membership prior to 6 April 1997 must not be less than half your GMP built up after 5 April What if my pension is subject to a Pension Sharing Order/ Earmarking Order? If your Scheme benefits are subject to a Pension Sharing Order or Earmarking Order issued by the Court following either divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, or are subject to a qualifying agreement in Scotland, your benefits will be reduced in accordance with the Court Order or agreement. In consequence, if you remarry, enter into a new civil partnership or nominate a cohabiting partner to receive a survivor s pension, any spouse s pension, civil partner s pension or nominated cohabiting partner s pension payable following your death will also be reduced. Benefits payable to eligible children will not, however, be reduced because of a pension share.

32 6: HMRC

33 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 33 HMRC Tax Rules There are limits on the pension savings you can make before you become subject to a tax charge (over and above any tax due under the PAYE system on a pension in payment). These limits are known as the lifetime allowance and the annual allowance. The lifetime allowance is the total capital value of all your pension arrangements which you can build up during your lifetime without paying extra tax. The capital value of your pension benefits is generally calculated as: (Pension x 20) + lump sum + value of AVC fund (if any) You are only permitted to take 25% of the capital value of your Scheme benefits as tax free cash, subject to the HMRC Lifetime Allowance in the year of payment. However, it should be noted that this calculation is not as simple as it appears as it is the benefits after pension has been exchanged for lump sum which must be taken into account, i.e. the calculation must be repeated for the new lump sum and new reduced pension to ensure that the 25% limit is not exceeded. If the value of your benefits when you draw them (not including any state retirement pension, state pension credit or any spouse s, civil partner s or dependant s pension you may be entitled to) exceeds your lifetime allowance a tax charge will be made against the excess. The lifetime allowance for 2014/2015 is 1.25 million. Most Scheme members pension benefits will be significantly less than the lifetime allowance. The annual allowance is the amount your pension savings can increase by, with tax relief, in any one year, including the year in which you retire. From 6 April 2014, the annual allowance was set as 40,000 and in the LGPS(NI) the year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The value of pension savings in the Scheme is calculated as: [Pension value at year end (Pension value at start of year x pensions increase)] x 16 Plus Lump sum at Year End (Lump sum at Start of Year x Pensions Increase) Plus Amount of AVC contributions made during the year You may also carry forward unused allowance from the three previous years to help offset any excess savings over 40,000. It is unlikely that any members will exceed the annual allowance due to their Scheme pension. If you exceed the annual allowance you will be liable for a tax charge at your marginal rate on the amount by which the value of your pension savings in the year, less any unused allowances from the three previous years, exceeds 40,000. Individuals may elect to pay any tax charge above 2,000 from their pension benefits with a resultant reduction to their pension. This election is normally made when a self assessment tax form is completed. It should be noted that this election must be made before benefits are paid and therefore, in the year of retirement, individuals will need to make such an election before their pensions come into payment. This will bring forward the process for these individuals.

34 34 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) NILGOSC will let you know if the value of your pension savings in any one year exceeds 40,000. When you retire NILGOSC will ask you about any other pensions you may have in payment, so it can work out whether or not to deduct a recovery tax charge. HMRC rules state that if the Scheme makes an unauthorised payment or if you pay some or all of your Scheme lump sum back into a pension arrangement, there will be a tax charge. Will there be any tax limits on the benefits payable to my family in the event of my death? Your personal representatives will have to determine whether, with the lump sum death grant, the capital value of your overall pension benefits (not including any spouse s, civil partner s or dependant s pensions) exceeds the HM Revenue and Customs allowance. Under HM Revenue and Customs rules, any excess will be subject to a recovery tax charge. The capital value of most Scheme members pension benefits will be significantly less than the allowance. Who do I contact about tax on my pension when I retire? All queries about income tax on your pension should be addressed to: HMRC P.O.BOX 1970 Liverpool L75 1WX Tel: PAYE Reference No. 916/G82576

35 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 35

36 7: Helpful Information

37 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 37 Helpful Information Definitions of Terms Civil Partnership A civil partnership is a relationship between two people of the same sex ( civil partners ) which is formed when they register as civil partners of each other. Discretion This is the power given in the Scheme to enable employers to choose how they will apply the Scheme in respect of certain provisions. The employer is required to consider how to exercise its discretions and, in respect of some discretions, to have a written policy on how it will apply its discretions. Eligible Child A child is an eligible child of a deceased member if (s)he is wholly or mainly dependent on the member and is less than 18 years of age at the date of the member s death. If the child is continuing in full-time education, (s)he will be treated as a dependant until (s)he reaches the age of 23 (or earlier if (s)he completes his/her course of study). A child who is disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995(a), that is, has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and has a condition that is sufficiently serious to prevent him/her following a normal employment or which would seriously impair his/her earning capacity may be treated as an eligible child. It will be necessary for the child to have a medical assessment with the Committee s doctor. Nominated Cohabiting Partner If a member wishes to nominate a cohabiting partner to receive survivor benefits in the event of the member s death the relationship has to meet certain conditions laid down by the Scheme. Information on these conditions, and how to make a nomination, are set out in the section on Life Cover Protection for your family. State Pension Age State pension age is the earliest age that you can receive the state basic pension. State pension age is currently age 65 for men and the state pension age for women is being increased to be equalised with that for men. The Government has announced that it will speed up the pace of equalisation for women so that the women s state pension age will reach age 65 by November 2018.

38 38 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) State pension age equalisation timetable for women Date of birth Before 6 April April April April April April April April August August December 1953 New State Pension Age 60 In the range In the range In the range In the range In the range The state pension age will then increase to 66 for both men and women from December 2018 to April Increase in state pension age from 65 to 66 for men and women Date of birth 6 December April 1954 After April 1954 New State Pension Age In the range Under current legislation the State Pension Age is due to rise to age 67 between 2026 and 2028 and to age 68 between 2044 and However, the government has announced plans to link rises in State Pension Age above age 67 to increases in life expectancy. A State Pension Age calculator is available at

39 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 39 Help with Pension Problems Who can help me if I have a query or complaint? If you are in any doubt about your pension entitlements or have any questions about your membership or benefits please contact us. We will seek to clarify or put right any misunderstandings or inaccuracies as quickly and efficiently as possible. If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction you can make a formal complaint, in writing, to the Secretary of the Committee. Your complaint will be acknowledged within five working days and a response issued as quickly as possible. If you are dissatisfied with the Secretary s response you can ask the Management Committee to reconsider the matter. If you wish a complaint to be reconsidered you must apply in writing within six months of receiving the original decision, giving the reasons why you are dissatisfied. The Management Committee will reconsider the decision and inform you of its decision within two months. There are other organisations that exist to help with pension problems: The Pensions Advisory Service is available to assist members and beneficiaries of the Scheme with pension queries which cannot be resolved with the Scheme administrator. It can be contacted at: The Pensions Advisory Service 11 Belgrave Road London SW1V 1RB Telephone: enquiries@pensionsadvisory service.org.uk Website: gov.uk The Pensions Ombudsman Service can adjudicate in cases where a complaint or dispute is not resolved and the internal dispute procedures have been exhausted. The Ombudsman Service can investigate and determine any complaint or dispute involving maladministration of the Scheme or matters of fact or law and his or her decision is final and binding (unless the case is then taken to the Appeals Court on a point of law). Matters where legal proceedings have already been started cannot be investigated by the Pensions Ombudsman Service. The Pensions Ombudsman Service can be contacted at: 11 Belgrave Road London SW1V 1RB Telephone: enquiries@pensionsombudsman.org.uk Website: ombudsman.org.uk The Pensions Regulator is the regulator for work-based pension schemes. The Pensions Regulator has powers to protect members and a wide range of powers to put matters right, where needed. In extreme cases, the regulator can fine trustees or employers. Please note, it does not deal with queries about individuals pension benefits. The Pensions Regulator can be contacted at: Napier House Trafalgar Place Brighton BN1 4DW Telephone: customersupport@ thepensionsregulator.gov.uk Website:

40 40 Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Data Protection Act 1998 NILGOSC is registered with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act 1998 to hold personal information for the purpose of administration of the pension Scheme. Essentially the data is used to determine eligibility for, and to calculate any pension or other benefits from, the Scheme. This information is held and processed by NILGOSC strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Act In order to carry out its purpose NILGOSC may receive information about members from others, such as employers, but can only do so in accordance with the law. NILGOSC may, if it chooses, pass certain details to a third party, if the third party is carrying out an administrative function of the Scheme, for example the Scheme s AVC providers and actuary. NILGOSC may also transfer information to organisations which carry out processing operations on its behalf, such as printers. Any third parties to whom NILGOSC passes personal data are also required to comply with the Data Protection Act. NILGOSC is required to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. As individuals, members have a right under the Data Protection Act 1998 to obtain information from NILGOSC, including a description of the personal data which is held. Any member who wishes to access their data on Data Protection Act grounds should write to the Data Protection Officer at NILGOSC. Information produced by NILGOSC can be made available in several formats (such as large print, in Braille, on audio cassette or on computer disk) and languages. We will be pleased to consider your request in this respect.

41 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 41

42 8: How to contact us

43 Retirement Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 43 Contact Details For more information, or if you have a problem or question about your Scheme membership or benefits, please contact: Postal Address: Pensions Administration NILGOSC Templeton House 411 Holywood Road Belfast BT4 2LP Pensioners Line: Telephone: info@nilgosc.org.uk Typetalk (for Minicom users): Fax: Website: Calling from Abroad? Payroll Telephone Line: Pensions Admin Telephone Line:

44 R: 01/2015 P: 10/2014