TEACHERS PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION SLA FROM 1 APRIL 2014

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1 TEACHERS PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION SLA FROM 1 APRIL 2014 The Teachers Pensions Service Level Agreement from 1 April 2014 is still available to schools to consider by requesting a copy from the Teachers Pensions Team. Details were set out in the 2014/15 Traded Services Brochure Learning Without Boundaries but a summary of our services is attached for your information. Schools and Academies buying into Croydon HR and/or Croydon Payroll SLAs receive the full teachers pension administration service as part of those SLAs, including the new offer of an annual visit to provide a pension workshop for your teachers. The TP Team work to ensure we hold correct pension records and that our teachers are informed of their pension situation. This is particularly important given the missing service queries that arise during the year, on annual pension statements and updating records for those approaching retirement. We can provide service records to your teachers to confirm their service details with Croydon as part of these visits. For schools using external payroll providers or who are converting to Academies, the TP SLA is available to you at a cost of 41 per teacher headcount in post at 1 April- 31 March, which is an increase of just 1 over the 2013/14 SLA. We also offer our service to Academies, and for those buying into Croydon payroll we will be taking on and producing your monthly contributions schedules for TP Darlington from April If your school or Academy already buys into the SLA, and you have not already done so, please confirm with us if you wish to carry forward our service to the 2014/15 and we will send you a new Formal Agreement for the coming financial year. Teachers Pensions Team March

2 Summary of services offered to schools under the all-inclusive TP Administration SLA 2014/15 Service Features central records for all TP Forms, member instructions and pension membership status to aid quick investigations with and from TP Darlington a comprehensive package of services from appointment to retirement use of secure electronic data transfer to provide missing service and update members records quickly access to the national TP database for member records advice and assistance to schools using external providers to set up their internal statutory TP administration processes retrospective investigations of archived material and files to capture previously missing teachers pension information, instructions and payments to complete Croydon s historic and current pension records through the above, challenge TP Darlington on claims for retrospective uncollected pension contributions with no costs to schools or the Council a voice in, and collaboration with, the Schools HR Consultancy, CHRIS Team, CFL Schools Finance and Liberata payroll. Externally with the LGE, TP Darlington, the DfE and Capita. publication of pension newsletters to all teaching staff in Croydon a one stop shop for all teachers and schools for their pension queries pension workshops with sessions with teachers, on request unlimited hours/days, with no separate fees for complex issues Free school courier service delivery/collection on 4 th Friday of the month for TP and LGPS documentation (in addition to any Interserve arrangements already made with the school) Summary of the Service Details on attached Appendix Benefits to your school Access to a dedicated full time resource, committed and innovative practitioners and their wealth of experience and knowledge. complete administration, checking and query resolution Unlimited access to support Submission and checking of Annual Return Reconciliation against contributions paid TR6 & TR8 completion and notification to TP Case resolution with TP where there is a dispute in service records or contributions Free pension workshops including with sessions with your teachers on request An annual visit to your school/academy free of charge as part of the SLA Our TP Team has a very close working relationship with schools built over many years dealing with education pay, conditions of service and the pension scheme. They will represent you and your teachers in plans for any future Pension Reforms, 2

3 including Auto Enrolment, increased member contributions and monthly data reporting. Who will be providing the service? The two named contacts in the TP Team are: Diane Whyte, Teachers Pensions Senior Officer Vicki Langston, Teachers Pensions & NHS Pensions Senior Officer both of whom are your first point of contact for TP advice and support. The TP Team is available to deal with your pension queries, through a dedicated teachers pension team address (see below), to which both members of the team have full access, and a dedicated pension fax number. Costs Buying into our all-inclusive TP Administration Service, will cover all the activities specified and the school will not incur any further costs for additional hours/days, even in the event that the school may have a protracted problem. Schools will not be charged separate fees for complex issues demanding dedicated staff time or separate and additional correspondence with/from TP Darlington, DfE or the LGE. There is no minimum charge and no hidden cost. The charges for the year commencing 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 will be 41 per teacher at your school (headcount in post anytime from 1 April to 31 March). Contact details and further information / enquiries The detailed SLA and/or contract will be provided by the Council and will be agreed and signed by both parties prior to the service being taken up. Freda Townsend, Pensions Manager: Ext Diane Whyte, Teachers Pensions: Vicki Langston, Teachers Pensions: teacherspensionsteam@croydon.gov.uk 3

4 Appendix: Service Details School Courier Service Free delivery/collection 4 th Friday of the month for TP and LGPS documentation TP Administration Send TR6 new starter form to TP via STU with Appointment Statements to teachers Check completed pension option form and pension details on Trent or with TP Set up new teacher on Altair database Issue Opt Out form to new starter if applicable Process transfer in or transfer out request from other pension scheme if applicable Changes to personal details Change from Full to Part time contract Additional Pension Benefits (setting up, amendment and cancellation) Additional Voluntary Contributions (setting up, amendment and cancellation) MEMELECT form to existing teachers Process Opt Out and refund/repayment of contributions to existing teachers Process Certificates of Re-Employment Process valuation requests for Divorce and provide other pension values/payments for and from other agencies Send TR8 leaver form to TP Darlington via STU Process all Retirement Application forms Process all other TP forms TP Member Information Pack, literature, leaflets and forms Death in service Manage whole process and liaise with school, TP Darlington and family to award short term pension and arrange payment of full pension benefits to beneficiaries. Act quickly, efficiently and sensitively to support family through process and engage TP Darlington for priority action. Pension records Missing service queries historic and current Submit corrections and missing service details to TP Darlington via STU at their request or from members and/or schools Maintenance of pension records and member instructions Queries arising from schools about Annual Pension Statements Providing complete, or extract from, previous annual return to school Checking and confirming pension details held on Trent records, archived payroll system or manual ledgers and record cards. Contributions related issues Claim from TP Darlington for recovery of arrears of pension contributions or inter fund adjustment from LGPS Claim from TP Darlington for recovery of arrears of additional pension contributions Prudential claim for recovery of arrears of AVC contributions Terms and Conditions Advice on pension records with changes to contract or personal circumstances (from school or member) Keeping pension information in contracts of employment up-to-date with legislation with any changes required to pension enclosures. Receive and Implement changes arising from TP Regulations or Government legislation Policies and Procedures TP Administration Handbook Procedural changes arising from changes to Council/Government/TP Administrator policies Issuing advice on pension administration Statutory Information 4

5 Annual Return of Teachers Service and Salary and any other Cabinet led Teacher surveys NOTE: Where reference is made to Trent and archived payroll material, this will be for (1) schools that previously used the Croydon Payroll (2) any schools that have since returned to Croydon Payroll and (3) all employment and pension records prior to