New member contribution rates 2013

Pension reform

•  Latest information on pension reform
•  How will pension contribution increases affect me? 

You will need to complete a new nomination form and send this to your MyCSP Pension Service Centre (Look up the name of your employer or parent department)

• classic nomination form
• nuvos/ premium/ classic plus and partnership nomination form

If the person was working in the Civil Service at the time of their death please notify  MyCSP . You can find the MyCSP site that will hold their member records by selecting their employer from the  A-Z helpline and this will present  MyCSP contact details.

If the person had left the Civil Service (deferred member) or, if  they were in receipt of payments please tell Capita, the pensioner payroll provider. Here are their contact details: -

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT.

Tel: 0870 1699700
Mail : csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

Current members  should tell your employer’s HR or Shared Service Centre of any changes to your personal data, including your marital status or address.

If you are already in receipt of  payments or if you are a deferred member ( meaning you have left the Civil Service but have not  yet reached your scheme pension age)  You should tell Capita of any changes to your personal data, including your marital status or address.

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT. Tel: 0870 1699700
e mail: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

Look up the name of your employer or parent department under “MyCSP Pension Service Centre” or ask your employer.

• Look at your last Annual Benefit Statement.
• Your employer’s payslip may identify the scheme you are in.
• You can contact your Pension Service Centre for confirmation. You can look up their contact details under MyCSP Pension Service Centre  (Look up the name of your employer or parent department)

General guide – if you joined the scheme:

• from 30 June 2007 = nuvos
• from 1 October 2002 to 29 June 2007 = premium
• from 1 October 2002 but opted to have a partnership pension account = partnership
  • before 30 September 2002 = classic
  • before 30 September 2002 and opted to:
  • keep your classic pension for past service and join premium from 1 October 2002 = classic plus
  • Join premium and transfer your existing pension into premium from 1 October 2002  = premium

classic, classic plus, premium, nuvos, partnership (links to scheme guide pages)

If you are a new entrant, complete your Pension Choices form from your Starter Pack indicating that you would like information on transferring in a pension.

Otherwise, contact your MyCSP Pension Service Centre.  Please note that there are time limits for some transfers, for example transfers from Club schemes must be made within 12 months of joining, or they will be treated as non-Club.  For information on Club transfers, see the Public Sector Transfer Club.

There is a range of booklets, leaflets and factsheets about the scheme – on our website under “Publications”. You can click on ‘Scheme Guides’ to identify the topics that you want to look up.

Your Annual Benefit Statement shows the value of your pension to the date of issue and indicates to possible value, based on your current salary, at age 55, 60 and 65 to help you with planning for your retirement.

Examples of each scheme’s benefit statement for the under and over 65s are linked under ‘Scheme Guides’.

Scheme members have the opportunity to increase their pension by buying Added Pension and/or contributing to the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme (CSAVCS). For further information please select your pension scheme under scheme guides.

If you work for the Civil Service for under 2 years, you would not  be eligible for a Civil Service pension.

Civil Service pensions are contracted out of SERPS – When somebody leaves under 2 years they are given the option of a transfer to another fund or a refund of contributions.  If they opt for a refund, their contributions would first  have to be offset to put them back into the State 2nd Pensions and a deduction  made for National Insurance. If there is any balance due to the member after this action has been taken then it will be issued by the pension service centre directly to the former member. MyCSP will write to you with your options when you leave.  A P60 is issued at the end of the financial year that the member leaves employment.

A refund will depend on your circumstances at the time you leave/retire.

• Leave or opt out of the scheme within 2 years of joining the scheme; You will receive a refund of your contributions less an amount to buy you back into the State Second pension scheme.  Alternatively you can transfer the value of your notional pension to another pension scheme.  MyCSP will write to you with your options when you leave.
• Unmarried when taking your pension (classic members only)  If you have been unmarried throughout your service, you may receive a refund of all your widow/er’s pension contributions.  You may receive a refund for the part of your service since your marriage or civil partnership ended.  For details see the Appendix to ‘Your classic pension benefits explained’ booklet.   Due to limits on tax relief for pensions, your refund may have to be paid as pension rather than a lump sum if you have taken partial retirement.

If you are currently working in the Civil Service you will need to write or email your request to your MyCSP Pension Service Centre

If you have left and have a deferred pension you will need to write or email your request to Capita.

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT. Tel: 0870 1699700
e mail: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

You should read the opting out factsheet that is attached to the opting out form (under ‘Forms) to understand what you will be giving up, and consider consulting an Independent Financial Adviser.  If you decide to opt out, you can download and complete the opt out form and send it to your employer.

You may leave and take your pension under Actuarially Reduced Retirement terms, providing you meet the requirements of the scheme. (You must be at least 50 years old, 55 if you joined after 6/4/2006). You should write to your Pension Service Centre to ask for an estimate of your pension benefits. You will need to provide a date on which you intend to take your pension.

Your pension will be reduced depending on your age. As a rough guide – for each full year that your benefits are paid early, your pension will be reduced by 5% and your automatic lump sum (classic only) by 3%.   You may be able to buy out the reduction to your pension.  Once you have your pension estimate, you can use the ‘Actuarial Reduction Buy-out calculator’ under ‘calculators’ on the website to see how much this would cost.

If you want to continue to work in the Civil Service, you may be able to take Partial Retirement.  This is subject to your employer approving the mandatory reduction in your hours or grade.

You will need to discuss this initially with your employer, as they must approve a reduction in your pay or hours by at least 20%. They will consider business needs but do not have to approve your application for part time working or downgrading.   Your employer will provide information on how to apply within your organisation.

Before applying, you should read the Partial retirement booklet on our Publications page, and use the Partial Retirement Calculator to understand the process and implication of taking partial retirement.

You should read your employer’s guidance and follow their process. It is usual for them to ask for at least 3 months’ notice to ensure that your pension can be paid on time.  MyCSP will send you information about your pension including a quotation and a Personal Details Form for you to complete and return to them.

You should tell Capita of any changes to your personal data, including your marital status or address.

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT. Tel: 0870 1699700
e mail: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

You will need to contact MyCSP’s pensioner payroll, Capita who administer preserved pensions. They will send you a statement showing the current value of your pension:

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT.Tel: 0870 1699700
e mail: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

You may apply to take your pension under Actuarially Reduced Retirement terms, providing you meet the requirements of the scheme. (You must be at least 50 years old, 55 if you joined after 6/4/2006). You should write to Capita (see contact details below) to ask for an estimate of your pension benefits. You will need to provide a date on which you intend to take your pension.

Your pension will be reduced depending on your age. As a rough guide – for each full year that your benefits are paid early, your pension will be reduced by 5% and your automatic lump sum (classic only) by 3%.   You can buy out the reduction to your pension.  Once you have your pension estimate, you can use the ‘Actuarial Reduction Buy-out calculator’ under ‘calculators’ on the website to see how much this would cost.

Preserved pensions are paid by MyCSP’s pensioner payroll, Capita. You should contact Capita approximately 3 months before your retirement.

Capita, Mowden Hall, P O Box 215, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9GT. Tel: 0870 1699700
e mail: csp.enquiries@capita.co.uk

Here are the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about Added Pension