Pensions and Retirement
Contact details for pensions queries
For all Police pension matters using the English language you should contact XPS Administration (previously named Kier) in any of the following ways:
Website: www.myownpension.co.uk – Click on Menu – Contact Us – Type in your Police Force.
Telephone: English: 0330 0545500; Cymraeg: 02038 669545 (a specialist police pension helpline is open from 8.30 to 17.00 Monday to Thursday and until 16.30 on Friday)
Email: penmail@xpsgroup.com
Mail: Police Pensions Team, XPS Administration, PO Box 485, Middlesbrough TS1 9EE
Auto-enrolment
Every three years all employers in the UK – including police forces – are obliged to re-enrol workers who have previously opted out back into their pension scheme. The intention behind this is to safeguard pensioners and ensure they are provided for in their old age, and don’t overlook the opportunity to build up a pension. For officers, this means those who have opted out of any of the police schemes will be enrolled into the Police Pension Scheme 2015 (2015 CARE Scheme).
This process is scheduled to take place in North Wales Police in May 2020.
We are aware that some officers have opted out of the schemes. These officers will be re-enrolled, and if they do not opt out again then they will have pension contributions deducted from their salaries. Clearly this may cause hardship if the deductions are sizable, or if the officer is not alert to the possibility, and fails to act.
We understand there are relatively few officers who have opted out. However, because of the possible impact on these officers we are keen to ensure that they understand the auto-enrolment process and take whatever action they feel appropriate.
Process
The aim of this communication is to ensure that officers know what to look out for. We would not encourage officers to opt out without taking independent financial advice. However, if an officer is certain that he or she wishes to remain opted out of the CARE Scheme then the following applies:
- There is an opt out period. The local employer (force) may specify this, but if not then the statutory provision applies under (Reg 9(2) or (3) of the Occupational and Personal Pensions Scheme (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations 2010. This means the opt-out period will start on the date statutory re-enrolment information is given
- The employer MUST give the following information to the officer
- A statement that the officer has been or will be re-enrolled
- The date for this
- The value of any pension contributions, and a statement that these will be deducted
- The contributions must be deducted from the next payroll after re-enrolment
What should I do if I previously opted out and wish to do so again?
- Any officer who is certain that he or she wants to still opt out will have to make that known to the employer and pension provider as soon as possible after receiving the statutory letter or email notifying them that they are being re-enrolled
- The officer has one month to complete an opt-out notice (provided by the pension provider) and leave the scheme
- An opt-out notice cannot be submitted prior to the officer becoming an active member
- After receipt of this, the employer must stop deducting contributions, and refund any already deducted since re-enrolment
Clearly for some officers it is possible that the initial deductions from salary will occur before the opt-notice is actioned by the force. This will depend on local payroll timetables. If you have previously opted out and intend to do so again, then we suggest you contact your force HR (or scheme administrator) to check the timings.
Be alert to the need to complete an opt-out notice as soon as possible.
Short Service Pension provision in the 1987 Pension scheme
If you have 25 years’ pensionable service, you can retire with an ordinary pension paid immediately on retirement once you reach age 50. If you have 30 years’ pensionable service, you may retire with an immediate pension before age 50.
Short service pensions are paid immediately if you retire with less than 25 years’ service at what would have been the compulsory retirement age for your rank before the following new compulsory retirement ages were introduced on 1 October 2006.
From 1 October 2006, compulsory retirement ages are as follows:
- for a Constable, Sergeant, Inspector or Chief Inspector, 60 years
- for an officer with any higher rank, 65 years.
The compulsory retirement ages by rank before October 2006 were:
Constable and Sergeant – 55
Inspector to Chief Supterintendent - 60
NPCC - 6
Related links
FAQs on the national PFEW website
Pension Remedy FAQs on the national PFEW website
Pensions' Tax Relief - Annual Allowance
Police Pension Scheme 2015 - PFEW FAQs
Changes to Police Pensions Scheme wef 01.04.15
Protected Pension Age: Retirement and Re-employment
Hot topics
Quick links to information on the national Police Federation website:
