Key Remedy Dates and Jargon Buster
Below are some of the key dates currently set for implementation of the Remedy process for those affected and clarification of some of the jargon used under the Remedy topic.
Key Remedy Dates
31 March 2022
The legacy pension scheme PCSPS(NI) closed to future service accrual.
1 April 2022
All members who previously remained in a legacy scheme were moved into the alpha scheme. From this date, alpha became the only defined benefit pension scheme available to civil service employees.
1 October 2023
Legislation was enshrined in law that enabled us to start the implementation of the Remedy choice process for those in receipt of pension benefits and for those who continue to work for whom retirement is still at a point in the future.
1 October 2023 onwards
All affected members applying for retirement will be given a choice of pension benefits for the Remedy period. The choice will be between legacy scheme benefits and alpha benefits. Also starting from October 2023 and over a period of up to 18 months, members who retired before October 2023, including those who have only before partially retired, will be given a choice of pension benefits for service within the Remedy period.
31 August 2024
To help you make your choice in the future, we are aiming for all Annual Benefit Statements to be enhanced to show what your pension benefits under both the legacy scheme and the alpha scheme would look like for service during the Remedy period.
By 31 March 2025
Retired members will receive a Remediable Service Statement (RSS), providing them with their Immediate Choice options for both Legacy (Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos) and Reformed scheme (alpha). You will receive your choice documents and additional supporting information to help you decide on the benefits you wish to receive for your service within the Remedy period. You have 12 months to make your choice (from the date of letter) and return your choice form by email, however, if you are unable to do this you can submit your choice form by post.
Members who partially retired from 1 April 2015 to 30 September 2023 and took benefits in relation to service in the Remedy period, will also receive their RSS and will have an Immediate Choice to make.
Jargon Buster
The Remedy Period
Those affected by the 2015 Remedy will be offered a choice on how they would like their benefits to be calculated for their years of service during the ‘Remedy Period’. The Remedy period is between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. The choice will be between their legacy scheme benefits or the alpha scheme benefits for this period of time.
The Legacy Scheme
When we refer to the ‘legacy scheme’ we are referring to the last pension scheme arrangement a civil servant was a member of before reform was introduced. Legacy schemes include Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos and these are our ‘pre-2015’ pension scheme arrangements.
Rollback
The term used to describe the process by which in-scope members are placed back into a relevant legacy pension scheme(s). The legacy pension schemes for the NICS are Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos.
Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU)
The provision for members to remain in, or be returned to, the legacy PCSPS(NI) schemes for service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. At the point of retirement (or when benefits become payable) or as soon as practicable (for members who have already had a pension award), members would then be able instead to chose to receive reformed alpha scheme benefits for that period.
Immediate Choice
Under section 6 of the PSPJOA 2022, members who already have benefits in payment or who have died by the time the remedy is implemented (entitlement to the payment of benefits in relation to remediable service will have occurred) will be provided with an immediate choice.
Tapered Group
Active scheme members, who, on 1 April 2012, were between 10 years and 13.5 years of their Normal Scheme Pension Age. These members opted to remain in Classic, Classic Plus, Premium on 1 April 2015 and continued to accrue pension in the PCSPS(NI). These members transitioned to alpha at a later date between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 and then began to accrue pension in alpha. Their transition date depended on an individual’s age and the time remaining until they reach their Normal Pension Age in their PCSPS(NI) section.