Public Consultation – Civil Service Pensions - Phase Two of the 2015 Remedy (McCloud)

Date published: 4 April 2023

The Department is seeking the views of current, retried and deferred civil servants, along with all interested parties and organisations on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) which applies to members affected by the age discrimination introduced by the 2015 public service pension scheme reforms.

Phase one of the remedy was completed last year with all active members becoming members of the new pension scheme ‘alpha’ from 1 April 2022, irrespective of age.

This consultation is encouraging views on how phase two should be implemented. Phase two will remove the discrimination by allowing members the choice between their legacy scheme or 2015 reformed scheme for a seven-year remedy period. Members will be given the choice between legacy pension scheme benefits (Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos) or pension benefits equivalent to those available under the 2015 reformed scheme (alpha) for service during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. They will not however need to make any remedy choices on their personal circumstances at this stage.

The consultation runs until the 2 June 2023 and sets out how the regulations will work in practice and explain the remedy choices that members will have. Consultation documents are available on the Civil Service Pensions (NI) website alongside the associated Equality Screening and Rural Needs Impact Assessment at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations/nics-retrospective-remedy

Members can find out if they are affected by the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) by using the ‘Am I Affected’ tool on the Civil Service Pensions (NI) website at https://dttwebresources.nidirect.gov.uk/remedyworkflow/index.html