Local Government Pension Scheme
PENSION LIAISON OFFICERS’
GROUP (PLOG)
16 December 2009
Local Government Pension Scheme
Welcome / Introductions
•
David Broome – Head of Pensions
•
Martin Summers – Pensions Manager
•
Andy Cunningham – Employer Relationship Manager
Local Government Pension Scheme
Agenda
1. Welcome/attendance
2. Administration strategy
3. Discretions policy
4. Starter packs
5. Casuals and variable hours staff
6. LEAN review
7. The future of the LGPS & pre-budget report
8. Future PLOG meetings
9. Any other business
10. Dates/venue of forthcoming meetings
Local Government Pension Scheme
2. Administration Strategy
• Initial consultation period with selected employers in October
and November concluded successfully with only minor changes
made as a result.
• Final draft sent to all employer contacts on 4th December 2009
• Implementation date: 1st January 2010
Local Government Pension Scheme
2. Administration Strategy - Key points
• Applies to all employers
• Targets set out in the strategy will be used as a basis for:
Employer/Fund performance analysis and identifying areas
for improvements (sent every 3 months for ‘large’
employers – next due in early January)
Indicating when we should be chasing responses to queries
and missing data (i.e. once turnaround time has passed)
Giving clarity to the minimum turnaround and accuracy
requirements for the Fund to perform effectively and provide
a good customer service.
Local Government Pension Scheme
2. Administration Strategy - expectations
• Average employer performance to improve in all high volume
areas (particularly retirements) towards target area
• Less queries raised by members and the Fund
• Less erroneous data on our system
Local Government Pension Scheme
3. Discretions Policy
Reminder: If you have yet to complete a discretions policy please
do so ASAP. Further information and templates can be found under
the employer guide section of our website.
Following the Oct 2009 technical update, in the absence of a
discretions policy we will no longer process anything covered
on the policy, e.g. flexible retirements, pre-60 retirements,
added years/additional pension.
Note: Minimum age for pension to be paid out on redundancy
grounds and early retirement will change to 55 from 50 on 1st April
2010 for all members.
Local Government Pension Scheme
4. New Starter Packs
Included in the new packs:
• Detailed transfer information
• Linking and changing jobs within the same employer
- emphasise on the member for both
Arrangements for existing packs:
Expected date of implementation: early in New Year
Local Government Pension Scheme
5. Casuals & Variable Hours Staff
• Rules changed April 2008
• Casual staff:
• Have no “ Mutuality of Obligation” contracts?
• If there is no contract issued then not able to join the
scheme
• If there is a contract issued to be eligible to join the scheme
the period of service must be for over 3 months duration
Local Government Pension Scheme
5. Casuals & Variable Hours Staff
• Variable hours staff
• Do they have “ Mutuality of Obligation” contracts?
• If there is no contract issued then not able to join the
scheme
• If there is a contract issued to be eligible to join the scheme
the period of service must be for over 3 months duration
Local Government Pension Scheme
5. Casuals & Variable Hours Staff
• Consider whether employees fall into these categories
• Have contracts been issued?
• Review contracts
• Legal advice
Local Government Pension Scheme
5. Casuals & Variable Hours Staff
• New casuals from 01/04/10 with Mutual Obligation (MO)
contract of more than 3 months have automatic entry (no
election required)
• Existing MOs on 31 March 2010 - stay in scheme (even if
not working that day)
• All other casuals become “deferred” on 31 March 2010 (or
the 1st day thereafter that they don’t work
Local Government Pension Scheme
5. Casuals & Variable Hours Staff
• Writing to employers re our records that show “casual”
status
• Are they still casuals?
• If membership of the scheme you will need to collect data on
“hours” worked/paid (not overtime), and amount paid, to be
sent to WPF at each year end, on termination of contract
and on retirement
Local Government Pension Scheme
LEAN review (1)
• Now drawing to a close
• Completed or very close:
– Starters
– Leavers
– Changes
– Retirements
– Deferred into pay
– Linking of records
– Transfers (although will not be implemented until New Year)
Local Government Pension Scheme
LEAN review (2)
• Still being worked on:
– Death (in service, deferred or pensioner)
– Starter Pack will be reissued in New Year
• Full review of whole of LEAN by Pensions Section this
morning
• Would welcome your views
• Will be looking to improve some less customer facing
procedures in 2010 (eg. new admin system, AVCs, etc)
Local Government Pension Scheme
Future of LGPS
• Consultation on future of Scheme cancelled by Govt in the
Autumn!
• Cost-sharing apparently to be introduced in 2011/12, but
details very sketchy!
• Widespread recognition that the Scheme needs reviewing,
but the small matter of the election is getting in the way!
Local Government Pension Scheme
Pre-budget report 2009
•
“High Income Excess Relief Charge” – restriction of tax relief for
those earning over £150k p.a.
•
Extension of Anti-Forestalling from 9 December 2009
•
Changed tax arrangements on refunds - conts <2 years
•
Auto-enrolment – “slower introduction”
•
Public Sector pensions:
– “Higher pension contributions for higher paid”
– “Cap and Share reforms”
– Is it a policy change or just loose wording?
Local Government Pension Scheme
10. Date of next meeting
2:30pm, Wednesday 24th March 2010 at Devizes Town Hall