Part-Time Elections Made in December 2006

12 December 2006 / Members and Employers

In recognition of communication issues relating to the changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has exceptionally agreed that part-time elections made in December 2006 will take effect from 1 December 2006, rather than 1 January 2007 as would normally be the case.

This will mean that those members who wish to be included in the scheme with a normal pension age (NPA) of 60 and an automatic lump sum of 3 x their 1/80ths pension will need to complete form 261 as soon as possible so that it is received by Teachers’ Pensions (TP) no later than 29 December 2006.

If the form 261 is received by TP after 29 December, the last working day in December, the member will join the scheme as a new entrant with a NPA of 65, a 1/60th pension and no automatic entitlement to a lump sum.

Although an employer can apply for retrospection on behalf of an employee to a date before 1 January 2007, evidence will need to be provided supporting the request and explaining why the election was not made at the correct time. If contributions have been deducted from the start of the employment, but the employer has not submitted the form 261 to TP, this will not constitute retrospection and service prior to 1 January 2007 will be based on an NPA of 60. Evidence may be required to confirm that contributions have been deducted.

If contributions have not been deducted and sufficient explanation is provided by the employer to allow the DCSF to grant retrospection, the member will join the scheme as a new entrant with an NPA of 65. Service prior to 1 January 2007 may be covered under the arrears provisions, but will not be attributed as being accrued prior to 1 January 2007.

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