Answer:

If you’re impacted by Transitional Protection, you’ll  be able to access a Benefit Statement - RSS on My Pension Online. The Benefit Statement - RSS shows you both choices. As with a Benefit Statement it updates each month (as long as you’re in active service) and you’ll be able to see any flexibilities and family benefit.  

The Benefit Statement - RSS replaces your Benefit Statement.

Answer:

If you have a Buy Out election, this won’t appear on your Benefit Statement as your Statement is based on your overall service and salary information (rather than a breakdown of your contributions). You should have received a letter when your Buy Out election was accepted detailing all the relevant information. However, your deductions will likely show on your monthly payslip from your employer. Please speak to them if you think the deductions are incorrect. Please also ensure you let your employer know about your election if you change establishments. Visit our website for more information about Buy out.

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No, as you go through your career your Benefits Statement - RSS will continue to update reflecting any new teaching service/change in circumstances. You don’t need to make a decision about the two choices until you submit your retirement application.

Answer:

If you’re affected by Transitional Protection, then your Benefits Statement - RSS will show the most up to date information we have for you based on your data. Due to the complexity of the calculations it’s not possible to show past Benefits Statements - RSS. However, you can continue to check your past service history to ensure your teaching service is up to date.

Answer:

It's important that you check your service history to ensure the correct details are held as this is what we base your pension benefits on. Any errors not identified now may result in delays when calculating your pension benefits, or result in an incorrect pension amount being paid. If you identify any errors or omissions please contact the employer at the time of service, ask them to investigate and, where necessary, inform Teachers' Pensions about any changes. We will then update your record accordingly.

Answer:

If your employer has included excluded days in their record of your service and salary, this will be reflected on your Benefit Statement/ Benefit Statement - RSS. Days excluded (i.e. (not worked and not counting towards reckonable service in the final salary scheme) are used when deciding the actual reckonable service and salary rate for the period that counts towards your final salary benefits, or for career average benefits to decide the actual pensionable earnings in the time period. But if you’re part-time we ask your employer to provide your actual part-time pensionable earnings and, although we will still derive the number of days excluded in the period, it’s the actual reported pensionable earnings that will be used to determine your pension benefits.

Answer:

No, as you go through your career your Benefit Statement - RSS will continue to update reflecting any new teaching service/change in circumstances. You don’t need to make a decision about the two choices until you submit your retirement application.

Answer:

If you’re affected by Transitional Protection, then your Benefit Statement - RSS will show the most up to date information we have for you based on your data. Due to the complexity of the calculations it’s not possible to show past Benefit Statement - RSS. However, you can continue to check your past service history to ensure your teaching service is up to date.

Answer:

The new Benefit Statement/ Benefit Statement - RSS allows you to view the individual service lines which make up the multiple/concurrent service.

Answer:

If there are gaps in the service on your Benefit Statement/ Benefit Statement - RSS and you’re sure that you contributed to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme during that period you have what we call missing service (usually this doesn’t mean that you or your employer have missed any contribution payments, but that your record needs updating).

Missing service can be easily resolved. If you’re affected, please contact your employer at the time in question and ask them to provide us with the details we’re missing. The information will be  changed on our system and you’ll be able to view the updated Benefit Statement/ Benefit Statement - RSS online through My Pension Online (This link opens in a new window). 

Answer:

Missing service means you’ve been making contributions to your teacher’s pension, but this isn’t shown in your Benefit/ Statement/Benefit Statement - RSS/Service history.

When there’s missing service on your record this doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your employer have missed any contribution payments. It’s usually caused by details not being provided correctly to us, which results in a gap in service record. 

It’s important to ask your employer to update any missing service. This is because we use your service information to calculate your retirement benefits. Any errors or missing service found during the application process could delay your retirement benefits being paid.

You’ll need to speak to the relevant employer for that service period and ask them to update your record accordingly. This will then be reflected on your service history and Benefit Statement. 

For more information about what to do when you have missing service, including what to do if your employer no longer holds your records or no longer exists, please see our FAQS (This link opens in a new window).

Answer:

We can’t amend your service record directly. Your employer must submit any corrections. If your employer no longer holds your records, you’ll need to provide them with evidence so they can reconstruct your service and submit the update to us.

Providing evidence

Payslips from the relevant period are the best form of evidence because they show your pension contributions. If you don’t have your payslips, you can also use P60s or information provided by HMRC.

What do I do if I don’t have payslips?

You can request information from HMRC by making a Subject Access Request (SAR) for:

“CA39456s, Table 5 – Employment History”

When contacting HMRC, make sure you request the full report name which is "CA39456s, Table 5 – Employment History". Other versions of the CA39456s form won't provide the information required for us to update your record.

This information confirms your employer and earnings and includes our unique ECON and SCON numbers, which indicate that you were contracted out to our Scheme. Although it doesn’t prove the pension contributions paid, it can be helpful evidence when reviewing your record.

You can request this information via:

• Your Personal Tax Account (for the last five years)
• HMRC online/webchat
• Telephone: 0300 200 3500
• Post: SARS/DPU, HM Revenue and Customs, National Insurance Contributions Office BX9 1AN

For more information about requesting this information from HMRC, visit: How to make a Subject Access Request to HMRC (This link opens in a new window)

Requests can take up to 90 days.

Once received, please send the information to your former employer as it remains your employer’s responsibility. Please also send a copy to us at tpattachments@teacherspensions.co.uk or by post to Teachers’ Pensions, 11b Lingfield Point, Darlington, Co. Durham DL1 1AX, noting that you’ve provided the information to your employer.

Answer:

Please send any evidence you have directly to us, via email at tpattachments@teacherspensions.co.uk or by post to Teachers’ Pensions, 11b Lingfield Point, Darlington, Co. Durham DL1 1AX and we’ll do our best to reconstruct your service record.