What’s the Transitional Protection Remedy?

In 2015, the government introduced reforms to public service pension schemes, including the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, which meant some members moved to the career average scheme. This approach was found to be discriminatory on age grounds and a remedy was agreed to correct this.

The affected period, known as the 'remedy period’, covers service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 – this is the period in which the difference in treatment occurred.

What are the changes?

On 1 October, as part of the Transition Protection remedy, all pensionable service accrued between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 has been rolled back to the final salary scheme.

What if I opted out?

If you opted out of the Scheme, after 10 March 2012 as a result of Transitional Protection, you can request to opt back in for service in the remedy period (1 April 2015 -31 March 2022). The deadline to request this is 30 September 2024.

You’ll then decide whether your remedy period service is to be taken as career average or final salary. You’ll need to provide evidence of why you opted out and the unpaid member contributions, plus interest, for the period you’ve opted back in will need to be paid.

Active / deferred members

If you hadn't retired by 1 October 2023 your service was automatically rolled back and your Benefit Statement will be updated to reflect this. Although your current statement will only show your final salary option, we’re working hard to show both options. However you’ll receive final salary and career average options when you make your retirement application.

If you took out Faster Accrual, Buy Out or career average scheme Additional Pension, or worked any overtime or excess service in the career average scheme during the remedy period, you’ll be required to make a decision as these are unavailable in the final salary scheme - we’ll be in touch with you separately about this.

As your service during the remedy period has been rolled back, this means you entered the career average scheme for the first time on 1 April 2022. As you’re a new entrant from that date, there are some new opportunities available to you for you to increase your benefits and those of your family.

• Transfer service from another pension scheme into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme within 12 months (members who had any pensionable service between 1 April 2022 and 30 September 2023 only).
• Increase your accrual rate each year through a Faster Accrual election.
• Buy-out the actuarial reduction that’ll be made to your career average benefits if you decide to retire before reaching your Normal Pension Age.
• Purchase Additional Pension benefits to be paid when you retire.

Depending on the choice you make between final salary and career average for the remedy period, you may be eligible for compensation in relation to any flexibilities, overtime and excess service you may have.

• Find out where you may be eligible and how this will calculated and paid.

Some of these opportunities have time limits and it’s important you take the time to understand your options. Please read our factsheet for active and deferred members (PDF, 244 KB) (This link opens in a new window) to help you understand more.

Retired members

Any service you accrued during the remedy period in the career average scheme is from 1 October in the final salary scheme, however you won’t see any immediate changes. As you’ve already retired, we won’t adjust your benefits until you've received your Remediable Service Statement (RSS) and confirmed your choice.

For more information on Transitional Protection, read our factsheet for retired members (PDF, 139 KB) (This link opens in a new window), to help you understand rollback.