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 2023, 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 had the option to request to opt back in for service in the remedy period (1 April 2015 -31 March 2022). However, the deadline to do this has now passed.

Active / deferred members

If you hadn't retired by 1 October 2023 your service was automatically rolled back and your Benefit Statement has been updated to reflect this. Your Benefit Statement RSS will show both your career average and final salary options for the remedy period.   However, you won’t need to make a decision on this until you retire.

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 have been required to make a decision as these are unavailable in the final salary scheme. In most cases we’ll have been in touch with you 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. In career average you can increase your accrual rate each year through a Faster Accrual election.

• 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 be calculated and paid. (This link opens in a new window)

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, 367 KB) (This link opens in a new window)

Retired members

Any service you accrued during the remedy period in the career average scheme has from 1 October 2023 moved into the final salary scheme.  As you’ve already retired, as a retired member we’ll be sending you your Remediable Service Statement (RSS) for you to confirm your choices. You’ll only see a difference to your benefits after this form has been returned. 

For more information on Transitional Protection, read our factsheet for retired members (PDF, 248 KB) (This link opens in a new window), to help you understand rollback.

Previous Pensionable Public Service Questionnaire

If you’ve got a pension in another public sector pension scheme, then it’s important to let us know.

There was an option to transfer benefits into the Scheme. However, this deadline has now passed. If you have chosen to leave your benefits in the other scheme you might have Salary Link protection. The Salary Link is the protection introduced with the move to career average that allows us to use the salaries in career average service when calculating any final salary benefits to which you're entitled.

If you think you should be impacted by Transitional Protection due to pensionable public service held elsewhere, then please ensure you complete this form.

To apply you'll need to download the form (PDF, 243 KB) (This link opens in a new window), print it, and send it to the address on the form.