From 1 October 2023, active members who are affected by the Transitional Protection changes will be asked to choose between final salary and career average pension scheme benefits for service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 (the remedy period).

They can make their choice at the time they take their pension benefits - this is referred to as the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU).

Initially, those members who were moved to the career average scheme in 2015 (or later if they had tapered protection), will be moved back into the final salary scheme for the remedy period. However, when they then take their pension benefits, they’ll get to make the choice which is best suited to them.

If a member is affected and has already taken benefits from the final salary scheme they’ll be given the choice for service between 1 April 2015 and the date they take their pension benefits. Any changes will be backdated by us.

Members who 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, will also be required to make a decision as these are unavailable in the final salary scheme. We’ll be in touch with them separately about this.

More information on the changes can be found on our website.