Date posted: 29/11/2021

Audience:

  • HR managers;
  • Payroll managers
  • Pension managers
  • Shared Services

Timing:

From December 2021 to February 2022.

Action:

This EPN provides an update on how we will be communicating with fully protected members over the coming weeks.

  • MyCSP will issue a letter to fully protected members, starting in December 2021.
  • MyCSP will work with secure employers to issue letters in line with their distribution requirements.
  • MyCSP will provide employers with a list of their fully protected members, which will indicate when they will receive their letters.
  • Employers can share the message about members moving to alpha on 1 April 2022 in support of the letter being issued
  • Employers can report any issues with the member lists provided to EmployerRemedyQueries@mycsp.co.uk

Detail:

When alpha was introduced on 1 April 2015 as part of Civil Service pension reforms, members were assessed by their age (age test) and service history (presence test) as to whether they would be eligible to:

  • remain in the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Fully Protected Group);
  • move into alpha at a later date, depending on age (Tapered Protection Group), or;
  • move into alpha on 1 April 2015 (No Protection Group or gave up their tapered protection as part of the Options Exercise).

Following our communication to all members in February 2021, we will shortly be writing directly to members in the Fully Protected group to remind them that they will be moving into alpha on 1 April 2022.

In the letter, we will signpost to www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/moving-to-alpha, which contains key messages about moving into alpha and a special Live@Lunch event taking place in January and February 2022, where they will be able to ask questions.

See Annex A for a copy of the letter for reference.

Just prior to sending the letters to members, we will securely provide employers with a breakdown of how many members are affected in their organisation, along with names, National Insurance numbers and when letters are due to be issued. You do not need to let us know about members who have recently left or are about to leave the scheme or your employment.

Letters will be issued to members in five tranches, as follows:

  1. 6 December 2021: Over State Pension age
  2. 4 January 2022: Partially retired
  3. 17 January 2022: All other members (excluding secure employers)
  4. 29 January 2022: Members of secure employers and some Senior Tier members
  5. After 29 January 2022: Any members we identify have been missed in the first four tranches

We will make every effort to ensure the letters reach all relevant members; however, if we don’t have the most recent data from employers, it is possible that a small number of members could be missed. If you are aware of any very recently deceased members, you may wish to check that they are not included, to avoid the potential risk of distress should a letter be received.

In addition, if you are a New Fair Deal employer, or if you have members who are only fully protected due to their previous public service pension history (for example in the Local Government Pension Scheme), these members may not be included in your list. We are currently in the process of identifying these members with a view to issuing letters to them from the end of January.

Whilst there is no specific action required from employers, if you do have any issues with the member list we supply, you can share them with MyCSP via EmployerRemedyQueries@mycsp.co.uk who will log and feed back into the distribution.

Contacts:

If you have any issues with the member list we supply, you can share them with MyCSP via EmployerRemedyQueries@mycsp.co.uk

For any general queries in relation to this communication, please contact the ERM team at ERM@mycsp.co.uk

If you have a question about the distribution of EPNs, or would like to receive them in a different format, please contact EPN@MyCSP.co.uk.

This notice is for employers and should not be issued to scheme members.

Members can find information about their pension by visiting our website: www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Annexes:

Published:
29 November 2021
Last updated:
24 April 2023