​Applying for admission from 1 April 2022

Applying for admission under S25(5) of the Public Service Pensions Act

Before 1 April 2022, applications were generally made under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972. From 1 April 2022, following pension reform, applications for admission are made under section 25(5) of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.

Government Departments and agencies that are staffed by Civil Servants have an automatic right to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The scheme are also open to certain non-Civil Service organisations, such as non-Departmental Public Bodies, if they meet the Cabinet Office policy on eligibility for entry.

Non-Civil Service organisations cannot apply directly to Cabinet Office for admittance to the arrangements. A Government Department must represent, or ‘sponsor’, any non-Civil Service organisation that wishes to join.

Applying for Admission

If, on behalf of your Government Department, you are thinking of sponsoring a non-Civil Service organisation, you should, before applying:

  1. Visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-bodies-information-and-guidance and review the guidance provided if you are responsible for setting up the organisation.
  2. Check with the Workforce Pay & Pensions Team in HM Treasury as to which public sector scheme(s) would be most suitable for the organisation you are representing
  3. Ask your legal team to check that the business tenets of the body in question fit the criteria listed in Section 25(5) of the Public Service Pensions Act 2013.

If you wish to proceed, please send an email to pcspsadmissions@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and a member of staff will contact you to discuss further.