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This section does not cover compulsory transfers of staff as there are different eligibility rules concerning pension provision. If you are thinking of undertaking a compulsory transfer exercise, you must get in touch with your Employer Relationship Manager in the first instance. For further information on transfers please see Section 12.
The CSP arrangements are open to all employees of the Civil Service and organisations listed in Schedule 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972, with the following exceptions:
Please note: for Civil Service employers, all appointments need not comply with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. See http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/
By ‘employee’, we mean a person engaged on a contract of service. You should obtain your own legal advice to determine whether or not an individual is an ‘employee’.
Where someone is not an ‘employee’, for the avoidance of doubt you should specify in their contract that they are not covered by the pension arrangements.
You should note that just because someone is treated as an employee for tax and national insurance purposes, it does not necessarily mean that they are employed on a contract of service and therefore entitled to a Civil Service pension.
We use the term ‘new entrant’ to define someone who is starting work for a CSP employer for the first time and, depending on their ‘employee status’, is eligible for a Civil Service pension. Whether the employee works full or part-time is immaterial.
We use the term ‘rejoiner’ to define someone who has been a member of the CSP arrangements before. This includes individuals:
There is no minimum or maximum age for members joining the CSP arrangements. However, members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) cannot accrue any further benefits in the scheme after their 75th birthday. See Section 7 - Member reaching age 75 (classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos) for further information. This does not apply to members of alpha.
From 1 April 2015 new entrants with no recent public sector pension history have a choice of joining alpha or opening a partnership pension account. See Section 3 for details on the schemes available.
Members joining from a recent period of public sector employment may not be eligible for alpha; instead they may join nuvos or premium subject to their age (their years to their NPA) and their pension history.
Rejoiners may have different choices. These will depend on:
The general position is as follows. There are exceptions to new entrants and rejoiners but we will tell you about these later.
After 1 April 2015 most new entrants and rejoiners will be entered into alpha when they start.
However, some members will be eligible to join (or rejoin) the PCSPS, so a series of checks must be completed.
See ‘Scheme Eligibility - Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test’ (paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83) for more information.
There is also more information available about eligibility and enrolling members into alpha in Annex A.
Please note: You must use the Pension Questionnaire and the Joiner Tool. Both of these are essential tools to help you deliver the correct choice of pension(s) to staff and, because of this, the Scheme Manager, Cabinet Office is making it mandatory for all employers who participate in the CSP arrangements to use them. See ‘Helping you decide pension choices for new entrants and rejoiners’ (paragraphs 4.1.18 to 4.1.24) for further information.
4.1.13 Rejoiners who have not taken their pension or received compensation and who have had a break in CSP employment of 28 days or less will usually return to the scheme they were in with their previous CSP employer. However, if the rejoiner was previously a member of the PCSPS the member will be enrolled into alpha if:
Please see ‘Scheme Eligibility – Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test’ (paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83) for further information regarding tapered enrolment.
Members who have received compensation on leaving will have their compensation cancelled on rejoining and their service will be classed as continuous. The member must pay back the full amount of compensation. See ‘Other things you need to know – Rejoiner matters’ (paragraph 4.1.53 onwards) for further information.
4.1.14 Most rejoiners who return after a break of 28 days or more but less than 6 months will be eligible to join either alpha or partnership.
If, however, a rejoiner had previously qualified for full protection or tapered enrolment in the PCSPS (and has not yet passed their tapered enrolment date) and returns after a break of 28 days or more but less than 6 months, they will usually be eligible to join either nuvos or partnership (see ‘Scheme Eligibility - Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test’ (paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83) for further information regarding full protection/tapered enrolment).
However, those who resigned from their previous CSP employment or came to an end of a fixed term appointment, having qualified for a classic, classic plus or premium pension, and who are not yet receiving their pension, will have a choice of premium or partnership. They will not be able to join nuvos.
If a member becomes eligible for alpha (i.e. their tapered enrolment date has passed), they will be moved into that scheme.
4.1.15 Members rejoining during this period who left with a compensation payment will have to repay the lesser of (a) 6 months' worth of compensation, and (b) the notional period of their compensation (see ‘Compensation payments’ (paragraphs 4.1.61 to 4.1.64) for further information). If their pension is in payment, abatement may apply (see ‘Abatement’ (paragraph 4.1.53)).
4.1.16 Most rejoiners who return after a break of 6 months but within 5 years will be eligible to join either alpha or partnership.
If, however, a rejoiner had previously qualified for full protection or tapered enrolment in the PCSPS (and has not yet passed their tapered enrolment date) and returns after a break of 6 months or more but less than 5 years, they will usually be eligible to join either nuvos or partnership (see ‘Scheme Eligibility - Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test’ (paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83) for further information regarding full protection/tapered enrolment).
However, those who resigned from their previous CSP employment or whose fixed term appointment came to an end, having qualified for a classic, classic plus or premium pension, and who are not yet receiving their pension, will have a choice of premium or partnership. They will not be able to join nuvos.
If a member becomes eligible for alpha (i.e. their tapered enrolment date has passed), they will be moved into that scheme.
4.1.17 This group of rejoiners will usually have the option to join either alpha or partnership. In effect, you treat them as if they were new entrants. However, if a rejoiner has service in a previous public service pension scheme, this can affect the choices available to them (see ‘Scheme Eligibility - Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test’ (paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83) for further information).
Annex 4A gives a summary of the choice(s) of scheme(s) available for rejoiners. As the choices for rejoiners are not straightforward, we have developed the ‘Pensions Questionnaire' and 'Joiner Calculator’ to help you identify the correct choices. We tell you more about this in paragraph 4.1.18 onwards.
Using the Pension Questionnaire and Joiner Tool will help you to identify the scheme your new member of staff is eligible for.
This will involve you collecting information from your new employee about their public service pension scheme history, as this can affect their scheme eligibility.
4.1.18 The following table lists the groups of employees who are not regarded as being either new entrants or rejoiners for pension purposes.
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Staff on short term contracts who are given further contracts of work (and have not had a break in employment) |
As there has not been a break in employment, these staff are not regarded as either new entrants or rejoiners for pension purposes. For guidance, please see Annex 4D. |
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Members moving from one CSP employer to another without a break in service |
An individual is not regarded as a new entrant or rejoiner if they move from one CSP employer to another CSP employer. These members will have already established their pension choice. They are not generally permitted to change their option purely as a result of moving from one CSP employer to another. However, if the transferring employee is opted out of the Civil Service pension scheme and does not have an active partnership account, due to automatic enrolment legislation, the new employer must enrol the employee into the Civil Service pension scheme. See Employees transferred in from another CSP employer paragraphs 4.4.13 to 4.4.14. The exporting employer must tell you about the member’s pension details when they transfer the personnel details to you. It is your responsibility to ensure you have received this information. Annex 4B text C gives you a form of words to use in the letter of appointment. See Section 6 Staff transferring to another employer who is part of the CSP arrangements paragraphs 6.1.6 to 6.1.11 for how to deal with this type of staff move or ‘transfer’. |
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Staff on loan from another CSP employer |
Staff on loan will have already established their pension choice and are not permitted to change their option purely as a result of working on loan for another CSP employer. |
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Staff returning from a career break |
Staff returning from a career break will stay in the scheme that they were in before their break. After 1 April 2015 the member may be enrolled into alpha when they return from the career break, but this is dependent on their eligibility. |
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Pensioners immediately re- employed upon retirement |
See guidance under Other things you need to know – Rejoiner matters, paragraph 4.1.53 onwards. |
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Staff who previously worked for the Northern Ireland Civil Service or a ‘by-analogy’ organisation |
If you appoint someone from the Northern Ireland Civil Service or a ‘by-analogy’ organisation, they may be able to join the CSP scheme that mirrors their previous arrangement as long as they have not taken their pension and:
Where you appoint someone from the Northern Ireland Civil Service or a ‘by-analogy’ organisation and they are receiving a pension from that employment, they will only have the choice between alpha and partnership. Note this arrangement applies only to multi employee by-analogy organisations and not to ‘one man schemes’ set up especially for individual post holders. A list of by–analogy and analogous schemes can be found here. |
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Staff returning from secondment |
See Section 5 Secondment paragraphs 5.5.1 to 5.5.6 for information on the treatment of secondments. |
Please note: You must use the Pension Questionnaire and the Joiner Tool. It is an essential tool to help you deliver the correct choice of pension(s) to staff and, because of this, the Scheme Manager, Cabinet Office is mandating its use by all employers who participate in the CSP arrangements.
Although from 1 April 2015 most new entrants will only have a choice of joining either alpha or partnership, the choices for rejoiners and those with recent public service pension history are not straightforward. The Pensions Questionnaire and the Joiner Tool will help you identify the correct choices.
4.1.20 You must ensure that you collect information from your new employee about their previous Civil Service and public service pension scheme history, as this can affect their scheme eligibility. The questionnaire includes a section for your new employee to complete with this information. See ‘Scheme Eligibility - Public service pension scheme history’ and ‘Scheme Eligibility – The Presence Test paragraphs 4.1.73 to 4.1.83 for further information.
4.1.22 Before issuing the questionnaire, you should put your return address in the space provided to let the appointee know where to return the form. You can input this on the form before you print it off.
4.1.23 You must send the questionnaire with the ‘conditional offer’ letter to the appointee and include the text we have provided in Annex 4B, letter text K. The text asks the appointee to complete and return the questionnaire to you without delay. You must give them sufficient time to complete it and enter an appropriate date for return in the letter.
4.1.24 The tool will tell you:
‘Enrolling' people into a pension scheme
4.1.25
See Section 4.4 - Your responsibilities under Automatic Enrolment for more information.
4.1.26 When a person is enrolled, you must tell them about the pension choices they have and send them the appropriate LOA text and order them a Starter Pack, if appropriate. The tool will guide you on which text you use for rejoiners.
4.1.27 You must give all new entrants and rejoiners 3 months from their start date to decide which scheme they wish to join. If a new entrant or rejoiner who has been enrolled in the CSP arrangements confirms within the 3 months that they wish to remain in that scheme, you backdate their choice to their start date and there is no further action to take - although in all cases you must keep the Pension Choices form on the member’s personnel file for future reference, and send a copy to the Scheme Administrator (MyCSP).
4.1.28 Where you have enrolled someone and they choose partnership on their Pension Choices form, as long as they have decided within 1 month of their start date, you must ‘unscramble’ contributions from the scheme they were enrolled into (if any were taken) and put them into partnership from their start date. See Section 4.2 - Unscrambling for more details.
If they make the decision to join partnership after 1 month of their start date, you must treat their choice as a request to ‘switch’ schemes. See Section 5 ‘Changing pension arrangements (paragraphs 5.9.1 to 5.9.2) for details of the switching process.
4.1.29 If a new entrant or rejoiner who has been enrolled in the CSP arrangements confirms that they wish to opt out of the scheme, the action to take depends on whether they have confirmed their choice within 1 month or after 1 month but within 3 months of their start date. See ‘New entrants deciding to opt out’ (paragraph 4.1.52) for further details.
4.1.30 Where a rejoiner was in partnership in their previous employment, joins your organisation within 28 days of leaving that employment and chooses to join partnership, they will be required to complete a new Partnership pension account application form to resume contributions. You will then be required to send a joining instruction to the partnership provider before contributions can re-commence. Please see the Legal & General ‘Manage Submissions Interface Guide’ issued in EPN533 for further details of how to issue the joining instruction.
4.1.32 You should insert the appropriate text into your standard LOA to tell the appointee about their pension choices. We have provided standard texts in Annex 4B. These texts relate to each of the particular pension choice(s) each group of new entrants and rejoiners have. The tool will tell you which letter text to use. Where applicable, the text notifies those employees who have been enrolled into one of the pension schemes.
Please note: The LOA texts include details about automatic enrolment. You must also ensure that you enclose a copy of the automatic enrolment factsheet with each LOA.
4.1.33 You should send the LOA before the person starts work. If this is not possible, then you should include the appropriate text in the ‘start letter’ or similar communication that is sent to the appointee with details of their joining arrangements.
4.1.34 It is a statutory requirement that new starters and rejoiners receive scheme information within two months of their start date. The Scheme Manager requires you, as the employer, to ensure that new staff receive scheme information much earlier. Please see ‘Issuing Starter Packs’ (see 4.1.38 to 4.1.44) for further information.
4.1.35 There are 3 Starter Packs. Each one is designed for the different categories of new starters and rejoiners. The Joiner Tool will tell you which Starter Pack to send.
'alpha full' - this pack is for all new starters eligible for alpha (and all rejoiners except those who only have a choice between nuvos and partnership, or premium and partnership).
‘NE1’ - this pack is for rejoiners eligible to join (or rejoin) nuvos. These new starters will generally be people who previously left nuvos having qualified for a pension award and return with a break of less than five years (and are not eligible for enrolment into alpha). However, this could also include members who previously left classic, classic plus or premium depending on what terms the member previously left on. See Annex 4A for more details.
‘RJP’ (premium) – this pack is for rejoiners who are eligible to join (or rejoin) premium. These new starters will generally be people who left classic, classic plus or premium on resignation with more than 2 years’ service, having qualified for a pension and who return with a break of less than 5 years (and are not eligible for enrolment into alpha).
4.1.36 All packs contain:
4.1.37
Each Starter Pack also contains a Pension Choices overview leaflet.
4.1.38 Employers are able to email Starter Packs to new entrants via the Joiner Tool.
4.1.39 You must email a Starter Pack when you issue the Letter Of Acceptance (LOA) or an earlier communication (if appropriate).
4.1.40 You can email a Starter Pack by clicking on the button 'Create an email' on the Joiner Tool.
There are 2 options for doing this:
Option 1: Email Form. This option is available for users of Outlook and Gmail. An email will be generated containing links to the Starter Pack and other important information for the scheme the Joiner Tool has determined the new starter is eligible to join.
Option 2: Generate email text to clipboard. This option is available for people who don’t use Outlook or Gmail. An email template will be generated containing links to the Starter Pack and other important information for the scheme the Joiner Tool has determined the new starter is eligible to join. You will need to copy the wording into your email to enable you to send this onto the new starter.
4.1.41 If you are unable to email the Starter Pack, please contact your Employer Relationship Manager (ERM) by emailing ERMExternalMailbox@mycsp.co.uk
4.1.44 It is your responsibility to ensure that new starters receive their Starter Packs.
If an individual has a query about the Civil Service pension arrangements, they should email: contactcentre@mycsp.co.uk
4.1.45 The new entrants and rejoiners must complete and return the Pension Choices forms to you to ensure the correct deductions are made from your payroll. The form should not be returned to the Scheme Administrator, as they will not process them (a copy of the form should be passed to The Scheme Administrator – see Table 2 below for further details).
4.1.46 The forms are colour coded to help you recognise the actions you need to take according to new entrant or rejoiner status. Table 2 tells you about the colour coding and the actions to take when you receive these forms within three months.
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Pension Choices form |
Actions to take |
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alpha full (alpha) - white |
If the member ticks that they would like to remain in alpha, you will have already enrolled the new entrant into alpha so there will be no further action for you. Pass a copy of the form to the Scheme Administrator. If the new entrant chooses partnership within one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must:
If the new entrant chooses partnership after one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must treat their choice as a request to ‘switch’ schemes. See section 5 - Changing pension arrangements paragraphs 5.9.1 to 5.9.2 for details of the switching process). Further information about the action to take if a member ticks partnership is given in Section 4 - Your responsibilities when staff join partnership. |
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NE1 - green |
If the new entrant ticks that they want to stay in nuvos, you will have already enrolled this group into nuvos so there will be no further action for you to take. Pass a copy of the form to the Scheme Administrator. If the new entrant chooses partnership within one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must:
If the new entrant chooses partnership after one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must treat their choice as a request to ‘switch’ schemes. See section 5 - Changing pension arrangements paragraphs 5.9.1 to 5.9.2 for details of the switching process). Further information about the action to take if a member ticks partnership is given in Section 4.2 - Your responsibilities when staff join partnership. |
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RJP (premium) - red |
If the rejoiner ticks that they want to remain in premium, you will have already enrolled this group into premium so there is no further action for you to take. Pass a copy of the form to the Scheme Administrator. If the new entrant chooses partnership within one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must:
If the new entrant chooses partnership after one month of enrolment (or being informed of enrolment, if later), you must treat their choice as a request to ‘switch’ schemes. See section 5 - Changing pension arrangements (paragraphs 5.9.1 to 5.9.2) for details of the switching process. Further information about the action to take if a member ticks partnership is given in Section 4.2 - Your responsibilities when staff join partnership. |
4.1.47 Where you have enrolled people into alpha, nuvos or premium, they may not always return their Pension Choices form. You should encourage them complete a death benefit nomination. Details can be found on the Death benefit nomination page.
4.1.48 Where staff return their Pension Choices form after the three month decision period, you will need to take the following action according to whether or not you enrolled them into alpha, nuvos or premium:
4.1.49 Where you receive a Pension Choices form after the 3 month decision period, you must first consider the reasons why there has been a delay in the return of the form. If the delay is as a result of your actions you should consider backdating the choice so that the member doesn’t lose out. See Extending the deadline for new entrants (paragraphs 4.2.14 to 4.2.16) for further details where the member wishes to join partnership. You must get approval from the Scheme Manager, Cabinet Office before you take any action. Email: cspsemployerenquiries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
4.1.50 Annex 4C gives a series of tables which show, at a glance, the actions you need to take throughout the recruitment process.
4.1.52 If a new entrant who has been enrolled in the CSP arrangements confirms that they wish to opt out within three months of being enrolled or being told that they have been enrolled (if later), you should take the following action, depending on the circumstances stated:
a) If the new entrant has opted out within one month of being enrolled or being told that they have been enrolled (if later) you must tell your payroll to:
You do not need to wait for the Scheme Administrator to tell you to process the refund. However, you should send a copy of the completed Opt Out form so that they are aware of the member’s choice and can ensure that the member’s pension record correctly reflects the choice.
b) If the new entrant has opted out after 1 month of being enrolled or being told they have been enrolled (if later), you should send a copy of the completed Opt Out form to the Scheme Administrator and wait for them to tell you if a refund is to be paid through payroll. If the Scheme Administrator tells you to refund the employee contributions, you must tell your payroll to refund the contributions as instructed in a) above.
The opt out process and resulting action required is also set out in Annex 5D.
Please note: The different approaches to handling refunds that must be taken are to ensure that any new starters who may in fact be rejoiners with a previous preserved pension, are identified and that their contributions are dealt with appropriately under the relevant scheme or automatic enrolment rules. Most rejoiners with a previous preserved pension in a Civil Service scheme do not receive a refund for any further pension contributions made under the current scheme rules if they opt out after one month of being enrolled or being told they have been enrolled (if later).
A refund may be due in some circumstances, for example, where a rejoiner with a preserved PCSPS award is enrolled into alpha on rejoining and the break between their previous and their current Civil Service employment is over 5 years (and they have had no service in another public service pension scheme in between). The Scheme Administrator can provide further advice on this if required.
4.1.53 Abatement may apply where a rejoiner:
The tool will tell you if you have to do this. For details on how abatement works, please see Section 4.3 - Your responsibilities when re-employing pensioners and form CSP13.
alpha pensions are not subject to abatement.
4.1.54 If, exceptionally, you re-employ someone who has an upper-tier ill health pension, they are not eligible to rejoin the CSP arrangements. This is because an upper-tier ill health pension includes a service enhancement through to pension age. If, after review, the upper-tier top-up is withdrawn, the person can then rejoin the pension arrangements. The rejoiner will then be eligible to join either alpha, nuvos or partnership depending on their eligibility. See Annex 4A.
Please note: you must enrol the person into the Civil Service pension scheme, notwithstanding the general exclusion of people with an upper-tier ill health pension in payment. In such circumstances, the quarantine process set out in the following paragraphs should be followed.
4.1.55 Where someone left with enhanced benefits:
On re-employment, you need to ensure they are prevented from paying pension contributions to build up any further pension until the period of enhancement (the “quarantine period”) has expired, although the member can opt to pay ‘extra’ contributions to purchase added pension and/or contribute to the Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme (AVCS).
You must tell any rejoiner in this position when their quarantine period will expire in their letter of appointment. The tool will tell you the correct letter text to use. You must ask the Scheme Administrator for the quarantine period end date. You must also tell your payroll the quarantine period end date, so that they know when to start deducting employee contributions and paying the full ASLC.
4.1.56 You will be responsible for paying a mini-ASLC of 0.5% of the rejoiner’s pensionable earnings during the quarantine period to cover them for death in service.
4.1.57 Where a rejoiner decides to join partnership, they can make contributions (through payroll) to their account from their start date. You only pay a mini-ASLC of 0.5% during the enhancement (“quarantine”) period.
4.1.58 Where people are re-employed within 28 days having left under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) arrangements, this will be cancelled and they will have to repay any pension and/or compensation received. You must tell the Scheme Administrator so that they can take the necessary action.
4.1.59 Where a rejoiner who received an enhancement as part of an early or ill health retirement package decides to join partnership, they can make contributions (through payroll) to their account from their start date. You only pay a mini-ASLC of 0.5% during the enhancement (“quarantine”) period.
4.1.60 The Joiner Tool will guide you.
4.1.55 Where someone left with enhanced benefits:
On re-employment, you need to ensure they are prevented from paying pension contributions to build up any further pension until the period of enhancement (the “quarantine period”) has expired, although the member can opt to pay ‘extra’ contributions to purchase added pension and/or contribute to the Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme (AVCS).
You must tell any rejoiner in this position when their quarantine period will expire in their letter of appointment. The tool will tell you the correct letter text to use. You must ask the Scheme Administrator for the quarantine period end date. You must also tell your payroll the quarantine period end date, so that they know when to start deducting employee contributions and paying the full ASLC.
4.1.56 You will be responsible for paying a mini-ASLC of 0.5% of the rejoiner’s pensionable earnings during the quarantine period to cover them for death in service.
4.1.57 Where a rejoiner decides to join partnership, they can make contributions (through payroll) to their account from their start date. You only pay a mini-ASLC of 0.5% during the enhancement (“quarantine”) period.
4.1.58 Where people are re-employed within 28 days having left under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) arrangements, this will be cancelled and they will have to repay any pension and/or compensation received. You must tell the Scheme Administrator so that they can take the necessary action.
4.1.59 Where a rejoiner who received an enhancement as part of an early or ill health retirement package decides to join partnership, they can make contributions (through payroll) to their account from their start date. You only pay a mini-ASLC of 0.5% during the enhancement (“quarantine”) period.
4.1.60 The Joiner Tool will guide you.
4.1.62 If the break is more than 28 days, the member may have to repay some or all of their compensation. The Compensation lump sum will have to be repaid if the member rejoins within the lesser of i) 6 months, or ii) the notional period of the compensation lump sum. If re-employment is at a lower salary an adjustment will be made to the amount of compensation that is repaid.
4.1.63 You must tell the Scheme Administrator that the member had received a payment. They will then calculate the amount due and advise you of the amount that you should tell the member must be repaid.
4.1.64 Abatement of salary may apply to anyone who is re-employed after receiving reserved rights under the pre 22 December 2010 reserved rights terms. If they are re-employed within 6 months of leaving a portion of the compensation payment will be repayable. For members who are re-employed a quarantine period will apply.
Abatement of salary will not apply to anyone who is re-employed after receiving a percentage of reserved rights under the post 22 December 2010 CSCS arrangements. If they are re-employed within 6 months of leaving, a portion of the compensation payment will be repayable.
4.1.65 A rejoiner who has a preserved classic, classic plus or premium pension in the CSP arrangements will, in certain circumstances, be able to join this up with their new service:
4.1.66 If a member retires from CSP employment on or after pension age, or leaves on actuarially reduced, lower tier ill health or approved early retirement before pension age, and you subsequently re-employ them after a break of 28 days, they will generally have the choice of alpha or partnership, or nuvos or partnership. This is dependent on the length of the break and whether the member previously qualified for full protection or tapered enrolment in the PCSPS (and has not yet passed their tapered enrolment date) – see Annex 4A for further information.
4.1.67 These arrangements do not apply to those who are re-employed having left on upper tier ill health retirement. See ‘Rejoiners who have an upper-tier ill health pension’ (paragraph 4.1.54) above.
4.1.68 In all cases where a pensioner is re-employed, their PCSPS pension will be abated (reduced or suspended) if their pension plus new annual rate of salary exceeds their pensionable earnings immediately before retiring. alpha pensions are not subject to abatement while in payment. See Section 4.3 - Your responsibilities when re-employing pensioners and form CSP13 for details of the action you need to take.
4.1.69 On final retirement, their pension will be calculated according to the relevant re-employment provisions in their pension scheme.
4.1.70
Please note: partial retirement was introduced on 1 March 2008. Partial retirement has replaced the provisions for re-employment immediately after taking pension, (although formal retirement continues to exist for “Pre-Fresh Start” Prison Officers).
4.1.71 If you have a new entrant who wishes to transfer their benefits from a previous pension into the CSP arrangements, you should refer them to the Scheme Administrator (MyCSP).
4.1.73 It is your responsibility to find out if any of your new employees have accrued pension rights in another public service pension scheme.
4.1.74 If a person has service in a previous public service pension scheme it can affect their Civil Service pension rights in four ways:
4.1.75 You need to find out if an individual has belonged to one of the following public service Pension schemes:
4.1.76 You need to capture public service pension history since 31 March 2007 for any new joiner, as a qualifying break could not have started before that date. A qualifying break is a break that was under five years and that could make an employee eligible for full protection or tapered protection/enrolment.
4.1.77 New joiners are requested to supply details of their public service pension scheme history on the Pensions Questionnaire. It is employers’ responsibility to use the information to enrol new staff in the right scheme. You must input the information provided on the Pension Questionnaire in the Joiner Tool to ensure you enrol your staff into the correct scheme. Employers need to tell the Scheme Administrator about an individual’s public service pension history so they can calculate benefits using the final salary link where appropriate.
4.1.78 You must have collected this information for your existing staff in service before 1 April 2015.
4.1.79 If someone had full protection or qualified for tapered protection/enrolment in their previous scheme then this may mean they also qualify in the Civil Service scheme. This information was required so that you could make the right decision about whether or not to migrate the individual to the alpha scheme on 1 April 2015.
4.1.80 Gathering a member’s public service pension scheme history (including their previous membership of the PCSPS) is used to determine their eligibility for alpha or to join one of the PCSPS schemes.
4.1.81 There are two dates when a member is checked against the ‘presence test’, 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2015.
4.1.82 On these dates they are checked to see if they were a member of a public service pension scheme, or on a qualifying break in membership.
For a break to be a ‘qualifying break’, a member must have pension benefits from their previous period of scheme membership (e.g. a preserved award) and have joined another public service pension scheme within five years.
4.1.83 Members who fail the presence check (they were not present or on a qualifying break on both dates) can only be eligible for the alpha scheme unless they fall into one of the exception groups.
The Joiner Tool will identify the correct scheme to enrol new members into.
Find out more information about eligibility for alpha, public service history and the presence tests