Spring 2023
Welcome to your Spring Pensioner Newsletter
As the Interim Director of Civil Service Pensions, I’m delighted to introduce this newsletter for pensioner members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
This year’s Pensions Increase is 10.1%, the section below includes more information about this and there's a helpful video explaining your P60 certificate (which you'll receive in the post).
In our last newsletter, we asked you to send us your retirement stories to help inspire the next generation of Civil Service pensioners, and you didn't disappoint – we received a huge response with so many incredible stories to share. We’ve included Mike, Louise and Patrick’s stories in this issue, and I invite more of you to share yours.
Also in this issue, there's a section about our trusted partners, who can provide help and support during the current cost-of-living crisis. You’ll also find an update about the 2015 Remedy (McCloud).
Finally, please send your feedback about this newsletter using the survey below, because it helps us continue improving the services we provide. It will only take a few minutes.
Múna Rowe
Interim Director of Civil Service Pensions
Civil Service pensions will increase by 10.1% in 2023
Pensions in payment are reviewed every April in line with Treasury Orders. This review is called ‘the annual Pensions Increase (PI)’ and takes effect on the first Monday on or after 6 April every year.
This year, the PI takes effect from Monday 10 April.
Your pension is paid in arrears so you may not see the full increase until the following month’s payment.
*Please note: any pension increase is pro rata for the previous tax year. For example, if you’ve been retired for five months, you’d be eligible for an increase equal to 5/12ths of the full annual increase.
There are a number of reasons why you may not have received the full 10.1% increase:
- Your tax code may have changed – you can check your tax code on your payslip. If you think it's incorrect, contact HM Revenue & Customs directly on 0300 200 3300.
- Pay dates – your pension is paid in arrears. Depending on when your pay date is in the month, you may not see the full increase until next month.
- Not all members are eligible for the full 10.1% increase - if you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and you were working in the Civil Service prior to 6 April 1997, part of your Pensions Increase is paid within your state pension. Therefore, if you didn’t receive the full 10.1% in your occupational pension, you will have received an increase in your state pension to compensate.
This may be due to a change in your tax code. You can check your tax code by logging into the Pension Portal, by looking at your payslip or by logging onto your HM Revenue & Customs account.
If it has changed, you will need to contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) directly on 0300 200 3300.
Your P60 explained
We'll be posting P60s to all pensioner members between April and May. This short video provides a quick guide to your P60.
Support from our trusted partners: cost-of-living crisis
We have a partnership with a range of organisations to help you deal with life’s challenges.
The Charity for Civil Servants
We support civil servants, past and present, when times are tough.
Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance
We’re here to make sure you get the best from your retirement.
The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
We’re a national charity dedicated to helping former civil servants and their dependents make the most of their retirement.
Civil Service Insurance Society
We’re a not-for-profit company offering high quality Home, Motor and Travel insurance at specially negotiated rates.
Useful links
- MoneyHelper – a free service provided by the Money and Pensions Service. The website provides free, impartial guidance backed by the Government to help make your money and pension choices clearer.
- Energy Bills Support Scheme - GOV.UK – you can get help with your energy bills or topping up your prepayment meter. You may also be eligible for benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.
- Citizen's Advice – information on grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills.
- AgeUK - Benefits Calculator – a free tool that can help you find out what benefits you could be owed.
- AgeUK – Friendship Services – telephone or face-to-face, AgeUK offer these services to try to combat loneliness in later life.
Stay updated with the latest news for pensioner members
Your retirement stories
In the Autumn newsletter, we asked you to share your stories of life in retirement – and we had an overwhelming response!
If you too would like to feature in future newsletters or in the next series of the podcast, send us your story using the form below.
Mike's story
A Retired Ordnance Survey cartographer, I'm Mike. At the grand age of 67, I'm running the London Marathon in 2023.
Six years ago, I had a quadruple heart bypass following a diagnosis of hereditary ischemic heart disease with all four major arteries 90% blocked. I lost my mum, granddad, gran, aunt, uncle and sister to heart disease. The surgery saved my life and I want to give something back and show how effective surgery can be.
This is my first full marathon, only ever having run a half marathon three years ago. I run to stay alive now, it keeps my new arteries clear and my heart healthy. The British Heart Foundation have planned my training and I have pledged to raise £3,500 to aide their research. Not the retirement I had in mind, but it keeps me active.
Image courtesy of Birmingham Running Festival
Louise's story
I came to UK from my native Hong Kong in 1976 and worked for Inland Revenue (now HMRC) for the following 36 years, the last 25 as Inspector of Taxes.
Since retirement, I have been indulging in my interests in travelling, photography and languages. Using an online app, I have learned Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Mandarin Chinese, all of which I still practise.
Before Covid, I had been spending the winter months in Hong Kong, visiting Asian countries and travelling in Europe in the summer. In 2018, my daughter and son-in-law set up a website for me to do travel blogs. I collect fridge magnets from foreign cities that I visit. To date, I have about 190 from 59 countries.
Patrick's story
I always valued the social interaction with both colleagues and those for whom we provided a service during my working years, so finding something worthwhile to do whilst maintaining social interaction was high on my list of priorities for retirement.
I had for many years used a motorcycle to commute to work, so having listened to a member of our local Bloodbike group, Freewheelers EVS at my Rotary meeting, this seemed the ideal avenue for post-retirement activity. For the past six years, I have helped the charity as both a rider and coordinator, providing an out of hours service for the NHS delivering blood, samples and medicines between hospitals and the end user in Bristol, Wiltshire and Somerset.
As a side-line to this, I now also teach advanced motorcycling, sometimes with riders who also wish to become Bloodbikers, on behalf of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. I love every minute of both activities... even in the cold and wet!
Updates on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
Be a 'My Remedy' case study
We are looking for volunteers to be ‘My Remedy’ case studies to take part in a campaign aimed at helping members to understand if they too are affected by 2015 Remedy and what it actually means for them.
117,000 retired civil servants will be impacted and we’re more likely to remember information when we see and hear it from someone we relate to.
If you’re interested in taking part, please click below to complete the form.
Thank you for your support.
Public consultation for the 2nd stage of 2015 Remedy (McCloud)
The public consultation about the new draft pension scheme regulations is live.
New scheme regulations are needed for the second (retrospective) part of the 2015 Remedy to address the age discrimination of Civil Service Pension Scheme members.
117,000 pensioner members are affected - find out if you are one of them using our Am I affected? tool.
Our pensions podcast
Launched last year, the Civil Service Pensions podcast aims to help all members get to grips with their pension and make more informed choices about their future.
We also want to use it as a platform to share your stories and inspire the next generation of civil service pensioners.
Listen to Linda’s story (released on 8 September 2022) about navigating the world in retirement, and how these post-work years are turning out to be the best yet.
To get involved, complete the form above. We look forward to hearing from you!
Poll: Have you listened to any episodes?
Have you listened to any episodes of the Civil Service Pensions podcast?
Have you registered for the Pension Portal?
It's the quick, easy and secure way to view your Pension Increase and P60 information online, all in one place.
