If this is the first time you have worked for a public service employer, you will be able to choose between – alpha, which is a ‘career average’ scheme and partnership which is a ‘defined contribution’ arrangement. You can find details of alpha and partnership here.
If you have worked for a public service employer in the past, you may have different choices. Your employer will give you details of these.
Click on the links below to view information booklets.
Neither your employer nor MyCSP, the scheme administrator, can give you financial advice. You should speak to an Independent Financial Adviser if you need advice about your pension. The link below will help you find an adviser:
Yes. You should read the opting out factsheet, which is attached to the opting out form and can be found on the members publications page using this link
http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/members/publications/
This will help you understand what you will be giving up if you leave the scheme. You may wish to consider consulting an Independent Financial Adviser before making a decision.
Yes. You are allowed to switch once from partnership to the scheme you are eligible for and vice versa. Switching can occur only at any point, but only once during a 12 month period. This can be done by completing the switch form which must be sent to your HR Department two months before the switch date.
Your employer will help you with this and will give you a starter pack containing information about your pension choices.
If you have a classic, classic plus or premium preserved pension, you will have the option on joining nuvos to link both periods of membership. If you want to do this, you will need to tell MyCSP within 12 months of joining nuvos. MyCSP will convert your preserved pension into a nuvos ‘service credit’. This will come into payment at the same time as your nuvos pension.
If you have a preserved nuvos pension, MyCSP will automatically join it up with your new period of nuvos membership unless you tell MyCSP within 12 months of joining nuvos that you would like to keep them separate.
You will need to complete the death benefit nomination form which will be included in the starter pack your employer gave you. Alternatively you can find a death benefit nomination form using this link:
www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/members/death-benefit-nominations/
If you join alpha, nuvos, premium, classic plus or classic (depending on which scheme you are eligible for) you will pay a percentage of your pensionable earnings into the pension scheme. The current contribution rates can be found here.
If you join partnership, your employer will make a contribution to your pension related to your age. The level of contributions you make on top of that is up to you. For more information see scheme guide.
Yes. Pension contributions paid to pension schemes like nuvos and partnership attract tax relief.
Your employer will contribute towards your pension. The actual amount your employer will pay depends on your pensionable earnings. The percentage contribution is set by Cabinet Office. Details of the rates can be found here.
Yes. If you are interested in transferring in a pension, you should indicate this on the transfer in form or contact MyCSP.
You must be an active member and in satisfactory health for the scheme to consider accepting a transfer in. You must send your application to MyCSP within 12 months of joining.
Yes. You may apply to transfer in a pension from overseas provided that it is from a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme.
You must be an active member and in satisfactory health for the scheme to consider accepting a transfer in. You must send MyCSP your application within 12 months of joining the scheme.
You can find the form using this link:
You should tell your partnership provider that you are interested in transferring in a pension using the partnership application form. Your partnership provider will then give you the information you will need.
You can find more information in the scheme guides.
You can contact MyCSP by phone, post or email.
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