Civil Service Pension Scheme

[AnyQuestions]

New here and don't quite know where to post this. I hope this is the right place.

I have a close relation who is nearing retirement. Many years ago she worked for the civil service but was dismissed due to 'gross misconduct'. Nothing really dreadful, but just a complete mix up, but that is not the question. She had been paying into the Civil Service pension scheme for about 10 years before this happened. Obviously the employer payed in as well and she can understand that she won't get a pension, but what happens to all the payments made by her and deducted from her pay. Surely, it can't be right that she will lose this money?

She doesn't want to take it up herself as she finds it embarrassing. Is there anybody that has any firm knowledge about this.

Thank you.

[AnyQuestions]

Thank you for such a swift answer Eddie51. That is what I thought, but being an older lady the whole thing was such an embarrassment to her she has pushed it to one side. I will have to work on her to make some enquiries. Hopefully Buildersmate will come along. Will he see it in this section?

[factor-fiction]

She will get a pension based on her service and salary. She should get regular (annual?) pension statements. If not she should contact her pension scheme trustees and ask to get these

[AnyQuestions]

She hasn't had a thing from the pension service since the day she was dismissed and is still at the same address. She lives with me and I know that she hasn't had anything. I don't even know who would be running the pension fund or who she needs to contact. I suppose there must be a website link somewhere.

[factor-fiction]

It's the pension scheme not the pension service that should send statements.
Surely she received paperwork about the scheme while she was employed there. There will be contact details on there.
A little bit of effort will get this sorted.

[AnyQuestions]

This was going back years and years and I don't think she has kept anything. The whole pension scheme is different now and goodness knows who the provider was. I have found a link for Home Office Pension Queries and with check with them tomorrow. They close at 4.30pm. It's very difficult when someone really doesn't want to talk about it because it brings back bad memories, but we will get there in the end.

[Prudie]

I'm not an expert AQ but I'm in the civil service and we don't pay into the pension scheme and never have apart from an amount for widows which is only payable to spouses on death or voluntary contributions (AVCs). The pension is usually lost if dismissed so it may be she is thinking of the widows part that she paid so would not be entitled to anything. Hope i'm wrong.

[boxtops]

It depends on what was agreed at the time she felt - it's likely that the pension will have been frozen until the due payment date. she needs to take it up with the pension scheme administrators - there is nothing to be embarrased about, they will have her down as a leaver, not why she left (IMO).

[AnyQuestions]

She is due to retire next year DocSpock. Hopefully, we can get this sorted before then. I can't understand why she hasn't been having any pension fund info on a regular basis.

[factor-fiction]

Anyquestions- I applaud the efforts you are making on behalf of this person - I jus hope she appreciates it.
You may find though that when you ring they will not give you any information about your relative's pension- they will need to speak to her

[AnyQuestions]

Prudie. Thanks. You may have solved the problem. She probably didn't have to pay into it so won't get anything. I just didn't wan't her to miss out on anything that she might be entitled to. As I said, it was a long time ago.

[AnyQuestions]

Thank you all.

Factor 30. She is a very close relative and that is why I am trying to help. I was going to phone and just make a general enquiry giving no names, etc., but I think Prudie has solved it.

Good site this!

[factor-fiction]

This may help
http://www.civilservi...members-c-cp-n-p.aspx

[AnyQuestions]

Thanks both.

Yes Eddie, fortunately her State Pension forecast is quite good in view of Serps and other extra payments she has made during her long working life. She won't be too badly off financially, but I didn't want her to lose anything that she was entitled to.

[factor-fiction]

I'd be surprised if she was to get nothing from her membership of the scheme. There are quite a few people in this country who are or have been in non-contributory schemes. I'd be surprised if they get nothing, since that would render the scheme pointless for employees.

[Prudie]

Factor I can only speak for the MoD but if dismissed you lose your pension rights. I think this was strictly adhered to in the past although these days people are often given the option to resign to keep their pension when in that situation..

[blondedee]

The original scheme was non contributary. I think that the later version of the scheme had contributions from the employess. As has already been said a gross misconduct usually would result in loss of pension. The CS pension is dealt with by Newcastle. I think though it all depends on whether she paid into it.

[buildersmate]

OK, most of the work seems to have been covered by others on this - I'll try and fill in a couple of gaps.
There are 4 CS schemes - the 1972 Scheme, the 2002, the 2007 and the 2008.
It was news to me that the 1972 Scheme was non-contributory, but Prudie says it, so I'm sure he/she is right.
Here is the mighty tome of the rules relating to the 1972 which I'm sure your friend must be a member of (all schemes from 2002 are definitely employee contributory) - it is 300 pages long.
http://www.civilservi...Section_tcm6-3502.pdf
Section 8 deals with forfeiture and it does say that the employee may lose the right to pension under certain circumstances. It then lists them - including being convicted of certain offences including Official Secrets Act offences and some employment offences. So it seems this may be correct, if somewhat harsh.
What I'm less clear about is whether the pension is lost completely, or whether the employee is 'bought back' into the State scheme - either SERPS or the State Second Pension - depending on the timing of the service. I would have thought the latter - though this would have to be checked with the Darlington people.
Very different rules applied from the 2002 scheme - of which I am more familiar - including the employee contributory nature of it. Because of that, I suspect that loss of the pension (for OSA offences etc.) must result in automatic buying back into the State Scheme.
All the CS pensions are run by Capita-Hartshead at Mowden Hall, Darlington,
Co. Durham, DL3 9GT
Phone: [phone]
[email protected]