sppa.gov.uk Police Pension Scheme : Scottish Public Agency

Name of the Organization : Scottish Public Pensions Agency
Type of Facility : Police Pension Scheme
Country : United Kingdom

Website : http://www.sppa.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=573&Itemid=359

Police Pension Scheme :

** The SPPA is responsible for the regulation of the Police Pension Scheme in Scotland and this role includes introducing new legislation that meets the policy intentions of the Scottish Government.

Related : Scottish Public Pensions Agency Firefighters Pension Schemes : www.statusin.org/26012.html

Membership :
** From 6th April 2006, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme (PPS) was closed to new members.
** If you are a regular police officer, and you joined the service before 6th April 2006, you will have been admitted to PPS automatically on appointment unless you decided to opt out.
** Officers joining the force after that date will be admitted to NPPS unless they decide to opt out.
** More information can be found by using the menu on the left.

Am I eligible to join?
** If you are a regular police officer, and you joined the service before 6th April 2006, you will have been admitted to PPS automatically on appointment unless you decided to opt out.
** From 6th April 2006, the 1987 Police Pension Scheme (PPS) was closed to new members.
** Officers joining the force after that date will be admitted to NPPS unless they decide to opt out.

** Only in very limited circumstances can officers still rejoin PPS – in particular, those who are receiving a PPS ill-health pension and are invited to re-join the force following the cessation of disability, or who were dismissed or required to resign from the force while members of the PPS and are reinstated following an appeal.

** This does not affect officers moving to/from a force within Great Britain or to/from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who can remain in PPS provided they were members on 6th April 2006.

What happens to my pension if I leave or opt out?
Opting Out :
** You can opt out of PPS at any time by completing and returning an option form available from your force’s pensions administrator.
** If you opt out in the first three months of your police service, your decision is back-dated to the date of your becoming a regular police officer.
** If you decide to leave PPS at any other future date, your decision will take effect from your next pay day after receipt of your notice to opt out.

Opting out of PPS will have a number of consequences, including:
** if you build up two years or more pensionable service in PPS and then opt out, you will be entitled only to a deferred pension, which would generally only be payable from age 60,
** if you die in service when you have opted out of PPS, no lump sum death grant is payable,

** as someone who is not an active member of PPS you will not be eligible for an ill health pension if you are medically retired, although you will qualify for early payment of your deferred pension if you are assessed as permanently disabled for all regular employment,

** opting out will affect the benefits which are payable to your survivors,
** you cannot rejoin the PPS, only NPPS.
** If you opt out of PPS with less than two years’ qualifying service, your pension contributions will be refunded when you leave the service or reach your compulsory retirement age.

Leaving :
** If you leave or opt out of PPS before pension age, you have a choice of options for your benefits.
** Your choice will generally depend on the length of your qualifying service.

** If your police service plus any linked qualifying service amounts to more than three months but less than two years, you can either transfer out your PPS pension rights to another pension scheme, or receive a refund of your contributions.

** If your police service plus any linked qualifying service amounts to two years or more you can either transfer your PPS rights to another pension scheme, or retain deferred benefits within the PPS.