Annual Allowance 2018/19

The annual allowance calculations will shortly be due for the year 2018/19 for all scheme members currently contributing.

To help reduce the number of individual requests for pensionable pay relating to these calculations, we have identified two categories of members that we consider may potentially breach the current HMRC limit of £40000:
• Employees who receive an annual salary of   £90,000 or more per year, or
• Employees that have had an increase in salary over the last year of £5,000 or more.

It may still be necessary to request further pay information for other employees that have differing circumstances, but we hope that by providing these details annually from now on, these requests will reduce in number.

For employees that fall into either of the above two categories, please arrange for the Annual Allowance Spreadsheet on our website to be completed fully and returned to us by 5th July 2019, or as soon as possible.

Please send the data titled ‘Annual Allowance 2018/2019’ to our secure mailbox at: finance.pensionstechnicaltraining-mailbox@devon.gov.uk .

You may also use this mailbox for queries relating to the spreadsheet and Annual Allowance.

Annual Update

Bulletin 182 (March 2019), provided by the Local Government Association (LGA), is the annual update which sets out various rates and bands applicable from April 2019. It includes changes to APC’s limits, Annual Allowance, Lifetime Allowance and auto-enrolment thresholds and a link to the bulletin can be found on our website

Exit Cap Consultation Issued

HM Treasury have opened a 12 week consultation called ‘Restricting exit payments in the public sector: consultation on implementation of regulations’. The consultation documents can viewed on the non-scheme consultation page of www.lgpsregs.org. The Local Government Association (LGA) are currently digesting the consultation documents and will issue a summary shortly. The consultation closes on 3 July 2019.

Employer Self Service (ESS)

Just a reminder that you should only be using ESS for New Starters, checking data and updating member details and hours.

We are aware that some employers have been using the Notification of Leaver option but the Leaver process within ESS is not yet ready so please do not use this option until further notice. We are currently doing some testing and will let you know when its ready but in the meantime please continue to download the Leaver Form from our website and send it to our secure mailbox: pensionsbenefitssecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.

From Monday 15th April, all ESS users will be upgraded to direct access which means that you will be able to view any amendments you make and new records you create immediately after pressing ‘Save’. If you have any problems, please call Mark Griffin or Emma Davies on their direct numbers stated on the website.

If you need some help with the navigation of Employer Services, please see our guide.

Payment of Invoices for Devon Fund Employers

We are finding that some employers are making payments to Devon County Council rather than the Pension Fund. When making payments please ensure that the payment is made to Devon County Council Pension Fund. Bank details can be found here

TUPE’s & New Academies

If you are outsourcing services and have a number of staff who will be subject to TUPE and moving to a new employer or your school is converting to an Academy or moving MAT, please do not submit any leaver forms as this will complicate the process – instead there is a staff data capture spreadsheet you can complete on our website.

Keep us updated

Please remember to keep us updated with any changes in staff responsible for completing our forms (authorised signatories). This can be done by completing our via our online form.

You can also use this form to notify us of your IDRP Stage 1 Appeals Officer and any delegated authorised contacts.

Payment of Pension Fund Contributions

Please remember to inform us and the relevant Finance team each time you have paid your pension scheme contributions, by filling in the Monthly Contributions Form. If we receive the returns right away with the payments and they are correct - it makes the process so much easier, so please ensure that you build this form into your procedures.

If you are a Somerset Pension Fund employer, please contact the Corporate Finance Team for a copy of the Monthly Contribution Return: Corporatefinancepens@somerset.gov.uk

If you are a Devon Pension Fund Employer, you will need to use the online EAS5 form. If you have not already registered, a login can be obtained from the Employer and Communications Team.

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