Month Year

Annual Returns 2022/23 – deadline 14th April 2023

Thank you to everyone who has submitted their member data for 2022/23.

If you have yet to send your Annual Return, please arrange to submit your data to our shared mailbox as soon as possible: pensionsannualreturns-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Form to be Submitted for All Employer Led Retirements

You must provide an HR Authorisation form for each employer led retirement – Flexible Retirement, Redundancy/efficiency and if you are waiving any reductions or enhancing any benefits. 

The form can be downloaded from our website so please share the link or a copy with your HR team and ask them to follow the new process. If a form is not provided, payment of the members benefits will be delayed whilst we wait for it to be sent.

Employer Key Decision Forms

We have previously requested that all employers complete this form so that we can manage submission of data and key decisions.

However we are still awaiting these forms from some of you so if you haven’t already please download the form from our website and send it to us by 5th May 2023

New Leaver Spreadsheet

We are aware there is a discrepancy on the guidance tab for how the previous financial year should be stated and the example uses a date format. This is incorrect and financial years should be stated for both column’s BD and BG. The guidance has now been updated and we apologise for any confusion caused.

Other News:

Backdated Pay Award FAQ's

LGA have recently published a document covering backdated pay award frequently asked questions. It covers the common questions that arise when an employer pays a backdated pay award.

You can find the backdated pay award FAQs on the employer guides and sample documents page of www.lgpsregs.org

HR and Payroll Guides

LGA have also recently published:

• version 4.4 of the payroll guide
• version 4.4 of the HR guide

The latest versions have been amended to reflect the annual updates for 2023/24. Both of these guides can be found on the employer guides and sample documents page of www.lgpsregs.org

Employer Role Training

LGA have scheduled Employer Role training dates for 2023.  These events are now live on the LGA website.  This is a live site and bookings are on a first come, first serve basis.

For your ease of reference each date has a link attached to the direct booking page:

Temporary Delay for Some Transfer and Refund Cases

On 30th March 2023, the Government announced a change in the SCAPE discount rate. SCAPE stands for ‘Superannuation Contributions Adjusted for Past Experience’. The government have  advised that calculations which use the SCAPE rate should be suspended until new factor tables are issued (expected April or May 2023). This means there will be a temporary delay for members who have requested transfers and refund of contributions. Please see our website for more information.

LGPC Bulletin 235 - Annual Update March 2023

Please take a look at this bulletin as it sets out the rates and bands that apply from April 2023 for various purposes including employee pension contribution rates, NI thresholds and additional pension limits.

McCloud Update

On 6 April 2023 The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) responded to the 2020 consultation on amendments to the LGPS statutory underpin. It also published a member factsheet summarising the changes being made to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales. We will be informing members of this change via various communications but would appreciate if you would do the same.

We're Hiring!

We currently have the following vacancies as below being advertised to work on our First Response or LGPS Teams:

• Pensions Administrator (multiple)
• Pensions Technician (multiple)

Read the full job descriptions and apply at the Devon Jobs Website - any new jobs will also be added to this link.

Events Calendar

A New Events Calendar has been launched in the Key Dates section of the website, which will be updated throughout the year with important meetings and events for employers.

Pension Administration Reminders

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

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 you are changing your Payroll Provider, please contact the Employer & Communications Team so that we can help you through the process and make sure you retain access to historical payroll information. 

TUPEs & New Academies - Please do not complete the leaver spreadsheet if members are leaving your employment and transferring to another employer under TUPE. Follow the process outlined on our website instead. 

Useful Links

Peninsula Pensions Employers' Pages

LGPS regulations and guidance

Fund Investments

LGPS National Website

Employer & Communications Team Mailbox

Previous editions of Pensions Line

Peninsula Pensions
Great Moor House
Bittern Road
Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter EX2 7NL
Tel: 01392 383000
Peninsula Pensions is provided by Devon County Council and is a shared service with Somerset County Council