July 2024

Revised Employer Decision Form (IHCURR2)

The employer is the decision-making body in regards to ill-health decisions, and any decision taken will be guided by an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner's (IRMP's) medical opinion. However, you are not bound by the medical opinion alone and are entitled to make an independent decision, providing that the reasons for any decision can be supported.

When making a decision, in cases of ill health, The Pensions Ombudsman will expect the employer to:

• Apply the law correctly
• Ask itself the right questions
• Take account of all relevant and no irrelevant information
• Make a decision that is genuine and rational

It's important that a detailed record outlining the reasoning for the decision made is available so we have updated the Employer Decision Notice (IHCURR2) to help you with questions that may be asked, as well as what you need to consider before making a decision. The revised form is now available to download from our website.

Employer Focus Sessions

We had the last of our Employer Focus sessions on 10^th July so if you missed it or any of the other sessions, you can find the recordings on our Employer Meetings and Focus Sessions Page 

We will run some more sessions in the autumn/winter, so if you would like to suggest a topic for future sessions please complete this form.

We have had two suggestions so far, but we feel the topics have already been covered in a previous focus session or via one of the guidance videos on our website:

General Leavers & monthly submission care pay: Leaver spreadsheet guide and Completing the monthly CARE template on our Guidance Videos page

FTE for standard contract employees: Pensionable Pay Focus session 5^th July 2022 and Calculating Pensionable Pay for the leavers spreadsheet:

Terminally Ill Employees

Dying to Work Charter 

Employers are being asked to sign up to The Dying to Work Campaign supporting workers with a terminal diagnosis who wish to remain in work and, by doing so, qualify for death in service benefits.

Before signing up to the campaign we would ask you to consider that the LGPS offers excellent ill health benefits and a death grant if a member passes away within 10 years of receiving their pension. This could mean that they gain quality time with their loved ones but still look after them financially.

Please ensure your policy allows for your workers to do what is best for them.

If you wish to speak with us about the various death benefits please contact the Employer & Communications team.  

Save the date!

We will be holding our annual employer meetings in November and will be holding one in Exeter and another in Taunton:

• Monday 11^th November 2024 at The Coaver Conference Room, County Hall, Exeter
• Wednesday 13^th November 2024 at Somerset County Cricket Club, St James Street,Taunton

You will be able to join us remotely if you are unable to attend in person. More details including a proposed agenda will be confirmed in September.

Returning Officers

If you employ a Returning Officer and haven’t done so already, please could you email the Employer & Communications team confirming their full name, National Insurance Number, your employer name and Altair number (00123 for example) along with whether or not they are paying into the LGPS in that role. 

This is an annual exercise we run to ensure the records we hold are correct so we would be grateful if you could respond by 31^st July 2024.

Pay Your Pension Some Attention

September the 8^th sees the start of “Pensions week”, which is the launch date for the 3^rd Pay your Pension some attention campaign, running for 2 months. The campaign is aimed to engage with people about their pension, and to help them understand its benefit. We will again be supporting this campaign, so please keep an eye out for information, and additionally, pass information on to members, including a Pensions Line special on 6^th September to help launch the campaign.    

If you yourself are planning any events for your employees, please do let us know. If we are unable to join we may be able to provide extra information/instruction for you to share with your employees. We especially think this is a great opportunity to promote the LGPS to employers who have yet to decide to join the scheme. 

Don't Forget To...

• Send us a copy of your Employer Discretions Policy
• Keep us updated with your contacts and confirm your IDRP officer via our online form

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 383200
Peninsula Pensions is provided by Devon County Council and is a shared service with Somerset Council