Different rules and benefits apply to pensioners (and therefore their dependants) depending on whether they retired on or after 1 April 2008, or before this date.
For those that retired (or died) on or before 1 April 2008, the rules and benefits of the 1995 Section HSC Pension Scheme pre 1 April 2008 rules apply. The changes to the HSC Pension Scheme effective from 1 April 2008 do not affect you, or the entitlements of any dependants you may have. The same rules and benefits will continue to apply to your pension as those described in the Guide for Pensioners and Dependants that you were given when you retired. The Guide for Pensioners and Dependants on this website has been updated with the amended rules and will not be the same version as the one given to you.
For those that retired (or died) on or after 1 April 2008 the rules and benefits of the 1995 Section or the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme apply. The differences in the rules and benefits for these members are reflected within the Guide for Pensioners and Dependants available in the Scheme Guides section on this website.
If you have a query in connection with payment of your pension, please write to HSC Pension Service, Waterside House, 75 Duke Street, Londonderry, BT47 6FP or contact 028 7131 9111 (Option 3).
In line with HSC Pension scheme regulations, please note that you must inform HSC Pension Service of any changes to your address or bank details. This must be posted or emailed to us in writing and signed by the member. Failure to maintain contact will result in payment of your pension being suspended.
I am considering returning to HSC employment after retirement. Can I rejoin the scheme?
If you retired before 1 April 2008 and return to work in the HSC your employment will not be pensionable unless you retired on ill health grounds and return to work before age 50.
If you leave HSC pensionable employment after 1 April 2008 and retire before the ‘choice’ exercise you will be eligible for pensionable re-employment in the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme but you must wait at least two years after retirement before doing so.
If you retired after 1 October 2009 then your position is determined by which scheme you retired from. If you had taken the option to transfer to the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme then any future employments will be pensionable.
If I retire after 1 April 2008 do I still have to take a 24 hour break before returning back to employment and work less than 16 hours per week in the first calendar month to avoid my pension being suspended?
Yes, the same rules apply. If you opt to transfer to the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme during the Choice exercise, the 24-hour break will still apply but your pension will not be suspended if you work more than 16 hours per week in the first calendar month.
If I return to HSC employment after retirement will my benefits be affected?
In the 1995 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme if you are age 60 or over, or have claimed your benefits early and they have been reduced to pay for early retirement, then your pension will not be affected if you return to work in the HSC.
Likewise, if you are in the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme if you are age 65 or over, or have claimed your benefits early and they have been reduced to pay for early retirement, then your pension will not be affected if you return to work in the HSC.
Your benefits will also not be affected if you are in receipt of benefits under the “new style” redundancy arrangements. The rationale behind this exception is that
- There are no increases to pensionable service through the new style redundancy arrangements and
- The member will have funded the unreduced element of their pension using some or all of their redundancy compensation lump sum.
Further information can be found within the section Pensioners and Dependants.