Employers Newsletter Quarter 1 – 2025/2026

This Newsletter contains information about:

• Remediable Service Statements for Members at Retirement
• Death in Service Notification
• Career Breaks/Authorised Unpaid Leave
• Enrolling new employees in the HSC Pension Scheme
• Contact Us

This newsletter can also be downloaded in a printable format here.

• Remediable Service Statements for Members at Retirement

  Since December 2024 members who apply for retirement will be offered their choice in relation to the McCloud Remedy in the form of a Remediable Service Statement (RSS). The RSS will show Option A and Option B.

  Members will have three months from the date of issue to make a choice. This choice is final and cannot be reversed or revoked at a later date, so due care and consideration should be given to both options.

  A short video is available on our website to help you understand your RSS, this can be found at: Remediable Service Statement (RSS) | HSC Pension Service

• Death in Service Notification

  It is important that HSC Pension Service are notified as soon as possible if a member Dies in Service (DIS).

  This is particularly important if a member is in the process of or has already submitted an application for consideration for Ill Health Retirement (IHR). In order to ensure that the details of the
  DIS are recorded correctly on the HSC Pension System and appropriate benefits are calculated and paid I would appreciate it if you could ask your staff to send an e-mail, notifying us of the details to the following:

  hscpensions@hscni.net
  cathy.curran@hscni.net
  liam.duffy@hscni.net
  rosalynn.bell@hscni.net
  Stacey.curry2@hscni.net
  shelley.mclaughlin@hscni.net

  In addition to the Date of Death it would be appreciated if the following could be included (if known):

  • Next of Kin
  • Marital Status
  • Are there dependent Children (Children under age 23 or children who cannot earn a living for themselves as a result of physical or mental infirmity)
  • Date of leaving (if Successful for IHR)
• Career Breaks/Authorised Unpaid Leave

  Since 1st April 2008 members had the option to continue to pay contributions during periods of authorised unpaid leave (including career breaks). However, this is not compulsory and if they decide not to pay contributions the pension record will be closed down on the day before the leave commences.

  If a member is on unpaid leave (not including unpaid sick, maternity, paternity adoption or parental leave) and have ceased paying pension contributions the following implications should
  be considered:

  • Death and Survivors Benefits – If a member dies whilst on unpaid leave they are treated as a former member of the scheme. Therefore, they will not be entitled to the Death in Service benefits afforded to active members. Please see the Life Assurance and Family Benefits factsheet for further information on benefits payable.
  • Ill Health Retirement – if a member suffers ill health whilst on unpaid leave and wishes to apply for their benefits through the Ill Health Retirement facility they will be treated as a former member of the scheme. This means they will need to satisfy the criteria for Tier 2 but only be eligible for Tier 1 benefits. Please see the Ill Health Retirement factsheet for more information.

  It is important to note that on return to employment following a Career Break it is up to the member to opt back into the Pension Scheme by completing a re-joiner form which should be submitted to the Employer. Members can be directed to our website for further information.

• Enrolling new employees in the HSC Pension Scheme

  Under normal circumstances and in accordance with auto enrolment legislation, employers should enrol new employees into the HSC Pension Scheme.

  However, in certain circumstances this may not be applicable if at the date that employee should be enrolled into the scheme, that said employee was previously a member of the HSC Pension Scheme and opted out of the scheme, for example:

  • the member left one employment which has been terminated and
  • the member takes up a new employment, and on the day the new employment is due to
    start and,
  • that member is absent for any reason,

  In these circumstances the member cannot join the pension scheme until such times as the member has returned to work.

  This rule is in accordance with Regulation 16 of The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
  Re-joining the scheme

  – a) Subject to paragraph (2), a person who has opted out of this scheme in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 may re-join this scheme pursuant to paragraph 2 of that Schedule.

  – 2 A person may not re-join this scheme during any period of absence from work for any reason.

• Contact Us

  By writing to us at:-
  HSC Pension Service
  Orchard House
  40 Foyle Street
  Derry/Londonderry
  BT48 6AT

  Via e- mail at:- hscpensions@hscni.net
  By Telephone: 028 7131 9111
  10.00 am to 12.00pm / 2.00 pm to 4.00pm – Monday to Thursday
  10.00 am to 12.00pm – Friday

  Find us on X – @hscpensions
  Find us on Facebook – HSC Pension Service