Business Services Organisation
This Newsletter contains information about:
- Continuation of Added years/Additional Pension/ERRBO Contracts
- Communications from the Trust Liaison Team
- Important Update: Remediable Service Statements (RSS)
- Member with Entitlement in Both Schemes (MEBS)
- Reminder: Retirees who Receive a Re-grading
- Contact Us
This information can be found in a downloadable/printable format here.
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Continuation of Added years/Additional Pension/ERRBO Contracts
If a member of staff is paying additional contributions to the HSC Pension Scheme for Added Years, Additional Pension Purchase or Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out (ERRBO) they must inform you as the employer to allow the continuation of the contract. This should occur each time there is a change in post.
The New Joiner & Re-joiner forms ask for information in relation to these contracts and details the importance of providing a copy of the contract to the employer.
If a member states on the form that they have a contract but have not provided details Payroll Shared Service Centre should follow up with them to ensure the correct contributions are being collected and to avoid an accumulation of arrears.
Note: If there has been a break of more than 12 months they cannot re-start an Added years contract.
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Communications from the Trust Liaison Team
In October 2023 the Trust Liaison Team moved to the online system LearnHSCNI meaning that rather than going through HR Teams to book places on Pension Workshops they could book themselves via the portal. Once attendance has been marked this then extends to allow staff to apply for a one to one consultation.
Prior to using LearnHSCNI communications were dealt with by each individual Employer and the dates provided related only to that Employer. However, now the sessions are open across the region to allow more flexibility.
The Trust Liaison Team would like to ask that when we send details of available sessions/appointments each quarter that this is shared as soon as possible with all staff. These are allocated on a first come first served basis so if all employers are issuing communications around the same time it makes it as fair as possible on staff.
If you wish to discuss with one of the team please contact Erin.McNamara@hscni.net or Debbie.Quigg@hscni.net.
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Important Update: Remediable Service Statements (RSS)
HSC Pension Service is currently working through a number of complex issues in the preparation of member specific RSS (for members who have already retired). These include the review and reconciliation of historical pension records and verification of legacy data.
This requires significant resource requirements to ensure that calculations and information provided within member choice packs are accurate and complete. As a result, there may be delays for some members receiving their RSS by the previously suggested deadline dates.
Please be assured that HSC Pension Service are making every effort to progress this work and our priority remains providing members with accurate, reliable and correct information in order to make your choice confidently.
To help us focus on completing and issuing RSS as quickly as possible, we are asking members not to contact us to enquire on the status of their RSS unless their circumstances are urgent or exceptional.
Responding to individual enquires requires resources that would otherwise be dedicated to progressing this work and will cause further delays.
We will provide updates where appropriate and thank members for their patience and cooperation. If staff come to you as their Employer please direct them to the McCloud section of the website here.
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Member with Entitlement in Both Schemes (MEBS)
If a member has had a break in Scheme membership of more than five years and has deferred pension benefits in the 1995/2008 Section but is currently active in the 2015 Scheme, this means they have Membership in both Schemes (MEBS). Both Schemes can therefore be treated separately and they can claim the preserved benefits without the need for a 24-hour break in service.
- If the member has deferred benefits in the 1995 Section but is active in the 2015 scheme, they can apply for their deferred pension on reaching age 60.
- If the member has deferred benefits in the 2008 Section but is active in the 2015 scheme, they can apply for their deferred pension on reaching age 65.
To apply for benefits members should complete the AW6(P) form and send directly to HSC Pension Service.
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Reminder: Retirees who Receive a Re-grading
At the Employer’s Forum held in March 2026 the topic of re-grading was raised and how this can impact on pension benefits.
If a member is re-graded and is already in receipt of their pension benefits HSC Pension Service will need to know the details so as to revise their benefits using the new pensionable pay.
It was agreed at the Employer Forum that an extension to the current process would occur i.e. HR inform Payroll Shared Services (PSS) as normal then PSS will inform HSC PS once complete to allow us to revise the pension. This is a reminder to ensure that this process is being implemented and to confirm that details should be sent to aw6.est.ppt@hscni.net and copy in Monica.Smyth@hscni.net and Karen.Carton@hscni.net.
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Contact Us
By writing to us at:-
HSC Pension Service
Orchard House
40 Foyle Street
Derry/Londonderry
BT48 6ATVia e- mail at: – hscpensions@hscni.net
By Telephone: (10.00am to 12.00pm & 2.00pm to 4.00pm – Monday to Thursday; 10.00am to 12.00pm Friday) on 028 71319111
Find us on X – @hscpensions
Find us on Facebook – HSC Pension Service