Member Newsletter June 2025

This newsletter is for all active and deferred members of the HSC Pension Schemes and contains important information about your HSC Pension Scheme Benefits.

The below information is available in a downloadable/printable format here.

• Remediable Service Statements (RSS) 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. You must only choose one option.

  Each option will include the standard amount of lump sum you will receive depending on your choice. If you want to increase your lump sum by commuting part of your pension, you will have the option to do so on the RSS before you return it for processing. We cannot process your RSS without this decision. Please read the guidance notes on your pension application and visit our online calculator at Pension Commutation Calculator to help you decide.

  Once you have received your RSS, you 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 please take time to consider both options and submit your choice as soon as possible.

  Return your completed and signed form to RSSRETURN@HSCNI.NET. Please be aware that we cannot accept incomplete forms and they will be returned to you. This may result in delayed payment of your pension benefits.

  If no decision has been received, you will automatically receive the Legacy option for the remedy period.

  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

• Remediable Service Statements (RSS) for Retired Members

  HSC Pension Service are currently working extremely hard to fulfil all of our obligations in relation to the 2015 Remedy (McCloud). Since December 2024 all affected members applying for their Pension Benefits are provided with a Remediable Service Statement (RSS) prior to retirement (see section 1) to allow them to compare figures and make their choice before benefits are put into payment.

  Providing the RSS for all those who retired during the period 1 April 2015 to 30 November 2024 is much more challenging due to the complexities involved. The legislative deadline for issuing
  Choice options is 31 March 2025, however, there is discretion within the legislation for the deadline to be extended to a later date that the Scheme Manager considers reasonable in the case of
  a particular member or a particular class of member.

  HSC Pension Scheme has invoked this clause of the legislation and received authorisation to amend our timelines. Details of the new timelines are detailed below:

  Cohort/Category of Member	No of members in	Projected Completion
  Ordinary Pensioners– formerly unprotected	297	31/03/2026
  Ill Health Pensioners– formerly unprotected	668	31/03/2026
  Deceased and Dependants– formerly unprotected	229	31/03/2026
  Ordinary Pensioners – formerly protected	8,824	30/06/2026
  Ill Health Pensioners– formerly protected	429	30/06/2026
  Deceased and Dependants– formerly protected	503	30/06/2026
  Ordinary Pensioners – formerly tapered	1,165	31/12/2026
  Ill Health Pensioners – formerly tapered	335	31/12/2026
  Deceased and Dependants – formerly tapered	98	31/12/2026

   

• Backdated Pay Awards & Revision of Pension Benefits

  f you are a pensioner and are impacted by a backdated pay award then you may be due a revision of pension benefits.

  For those pensioners impacted by McCloud their revision will be completed alongside their Remediable Service Statement (RSS) in line with the new timelines above at Section 2. Arrears will be calculated and backdated to the point of retirement.

  This method ensures the most efficient use of resources within the HSC Pension Service and avoids duplication of work.

• Opting Out/Leaving the Scheme

  If you are already an existing member of the HSC Pension Scheme and you decide to opt out of the scheme but are staying in your job, please make sure you fully understand what you are giving up. Before making your final decision, you may want to seek independent financial advice.

  If you have less than two years qualifying service in the scheme, you can apply for a refund of the contributions you have paid. Refunds are only available to members under normal pension age. Tax and National Insurance contributions will be deducted from the refund before it is paid to you.

  If you have been in the scheme for two or more years, you can leave your benefits with the scheme. These are called Preserved Benefits. If you return to work or decide to contribute to the scheme after preserving your benefits, this additional service may be linked with your preserved service, or if more advantageous, separate benefits will be awarded in respect of the additional service.

  You may be able to transfer the benefits you have earned in the scheme to another pension arrangement. You will be required to contact your new pension provider to request further information about this.

  If you have reached normal pension age and opt out of the scheme but carry on working in the HSC, you will not be able to claim your retirement benefits until your employment ends.

  To opt out of the Scheme you must complete form SD502 and return to Payroll Shared Services Centre. The form and further information can be found on our website at Opting Out or Leaving the Scheme | HSC Pension Service

• Continuation of Added Years/Additional Pension/ERRBO Contracts

  If you pay additional contributions to the HSC Pension Scheme for Added years, Additional Pension Purchase or an ERRBO it is your responsibility to inform your employer should you move posts.

  The New Joiner & Re-joiner forms ask for information in relation to these contracts and it is imperative that you provide your Employer with a copy of the contract each time you change posts to ensure the correct contributions are being collected and to avoid an accumulation of arrears.

  Note: If you have had a break of more than 12 months you cannot re-start an Added years contract.

• Annual Allowance Remediable Pension Savings Statement (RPSS) - Reminder

  Members impacted by McCloud have now been rolled back into their legacy Scheme until 31st March 2022. The re-calculations of Annual Allowance for the remedy period plus pension input amounts for 5th April 2023 and 5th April 2024 have been completed and the majority of those members requiring a Remediable Pension Service Statement (RPSS) have been issued an email containing their statement.

  A small number of RPSS remain outstanding due to the complexity of the case and queries raised with other Organisations such as Payroll Shared Services. On receipt of all the required
  information these statements will be processed as soon as possible.

  If you have received an RPSS please ensure you follow the ‘What you ned to do next’ section on your letter to ensure your tax position is updated with HMRC.

  For the year 2023/24 you may notice a minus figure displayed as your Pension Input amount, please see the Negative PIA Factsheet on our website for further information.

• Career Breaks/Authorised Leave

  From 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 you decide not to pay contributions your pension record will be closed down by your Employer on the day before the leave commences.

  If you are on unpaid leave (not including unpaid sick, maternity, paternity adoption or parental leave) and has 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 you to opt back into the Pension Scheme by completing a re-joiner form which should be submitted to your
  Employer.

• Contact Us

  By writing to us at:-
  HSC Pension Service
  Orchard House
  40 Foyle St
  L’Derry
  BT48 6AT

  Via e- mail at: hscpensions@hscni.net
  By Telephone: 02871319111
  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

  If you have any suggestions for the newsletter or would like a particular topic covered in future publications please do not hesitate in contacting us by emailing: john.coyle@hscni.net