Publish date: 31 May 2022
Further to communications in March 2022, April 2022 and May 2022 regarding Re-Enrolment, it is now here and staff that may be affected are reminded of the process and the action they may need to take.
If you are currently NOT contributing to a workplace pension scheme, (NHS Pension or NEST), then this communication may apply to you.
Back in April 2013, the Trust reached its Pension Regulator set Auto Enrolment Staging Date and went live with statutory Auto Enrolment responsibilities and obligations from June 2013.
As part of these responsibilities, the Trust is required to undertake a ‘Re-Enrolment’ exercise for members of staff who satisfy specific criteria every 3 years.
June 2022 will see the next of these Re-Enrolment exercises and set out below is an overview of the process to be followed and details of which members of staff are to be subject to re-enrolment.
Who will be affected and Re-Enrolled?
Pension scheme members as at 30.06.2019, who have since opted out of the NHS Pension Scheme or the alternative workplace pension scheme NEST longer than 12 months prior to the Re-Enrolment date.
Or
New staff commencing after 01.07.2019 who have subsequently opted out of the NHS Pension Scheme or the alternative workplace pension scheme NEST longer than 12 months prior to the Re-Enrolment date.
HMRC Pension LTA Protection Certificates:
If you have some form of protection in place in respect of pension savings built up above the HMRC Lifetime Allowance then you may be exempt from the re-enrolment process. Subject to provision of evidence of the protection that is in place, we can remove staff holding protection from the re-enrolment process.
If you hold HMRC Lifetime Allowance Protection then you will have a certificate from HMRC. To be exempt from the re-enrolment process, you must have provided a copy of the certificate by 31.05.2022 to Payroll Services.
If you hold any HMRC Pension Protection Certificates to cover potential breach of Lifetime Allowance e.g. Primary, Enhanced Protection / Fixed Protection 2012 and 2014 and Individual Protection 2014, and have not provided a copy to Payroll Services before the above data then upon auto re-enrolment, unless you opt out at the end of the first month you will lose your protection status. You may wish to seek independent advice from your financial advisor.
Where an individual loses either Enhanced or Fixed Protection they must notify HMRC as soon as possible as HMRC have time limits in which they must be notified. If the individual does not meet those time limits, HMRC may impose fines on that person. The time limits and fines are confirmed in the HMRC RPSM manuals at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/rpsmmanual/index.htm.
When will Re-Enrolment take place?
For those staff meeting the criteria as stated above, assessment for re-enrolment will take place during June 2022. Payroll will undertake the assessment of re-enrolment eligibility and will write to staff who will be re-enrolled.
What will I need to do?
All staff subject to re-enrolment will have the option to remain in the pension scheme or opt out. The arrangements for opting out are as follows.
Opting Out of the NHS Pension Scheme:
Form SD (502) must be obtained by the individual member from the NHS Pensions website: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/Pensions/SD502_(V14)_04.2015.pdf
If you do not have personal access to a computer, you can contact NHS Pensions for an opt out form by telephoning the Member Helpline on 0300 3301 346.
Please be advised that this form cannot be provided by Payroll Services and cannot be submitted in advance.
Any member of staff who is subject to auto enrolment has the right to opt out, but this can only be done once you have been opted in – we cannot hold opt out declarations on file for action.
Once you have completed the form, send it to:
Pensions Team, Payroll Services,
St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust,
3rd Floor Court, Alexandra Business Park,
Prescot Road, St Helens
WA10 3TP
Or email the signed form from your NHS email account to merseycare
NHS Pensions Opting Out Factsheet: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/Pensions/Member_Opting_Out_factsheet_(05.2015)_(V4).pdf
Opting Out of NEST:
You will only be able to opt out after you have been opted in and you have received your NEST Welcome Pack which will contain your NEST ID. You will need your ID to complete the opt out process. You can opt out by contacting NEST on-line, over the phone or request a paper form. NEST telephone number: 0300 020 0090
Where can I get further information?
NHS Pensions – Members Opting Out Factsheet http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/Pensions/Member_Opting_Out_factsheet_(05.2015)_(V4).pdf
NEST http://www.nestpensions.org.uk/schemeweb/nest/my-nest-pension/joining-nest/opting-out.html
Staff currently members of NHS Pension Scheme / NEST are NOT affected by this action.
Next Stage Action:
At this stage, no action by any member of staff is necessary and current pension scheme arrangements continue to apply. If however you require any further information regarding Auto Enrolment then please visit:
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/
Please note: Auto Enrolment is part of the Government’s statutory pension enrolment legislation introduced in 2012.