This guidance is addressed to the Department of Finance (DoF) as scheme manager of the Civil Service and Others Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) (CSOPS(NI) or the alpha scheme).

This guidance should be used to calculate the cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) of a deferred benefit in the alpha scheme.

The following changes have been made when reviewing this guidance:

• Important information around the expected audience for the guidance, use of the guidance, review of factors, compliance and limitations applies across all sets of guidance. Rather than being repeated in each set of guidance, this can now be found on the scheme home page. It is important to read this information alongside the guidance.
• Calculation methodology: No changes have been made to the calculation methodology. Clarification has been added on the approach to be taken where a member has a pension debit and/or offset.
• Examples: There are no examples in this guidance. Worked examples, using the calculation methodology, can be found in prior versions of the guidance (though please note that these use historic factors).
• Factor tables: The "Factor Tables" tab contains the names of the tables that are referenced in the calculation methodology. The tables of factors themselves can be found in the most recently published "Consolidated Factors Workbook" which is available by clicking the "Download current Consolidated Factors Workbook" button on the scheme's home page.
• Assumptions: The key assumptions underlying the factors in each note are contained in the Consolidated Factors Workbook.
• Regulations: The regulations that require the production of the actuarial factors and/or guidance that is the subject of this note are summarised in the "Regulations" tab.

This guidance only relates to benefits in the alpha scheme. Separate guidance applies to the classic, classic plus, premium or nuvos sections of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) (PCSPS(NI)).

These tables should not be used to calculate the amount of a Club transfer value.

We do not envisage any special cases not covered by this note. However, if any do occur they should be referred to the Government Actuary's Department (GAD).

A member may have benefits in both PCSPS(NI) and the alpha scheme. The CETV for the member's PCSPS(NI) and alpha section benefits should be calculated separately using the relevant guidance.