This Note is addressed to Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland ('HSC') as administrator of the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme ('HSCPS') and identifies the various circumstances under which scheme pension may be commuted for a lump sum (or vice versa). It sets out the factors to be used in each case and specifies how they should be applied.
The scope of cases under each scenario which are covered by this guidance are detailed later in this note. Cases which are not covered by this guidance should be referred to the Government Actuary's Department (GAD).
No advice or factors issued for the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme 2015 ('HSCPS 2015') should be used for commutation calculations in respect of HSCPS benefits. Where members have benefits in both the HSCPS 2015 and the HSCPS, each scheme must be treated separately.
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.
- 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.
