This note is provided for the Scottish Public Pension Agency ('SPPA') as administrator of the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme ('STSS') and the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme 2015 ('STPS'). It sets out how to determine the appropriate service credit or pension credit for incoming non-Club transfers into the STSS or STPS.
This note sets out how to determine the appropriate service credit or pension credit for members aged below their normal pension age (NPA). Cases involving members above their NPA should be referred to the Government Actuary's Department (GAD).
A pension credit in respect of a non-Club transfer value may be awarded in the STPS.
It is our understanding that no further service credit calculations are required for the STSS. Please raise any apparent service credit cases with GAD.
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 historical 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.
Historical arrangements for members transferring 'comparable United Kingdom service' (CUKS - i.e. other statutory teachers' schemes in the United Kingdom) were previously undertaken on a 'day-for-day' basis.
These arrangements are no longer available as they only apply to those who joined a CUKS scheme on or before 31 March 2015 and applied for the transfer on or before 31 March 2017. This criteria is set out in the Teachers' Superannuation (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
SPPA have advised that any members transferring service from a CUKS scheme, who do not meet the criteria set out in the paragraph above, will now only be able to transfer their benefits into the STPS. This note should be used to calculate the pension credit awarded to a member in this scenario.
This note only covers non-Club incoming transfers into the STSS and the STPS. Different guidance and factors should be used to calculate service credits or pension credits for transfers made in accordance with the Public Sector Transfer Club as set out in the relevant guidance note.
