The Government has announced a remedy to address the age discrimination contained in the 2015 Public Service Pension Schemes transitional arrangements, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
Following a consultation period in which two remedial options were considered a decision has been made in favour of “Deferred Choice Underpin”.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:
“The significant majority of responses backed the introduction of a ‘deferred choice underpin’ (DCU) as the way to remedy the identified discrimination. This approach will enable eligible members, when they retire with a pension, to choose whether the legacy or reformed schemes would be better for them for the period between 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. Respondents offered strong and convincing arguments to support this view, which are set out within this consultation response. It is clear to me that the DCU will provide greater certainty for members and is also the right approach for schemes and the government. “
The Forces Pension Society welcomes this decision and applauds those involved for making the right choice in the best interests of those serving and retired Armed Forces people affected by this issue.
If you are part of the ‘affected population’ (in service both on or before 31 March 2012 and on or after 1 April 2015) you do not have to do anything right now. This announcement means that serving Armed Forces personnel will be able to make a decision on their pension entitlements for the remedy period (1 Apr 15 – 31 Mar 22) towards the end of their service with the information required available to them.
Those who have already left the Armed Forces will be ‘retrofitted’ with the remedy based on their choice of eligible Scheme and known end of service date. Affected personnel will be contacted by Veterans’ UK in due course.
We are now studying the full announcement and associated documentation in detail and will provide further updates.
This is a very good outcome and meets the ‘FPS tests’ emphasised to Government during the Public Consultation process.
If you are a Society member please read this – further note on enquiries
