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  • Overview of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme (NITPS) including member factsheets

    Topics:
    • Teaching staff, 
    • Pension Scheme

    Information and guidance on the Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme (NITPS) changes from 1 April 2015, including newsletters, factsheets, slides from the pension roadshows, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Employer Payroll Guidance.

    The Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme (NITPS) From 1 April 2015

    From 1 April 2015 the NITPS is changing from a final salary scheme to a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) Scheme, and the way your pension benefits are calculated may change. If you are a deferred member and decide to return to teaching, the changes introduced to the Northern Ireland Teacher's Pension Scheme (NITPS) from 1 April 2015 could affect you.

    Some members will not be affected by the changes and will remain in final salary arrangements. Others will start to have their benefits calculated using a combination of career average and final salary arrangements. A new entrant who joins the NITPS on or after the 1 April 2015 will have their benefits calculated using career average arrangements only.

    The following documents are for information purposes and if there is any differences between the legislation governing this scheme and the information contained within, the legislation will apply.

    Preparing for Retirement Webinar

    Please find below our recent webinar aimed towards members considering retirement in the next few years.

    A copy of the slides is also available

    Webinar Slides

    Newsletters

    These give an awareness of the changes from 1 April 2015:

    • February 2015 Newsletter
    • March 2015 Newsletter

    Factsheets

    These Fact Sheets provide members with further insight into the Northern Ireland Teachers Pension Scheme including information on how benefits are calculated with worked examples.

    • Factsheet 1 An introduction to the changes to the NITPS
    • Factsheet 2 Ill health arrangements
    • Factsheet 3 Bereavement and nominations
    • Factsheet 4 Retirement
    • Factsheet 5 Breaks in service and transfers
    • Factsheet 6 Increasing your pension
    • Factsheet 7 Benefits explained
    • Factsheet 8 Transitional Protection
    • Factsheet 9 Goodwin Ruling

    Pension roadshow

    The Department held a pension roadshow from 13 January to 14 February 2015 throughout the province with various teacher unions to inform members of the forthcoming changes. The slides from the roadshows are available for those who were unable to attend

    • Slides from the pension roadshows

    Frequently asked questions

    The Department produced frequently asked questions in relation to the changes to the NITPS from 1 April 2015

    • NITPS Frequently Asked Questions February 2015

    Employer payroll Guide

    The Employer Payroll Guide provides information for employers and payroll managers on the changes to the NITPS from 1 April 2015.

    HMRC - National Insurance contribution changes

    Due to the end of contracting-out for defined benefit schemes (such as the Teachers' Pension Scheme), HMRC will be making some changes to the rate of National Insurance contributions you'll be paying from April 2016. This will be changing from D rate to A rate, which means a higher rate of contributions.

    To find out more contact HMRC directly, or ask your employer for further information.

    For further information the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have created a simple factsheet to help you understand how the changes will affect you.

    Contact

    For more information, contact the Teachers' Pensions Team.

    Related content

    • Actuarial reports
    • Additional pension
    • Annual Benefit Statements
    • Applying for retirement benefits
    • Career average revaluation rates
    • Customer service, and complaints
    • Family benefits
    • Governance of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme (NITPS)
    • Ill-health retirement benefits and re-employment
    • Ill-health Retirement Guide
    • Important pensions notices for all NITPS members
    • Maintaining and boosting your pension
    • McCloud Remedy / Goodwin Judgement
    • Membership elections
    • NI Teachers’ Pension Scheme Member Contribution Yield Consultation
    • Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme actuarial valuation 2016
    • Northern Ireland Teachers' Pension Scheme – Cost control valuation 2016
    • Northern Ireland Teachers’ Pension Scheme actuarial valuation 2020
    • Partner benefits
    • Pension circulars
    • Pension Increase rates and career average revaluation
    • Pension regulations
    • Pensions calculators
    • Pensions when you divorce
    • Prospective Remedy Consultation
    • Retrospective Remedy Consultation
    • Returning to work after receiving pension benefits
    • Statement on the McCloud Judgement
    • Teachers' Pay & Pensions Team - Privacy Notice (effective from 25 May 2018)
    • Teachers' Pension System - Member and Employer Portals
    • The Money and Pensions Service, MoneyHelper, pensions blog for teachers in Northern Ireland
    • Transitional Protection Arrangements
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