JOIN IN THE FIGHT TO REINSTATE THE RPI FOR PENSION INCREASES

Please write to your MP using the attached draft letter, to highlight the impact that the removal of the RPI is having on pensioners' income and to call for its reintroduction.

PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR MP.

DRAFT LETTER

DRAFT PENSIONS BILL NOW PUBLISHED

The Draft Pensions Bill has now been published use the link above to see the Bill and associated Annexes.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE PENSIONS BILL

GOVERNMENT ISSUES WHITE PAPER ON THE SINGLE TIER STATE PENSION

USE THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

NATIONAL PENSIONERS' CONVENTION ISSUE BRIEFING PAPER

NARPO are a member of the National Pensioners' Convention and will continue to consult and liaise with the NPC and other Public Sector Pensioner Organisations in relation to the current proposals contained in the Government white Paper with a view to achieving a fairer and simpler system for both current and future pensioners..

USE THIS LINK TO VIEW THE BRIEFING PAPER.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE SINGLE TIER STATE PENSION

SEPTEMBER CPI RELEASED AS 2.2%

The September Consumer Prices Index has now been released by the Office of National Statistics and is 2.2%.

Police Pensions in payment will rise in April next year in line with the CPI of 2.2%.

However the Basic State Pension is set to rise by 2.5% . This is as a result of the Government's ‘triple lock’ commitment  made in 2010 - a guarantee to give pensioners a rise of the best of prices, earnings or 2.5 per cent on the basic state pension.

Taxation – Age Related Allowance

In the recent budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government intended to abolish the current age related tax allowances. NARPO is against this reduction in this benefit to pensioners at a time when many of the services provided to the pensioner community are under threat. Pensioners are also paying towards the national deficit reduction following the change in annual pension indexation from the Retail Price Index to the lower Consumer Price Index.

If you would like to register your opposition to this latest reduction in pensioner benefits, please sign the attached petition by clicking on the link below.

EPETITION

TAXATION OF PENSION ENTITLEMENT FOLLOWING RE-EMPLOYMENT

The question of taxation of pension benefits in some circumstances following re-employment is proving a difficult subject to resolve.

NARPO have been working hard to provide answers and an acceptable solution to this problem since we became aware of it late last year. Whilst we agree that tax is a personal matter we have been the only representative organisation which has endeavoured to provide information and advice on this worrying topic. We will continue to seek a solution and provide that advice.

We also understand that ACPO and the Police Federation, whilst not in a position to provide individual advice, have also made representations along the same lines as NARPO to the Home Office seeking a fair solution to this problem.

One difficulty with this issue and the current position is, as we understand it, that several forces are independently making representations to HMRC to seek a solution. HMRC can from our own experience be cautious in their approach to matters such as this and this can prolong the process of negotiations. ACPO as a body is not involved in those negotiations, which are being conducted on a force by force basis, but, as well as making representations to the Home Office on this matter, ACPO has made similar representations to HMRC. It is our understanding that whatever results from the individual force dealings with HMRC, the Revenue will be seeking a single solution for all forces. This may take some time possibly up to two months to get a definitive answer from HMRC.

Whilst it may be difficult advice to accept, those affected might consider waiting for the outcome of those discussions before taking any further action.

If however you have been told by your force that you have a tax liability, one course of action would be to write to the force, expressing surprise at the position you find yourself in and seeking a written response from the force as to the actual tax payable and the specific reason for that tax demand. Once the force has responded, we still believe it appropriate to make a complaint of maladministration of the pension scheme, initially through the force pension Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure and eventually to the Pension Ombudsman.

This is a very complex area substantially influenced by individual circumstances. NARPO are not tax experts and those affected should actively consider obtaining independent tax advice.

We have now received further advice on these issues please use the links below:

USEFUL Q and A's

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Whilst we are unable to provide any tax advice to individuals, the below links to the technical pages of the HMRC website do contain further useful explanations of the current situation:

Protected Pension Age under 50

Protected Pension Age under 50

Employment after taking benefits

Loss of Protection after Employment Age 50 - 54

Restriction on Employment Age 50 - 54

Any members who feel they may be affected by this, should consider taking their own tax advice.

One of NARPO's member service providers is TWD Accountants who specialise in tax matters and their contact details can be found on the Member Services page of the website.

MEMBER SERVICES PAGE

CAMPAIGN FOR FAIRNESS IN STATE PENSION OVERSEAS

INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM of BRITISH PENSIONERS
Many of you may know pensioners from the UK, who emigrate have their State Pension entitlement frozen in most countries outside the EU.
The International Consortium of British Pensioners is fighting for fairness for all British pensioners, who choose to live abroad, seeking that their pensions be index linked. Currently they are interested in the attitudes of British pensioners still living in the UK. The  link below gives more details on this topic. 
 

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE

HOUSE OF COMMONS DOCUMENT RE PENSION UPRATING

BACKGROUND TO PENSION UPDATING

LORD HUTTONS REVIEW OF PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS TO VIEW USE THE LINKS BELOW.

HUTTON REVIEW FULL

NARPO RESPONSE TO HUTTON

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON IMPROVING YOUR BASIC STATE PENSION

In the May NARPO News Benefit update an article appeared in relation to the above. Our Benefits advisor's have now researched the matter fully and have provided a further update in relation to the uprating before a spouse/civil partner reaches state retirtement age.

UPDATED ARTICLE

Police Pension Advice

NARPO Headquarters at Wakefield is always available to answer any Police Pension enquiry. Either the Chief Executive or the Deputy Chief Executive can provide personal advice on a whole range of pension issues during normal office hours. Written and Email enquiries can also be catered for; all we ask is that you include your NARPO membership number with your request.

You will also need to identify the Police Pension scheme applicable to you. Although we recognise that currently the vast majority of our members will be subject to the provisions of the 1987 Regulations, a new Police Pension scheme was introduced for new recruits to the service from April 2006. These new Regulations are only applicable to new recruits and to those officers serving in April 2006 who elected to transfer to the new Police Pension scheme following its introduction. We have included links to explanatory booklets on both these schemes below.

Medical Pensions and Injury Awards are two areas that have experienced an unprecedented increase in growth of enquiries. Throughout the 43 Police Forces in England and Wales a much more robust and systematic approach to Medical Pensions and Injury Award review continues to develop. NARPO accepts this new approach, as long as it is carried out fairly and with compassion; is based on sound medical evidence and is conducted within the guideline of the relevant Police Regulations.

To fall in line with the Government’s ‘A Day’ proposals, intended to simplify pension provisions across the board, in April 2006 the Injury Award provisions were then included in a separate statutory instrument, The Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006. These Regulations are applicable to all current and former police officers irrespective of the Police Pension scheme to which they are a member. We have included a link to this legislation and a further link to advice on the medical appeals procedure applicable under Police Pension legislation.

LINKS TO USEFUL POLICE PENSION INFORMATION
 

Home Office Circulars

Home Office Police Pensions and Retirement Policy

Police Negotiating Board Circulars

Find details of Your Police Pension Administrator here.

Pensions Ombudsman

Pensions Advisory Service

PENSIONERS LIVING ABROAD ADVICE

OTHER PENSION GROUPS PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES
 

Civil Service Pensioners Alliance

National Pensioners Convention

AGE (European Older People's Platform)