Deferred Members of the TPS

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If you are a 'deferred' member of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (i.e. you have previous service as a member of the TPS but are not currently retired, teaching or paying in to the TPS) you should be aware of how the scheme changes introduced from 1 January 2007 will affect you.

Following the changes, it is now possible for a member to have service with a Normal Pension Age (NPA) of 60 as well as service with a NPA of 65. For details of the implications of a break in service for deferred members with service prior to 1 January 2007 members should read Teachers' Pensions FAQs for past or deferred members (new window). 

In brief:

•  if a deferred member with TPS service prior to 1 January 2007 returns to teaching on or after 1 January 2008 with a break of five years or less, the previous pension arrangements will continue to apply to all their service i.e. with a pension based on 1/80 plus an automatic lump sum and a normal pension age of 60;
•  if a deferred member with service prior to 1 January 2007 returns on or after 1 January 2008, following a break of service of more than five years they will have their future service based on the 'new' provisions of the scheme – i.e. a pension based on 1/60ths, with no automatic lump sum, and a normal pension age of 65 - but retain the ‘old’ provisions on their previous service with benefits payable at age 60 etc.

Thus, a deferred member with service prior to 1 January 2007 who has a break in service must return to teaching within 5 years for their future service to be treated on the ‘old’ terms - i.e. based on 80ths with an automatic lump sum with normal pension age 60 etc . (NB in this context 'return to teaching' means a member must return to pensionable employment for a minimum of 60 days, or pays into the pension scheme for a minimum of 30 days, in any 365 day rolling period).

A further five-year time limit will apply to any subsequent breaks in service for the purposes of retaining existing pension terms on future service (eg with normal pension age 60).

For further information visit the Teachers' Pensions website (new window).

Please bring this to the attention of any family, friends or colleagues who may be affected.