I threw away £8,000 and to make it worse, continue to throw another £2,000 away every year. Learn how to use a little known rule to protect your pension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFGJbmtMQHQ
Worked Examples
Restricted Example
Service to break 6 years, service after break 7 years.
Salary at break: £40,000.
Salary at end: £32,000.
End is LOWER than Break = Restricted
1) Break calculation: 6 years / 80 x £40,000 = £3,000 (then inflation is added, say 7 years @2%=~15%) £3,000 + 15% = £3,450.
2) End calculation: 13 years / 80 x £32,000 = £5,200
The best of these is £5,200, so that is what is received.
Unrestricted Example
Service to break 6 years, service after break 7 years.
Salary at break: £40,000.
Salary at end: £44,000.
End is HIGHER than Break = Unrestricted
1) Break calculation: 13 years / 80 x £40,000 = £6,500 (then inflation is added, say 7 years @2%=~15%) £6,500 + 15% = £7,475.
2) End calculation: 13 years / 80 x £44,000 = £7,150
The best of these is £7,475, so that is what is received.
Teachers Pensions Refusing Hypothetical Calculations
The hypothetical calculation is made every time you have a break in service and with teacher’s pay failing to keep pace with inflation for more than 10 years – and likely not to do so for quite a few more, it can easily mean that you will get a HIGHER pension than the one shown on your benefit statement. The problem is that TPS routinely REFUSE to tell you how much this calculation would give you.
One teacher I’ve been chatting with recently finally managed to get a successful conclusion by submitting a formal complaint. This is a paraphrased account of what happened:
Teacher to TPS: Please could you confirm what my pension will be based on the break in service I had in 2010
TPS to Teacher: Thank you for your secure message. I should explain that we do not provide hypothetical estimates of benefits. These calculations are only performed at retirement when a completed application for benefits has been received. I am sorry for any inconvenience this causes.
Teacher to TPS: Via complaint form
- Nature: “How benefits are calculated”
- Reason for complaint: “Failure to provide me with the hypothetical calculation of benefits accrued to my leaving pensionable employment in 2020 based on the break in service I had in 2010”
- Details of complaint: “See previous secured messages requesting same.”
- How to put right: “For TPS to provide the calculation of benefits accrued to September 2020 based on the hypothetical calculation created by my break in service in 2010.”
TPS to Teacher: Within the week a statement detailing the hypothetical calculation was provided for the teacher. The amount from this calculation was in the region of 10% higher than that he had been given previously
