About Pensions Law
Pensions is already one of the most complex and technical areas of the law. And with new legislation, the advent of auto-enrolment and a move towards defined contribution schemes, it’s about to become even more challenging.
Members and benefits
Navigate the complexities of the revised pensions freedoms regime and the different circumstances of pension benefits, including periods of temporary absence and the indexation and reduction of pensions in payment.
Trustees, governance, and administration
The governance of occupational pension schemes is an area that’s expanded with the increased level of regulation. Our content helps practitioners navigate their way through the web of statutory and regulatory material.
Transactions and reorganisations
The existence of pension arrangements can add complexity and risk to even the most straightforward of corporate transactions. Our content helps guide practitioners through the issues and how to deal with them.
Legislation
Pensions is one of the most complex and technical areas of the law. And with new legislation, the advent of auto-enrolment and a move towards defined contribution schemes, it’s about to become even more challenging.
Topics We Cover
Latest Pensions News
Pensions UK has announced that, together with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), it has sent a joint letter to the Chancellor urging the...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a technical consultation on proposed regulations to modernise the Local...
The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published new guidance, ‘The Six Data Quality Dimensions for Pension Scheme Member Data’...
This week’s edition of Pensions weekly highlights includes a review of key news stories, as well as dates for your diary and trackers....
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has updated its guidance on disguised remuneration through unfunded pension schemes (Spotlight 58) to include two...
Latest Pensions Practice Notes
Legislation tracker—pensionsThis legislation tracker is divided into the following sections:•Forthcoming Acts and Bills•Forthcoming Statutory...
Consultation tracker—pensionsThis Lexis+® UK Pensions consultation tracker tool displays key consultations (both formal and informal) conducted in the...
Pension Schemes Bill—trackerThis Practice Note tracks the progress of the Pension Schemes Bill (PSB) through Parliament, including any amendments made...
Horizon scanning—PensionsThis Practice Note summarises the key legal developments that are expected to impact pension lawyers within the next 18...
Payment of surplus to the employer—ongoing pension schemesFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Pension Schemes Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent in...
Latest Pensions Precedents
Conflicts of interest policy1Background1.1This policy applies to the [trustees (‘the Trustees’) OR directors of [insert company name] (‘the...
Salary sacrifice scheme—employee FAQs[For use only where the employee is foregoing salary for the following benefits that retain Tax and/or NICs...
Letter from company to acknowledge salary sacrifice[insert date of letter]To: [insert name of employee]From: [insert name of person in charge of...
Letter from employee to company confirming agreement to salary sacrifice[For use only where the employee is foregoing salary for the following...
Acknowledgment of changes to terms and conditions of employment to implement salary sacrifices[insert date of letter]This document summarises certain...
Latest Pensions Q&As
Featured Pensions content
Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)
Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)When personal pensions were first introduced in April 1988, they could only be established by authorised...
Small self-administered schemes (SSASs)
Small self-administered schemes (SSASs)What is a SSAS?Small self-administered schemes (SSASs) are usually registered pension schemes that are set up...
Section 32 buy-out policies
Section 32 buy-out policiesWhat is a section 32 buy-out policy?A term which may be often heard within the pensions arena is that of the ‘section 32...
The pre A-day pensions tax regime [Archived]
The pre A-day pensions tax regimeThe pensions tax regime under the Finance Act 2004 came into effect on 6 April 2006, otherwise known as A-day. The...
How is the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) different from a typical occupational pension scheme?
How is the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) different from a typical occupational pension scheme?FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the...
Registration of pension schemes
Registration of pension schemesBenefits of registrationRegistration provides advantageous tax reliefs and exemptions for a pension scheme and its...
DWP finds £571.6m state pension shortfall
The DWP announced on 21 March 2024 that it has so far identified 97,000 payments that were each short between £2,192 and £12,486.The DWP has launched...
Are apprentices auto-enrolled into a pension if they earn under 10,000 per year and are aged under 18?
What issues should an employer consider when providing life insurance to its employees?
Anti-franking
Anti-frankingThe conceptIt used to be the case that contracted-out salary-related (COSR) schemes could revalue a deferred member's guaranteed minimum...
Surrender and forfeiture of pension benefits
Surrender and forfeiture of pension benefitsTHIS PRACTICE NOTE APPLIES TO OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMES ONLYThis Practice Note considers the extent to...
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS)
Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS)Why use a QROPS?In practice, many Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPSs) are...
Bridging pensions
Bridging pensionsThis Practice Note contains references to case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. For guidance on whether EU...
Pension consultation requirements
Pension consultation requirementsEmployers are required by statute to consult with members or their representatives for at least 60 days before making...
Relevant life and excepted group life policies—practical issues
Relevant life and excepted group life policies—practical issuesStatute provides for two tax-efficient alternatives to a life assurance policy held...
Investment management agreements—trustee considerations
Investment management agreements—trustee considerationsThe management of assets belonging to another person on a discretionary basis is a 'regulated...
Auto-enrolment—postponement
Auto-enrolment—postponementAn employer can postpone the date on which the auto-enrolment obligations would otherwise apply to an eligible jobholder by...
Types of pension schemes—beginners’ guide
Types of pension schemes—beginners’ guideThis guide is primarily aimed at trainees, newly qualified lawyers and other persons who are new to or...
Associated legal terms
Convertible
A debt instrument paying a fixed rate of interest which offers the holder the right to convert into the underlying shares of the company
Retained benefits
Benefits acquired from previous employment (or self-employment) that must be taken into account when calculating benefits from membership of a current pension scheme.
Switching
The name given to the process of changing the choice of funds in which a policy is invested. Ordinarily the units of one fund are redeemed and units are purchased in another fund. It can also be many funds being redeemed for purchase into one new fund, or alternatively one fund being redeemed and invested in a selection of other funds. The purchase of units as part of a switch is done at the bid price, so preventing another bid/offer spread being incurred by the policyholder. A charge is sometimes levied for this service.
CONTACT US
