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
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has submitted a comprehensive response to the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP)...
Law360: The government should consider alternatives to its plan to bring pension assets within the scope of inheritance tax, an online investment...
The government has updated the webpage hosting its Fair Deal guidance to confirm that it is fully committed to the full timely implementation of the...
The Home Office has launched consultations on amendments to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 in England and the Police Pension Scheme 2015 in...
The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) has announced the appointment of Camilla Barry as the new Deputy Pensions Ombudsman (DPO) and Deputy Pension Protection...
Latest Pensions Practice Notes
Consultation tracker—pensionsThis Lexis+® UK Pensions consultation tracker tool displays key consultations (both formal and informal) conducted in the...
Horizon scanning—PensionsThis Practice Note summarises the key legal developments that are expected to impact pension lawyers within the next 18...
What happens to a pension scheme on a company’s insolvency?This Practice Note considers the effect of a company’s insolvency on an occupational...
Case tracker—2024 auto-enrolment pensions judgments—by dateThis tracker contains a list of pensions judgments handed down by the General Regulatory...
DB pensions funding reforms 2024The March 2018 White Paper on defined benefit (DB) pension schemes identified a lack of accountability and clarity on...
Latest Pensions Precedents
Retained EU law—training materials [Archived]ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained.These training materials consist of...
Salary sacrifice scheme—employee FAQs[For use only where the employee is foregoing salary for the following benefits that retain Tax and/or NICs...
Local government outsourcing contract—template pensions schedule1Interpretation1.1The following definitions and rules of interpretation apply in this...
Business sale agreement—pensions warranties (where buyer provides future pension benefits)This precedent has been prepared on the basis that the...
Share purchase agreement—long form pensions warranties (where target company has a defined benefit (DB) scheme)This precedent has been prepared on the...
Latest Pensions Q&As
Featured Pensions content
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...
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...
Retirement Annuity Contracts (RAC)—older types of personal pension schemes
Retirement Annuity Contracts (RAC)—older types of personal pension schemesFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase...
Pension commencement lump sums (PCLSs)
Pension commencement lump sums (PCLSs)When a member of a pension scheme becomes entitled to receive their scheme benefits, they can usually take part...
Indexation and revaluation of pensions—changing from RPI to CPI
Indexation and revaluation of pensions—changing from RPI to CPIFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal...
What does ‘contracting-out’ mean for pension lawyers?
What does ‘contracting-out’ mean for pension lawyers?Interaction with the additional State pensionBefore 6 April 2016, there were two levels of State...
Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes—who owns the surplus?
Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes—who owns the surplus?THIS PRACTICE NOTE RELATES TO DEFINED BENEFIT OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMESOne of the most...
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...
Stakeholder pension schemes—the legal requirements
Stakeholder pension schemes—the legal requirementsFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: On 17 March 2021, the Pensions Regulator (TPR) launched a consultation on...
Tax treatment of pensions—an introduction
Tax treatment of pensions—an introductionFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age...
The Electricity Supply Pension Scheme
The Electricity Supply Pension SchemeFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA)...
Pensions and divorce in Scotland
Pensions and divorce in ScotlandThis Practice Note provides a high-level summary of pension sharing orders on divorce in Scotland as they relate to...
Pension bulk transfers—beginners’ guide
Pension bulk transfers—beginners’ guideThis guide is primarily aimed at trainees, newly qualified lawyers and other persons who are new to or...
Types of overseas pension schemes
Types of overseas pension schemesFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from...
Case tracker—forthcoming cases—pensions
Case tracker—forthcoming cases—pensionsThe entries in this tracker are organised by topic. These topics are listed in the Table of Contents (to the...
Dealing with pension scheme members who are insistent clients
Dealing with pension scheme members who are insistent clientsWhat is an insistent client?The term ‘insistent client’ is commonly used to describe an...
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...
Early leavers—revaluation
Early leavers—revaluationFORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from 55 to 57...
Associated legal terms
Category E
A fifth element to the basic state pension. It pays 25p a week to all pensioners over the age of 80.
Death-in-service benefits
Benefits paid to a scheme member (or his estate or dependants) on death while working in the company which is the sponsor of the plan.
Funding level
Comparison of a scheme's assets and liabilities. Determined as part of an actuarial valuation and usually expressed as a percentage.
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