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 Regulator (TPR) has issued a press release launching a new AI plan and setting out its expectations for trustees, administrators and...
Lord Briggs of Westbourne, Justice of the UK Supreme Court, delivered a keynote address at the Oxford Civil Justice Systems Conference, warning that...
HM Treasury has published the Public Service Pensions Valuations and Employer Cost Cap Amendment Direction, amending the 2023 Directions to ensure...
The Second Pensions Commission (the Commission) has published its interim report, 'Pensions 2050: Evidence and Future Priorities', warning that...
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published new research examining how people’s working lives affect pension saving and retirement...
Latest Pensions Practice Notes
Statutory frameworkThe Judicial Pension Scheme 2022 (the JPS 2022) was established by the Judicial Pensions Regulations 2022, SI 2022/319 (the 2022...
This Practice Note outlines the interim regime for defined benefit (DB) superfunds, as developed by the Pensions Regulator (TPR) pending the...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE 1: On 28 January 2026, the PDP launched a consultation on updated draft version (2.2) of the reporting standards. The revised...
What are limitation periods?Broadly, a limitation period specifies a time limit within which:•legal proceedings of a particular kind must be brought,...
THIS PRACTICE NOTE APPLIES ONLY TO DEFINED BENEFIT AND HYBRID OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMESThis Practice Note covers the considerations relevant to...
Latest Pensions Precedents
[insert date of letter]This document summarises certain changes to the contractual terms and conditions of employment between [insert name of...
Wealthy TeamHM Revenue & CustomsBX9 1BN[insert date of letter][insert company PAYE reference]Dear [insert organisation name]Non-Statutory Clearance of...
[For use only where the employee is foregoing salary for the following benefits that retain Tax and/or NIC advantages permitted pursuant to the...
[Insert name and address of employee][For use only where the employee is foregoing salary for the following benefits that retain income tax and/or...
[insert date of letter]To: [insert name of employee]From: [insert name of person in charge of salary sacrifice arrangements and their position within...
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
AAF
Guidance issued by the ICAEW to reporting accountants on undertaking an assurance engagement and providing a report in relation to the internal controls of a service organisation, issued in June 2006 and revised subsequently (replacing FRAG21/94).
Income stock
Shares which have a higher than average dividend yield or those where a relatively high proportion of the total return is derived from dividend income. Typical examples of income stocks are utilities.
Protected modification
Modification that would or might result in: any subsisting right that is not a right or entitlement to money purchase benefits becoming, or being replaced with, such a right or entitlement; or the reduction of any pension in payment.
CONTACT US
