Early leavers, transfers and contracting-out

Gain clarity on the legal procedures for members exiting schemes before retirement, ensuring compliance and optimal outcomes. Our expert guidance simplifies the complexities of early pension leavers, transfers, and contracting-out. We provide detailed advice on managing pension benefit movements between schemes and insights into statutory requirements and best practices. Access comprehensive information on contracting-out regulations to effectively advise on National Insurance contributions and safeguarded benefits. Streamline your understanding of these critical aspects of pension management with our thorough resources.

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Contracting-out Early leavers Transfers

Latest Pensions News

Pensions UK examines whether flexible automatic enrolment contributions could ease financial pressures on savers

Pensions UK examines whether flexible automatic enrolment contributions could ease financial pressures on savers

Pensions UK has published a report, ‘Closing the gaps: can flexible contributions make retirement savings more affordable?’, examining whether greater...

Pensions weekly highlights—25 June 2026

Pensions weekly highlights—25 June 2026

This week’s edition of Pensions weekly highlights includes a review of key news stories, as well as dates for your diary and trackers....

ICO announces new data protection complaints requirements now in force

ICO announces new data protection complaints requirements now in force

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced that new legal requirements under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) are now in...

TPR confirm their approval of new MoneyHelper step-by-step guide on how to take your pension

TPR confirm their approval of new MoneyHelper step-by-step guide on how to take your pension

Following email exchanges with The Pensions Regulator (TPR), it was confirmed that TPR have approved the new MoneyHelper guide ‘How to take your...

Featured Pensions content

Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)

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)

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 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 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...

Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Julie Peaple of Nest Corporation, Michael Hames of Nest Corporation and gunnercooke LLP
13th Oct
Practice notes

Registration of pension schemes

Registration of pension schemesBenefits of registrationRegistration provides advantageous tax reliefs and exemptions for a pension scheme and its...
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30th May
News

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...
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3rd Jun
Q&As

Are apprentices auto-enrolled into a pension if they earn under 10,000 per year and are aged under 18?

Are apprentices auto-enrolled into a pension if they earn under 10,000 per year and are aged under 18?Automatic enrolment does not apply to workers...
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2nd Jun
Q&As

What issues should an employer consider when providing life insurance to its employees?

What issues should an employer consider when providing life insurance to its employees?Life insurance—basicsLife insurance benefit (life cover) can...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Peter White
13th Oct
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Wyn Derbyshire of gunnercooke LLP
13th Oct
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Sean McNulty of Blake Morgan
30th May
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Wyn Derbyshire of gunnercooke LLP
13th Oct
Practice notes

Pension consultation requirements

Pension consultation requirementsEmployers are required by statute to consult with members or their representatives for at least 60 days before making...
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30th May
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Kevin Gude of Keystone Law
30th May
Practice notes

Investment management agreements—trustee considerations

Investment management agreements—trustee considerationsThe management of assets belonging to another person on a discretionary basis is a 'regulated...
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Produced in partnership with Martin Scott of gunnercooke LLP
30th May
Practice notes

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...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

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...
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Produced in partnership with Wyn Derbyshire of gunnercooke LLP
13th Oct
Practice notes

Age discrimination—the pension exceptions and when they apply

Age discrimination—the pension exceptions and when they applyExceptions for age discrimination under the Equality Act 2010The general...
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Produced in partnership with Elizabeth Ovey of Radcliffe Chambers
13th Oct
News

Government to require pension schemes to disclose UK investments

...
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2nd Jun

Popular documents

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 pension provision:•the basic State pension—this was a flat rate broadly based on the amount of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) a person paid

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 pension (GMP) without increasing the overall deferred pension. The pension in excess of the GMP was effectively reduced so that the overall deferred

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?

Can shares in a limited company that have not been paid-up at all be cancelled?A limited company having a share capital may not alter that share capital, except in the ways listed in section 617 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). Shares in a company cannot simply be cancelled without following an