More Law & Regulation – Page 58
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NewsHigh Court clarifies rules over pension back payment arrears
The High Court has further clarified the procedure for paying arrears when a member has not claimed a back payment within the usual six-year period, confirming that scheme rules will determine whether trustees have discretion as to whether those benefits have been forfeited.
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NewsSchemes urged to hire independent trustees for better governance
On the go: Pension schemes should appoint an independent professional trustee that can help navigate the increasing complexity and risk involved in day-to-day operations, Willis Towers Watson has advised.
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NewsRushing DC consolidation could hurt member outcomes
The Department for Work and Pensions wants to speed up consolidation among schemes with less than £5bn in assets. Although the initiative was broadly welcomed, experts have warned that rushing its implementation could worsen member outcomes.
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NewsIndustry warns against Treasury ‘tax raid’
Experts from across the pensions industry have warned against a rumoured “tax raid” in the autumn budget.
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NewsPMI launches new accreditation regime for lay trustees
On the go: The Pensions Management Institute is launching a new accreditation regime for lay trustees, in a move that follows the launch of an accreditation programme called APTitude for professional trustees last year.
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NewsMP tables bill to clarify rules around GMP conversion
On the go: A private members’ bill has been tabled in the House of Commons that aims to amend and clarify existing rules around guaranteed minimum pension conversion.
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NewsBespoke funding route could save charities 65% in cash contributions
On the go: Charities could cut their defined benefit cash contributions by between 35 and 65 per cent if they opt for the bespoke option over the fast-track route in the new DB funding code, according to analysis by Hymans Robertson.
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NewsACA warns of inadvertent damage to pensions advice market
On the go: The Association of Consulting Actuaries has warned HM Revenue & Customs against causing accidental damage to the pensions advice market.
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NewsMore advice needed on ‘fiendishly complicated’ pension freedoms
Pension freedoms have presented members with “fiendishly complicated” choices and providers are being stymied by the blurred line between guidance and advice, a hearing of the Work and Pensions Committee has heard.
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NewsTPR’s intervention guarantees £730m protection for Sanofi scheme
On the go: The Sanofi Pension Scheme has received a new guarantee package from its sponsor, including additional protection of up to £730m in the event of insolvency in the next 20 years, following intervention from the Pensions Regulator.
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NewsUniversities back alternative proposals to reform USS
Employers representing 95 per cent of the Universities Superannuation Scheme membership have backed measures proposed by Universities UK, including enhanced employer covenant provision, in a bid to end the impasse over the scheme’s 2020 valuation.
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NewsGovernment actuary proposes cost control mechanism reform
Martin Clarke, the government actuary, has proposed changing the cost-control mechanism used in the reformed public service pension schemes in a bid to tackle the “perverse outcome” of the 2016 valuation.
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NewsThird of high-risk DB transfers would pass new scam test
On the go: One in three high-risk defined benefit transfers would not be flagged under new scam rules proposed by the government, according to research from XPS Pensions Group.
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NewsOmbudsman reports failing AE employer to the regulator
On the go: The Pensions Ombudsman has upheld a complaint against accounting company Berics over £678 in unpaid auto-enrolment contributions, reporting the employer to the Pensions Regulator.
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NewsTimms urges action on fraudsters posing as Dalriada trustees
Work and Pensions Committee chair Stephen Timms has written to the City of London Police asking why no urgent action has been taken against fraudsters masquerading as representatives of Dalriada.
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NewsBritvic wins appeal on pension inflation change
On the go: Soft drinks manufacturer Britvic will be able to reduce the inflation-proofing it provides for its defined benefit pension scheme, as the Court of Appeal has ruled in its favour.
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NewsTreasury slammed for McCloud errors, but members will foot the bill
The Public Accounts Committee has issued a scathing report highlighting HM Treasury’s failure to predict the numerous problems stemming from 2011-15 public sector reforms, warning its mistakes will take “generations” to resolve.
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NewsCalls for NHS pension reform to tackle 'medical staffing crisis'
On the go: The British Medical Association has used a Public Accounts Committee report criticising the Treasury’s implementation of public sector pension reforms to call for further changes to the NHS Pension Scheme in order to tackle the medical staffing crisis.
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NewsPreliminary findings show govt failings on state pension age changes
On the go: Women born in the 1950s suffered delays of more than two years in being informed about rises in their state pension age due to government maladministration, according to preliminary findings by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
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NewsACA calls for more time to comply with pension scams rules
On the go: The Association of Consulting Actuaries has said administrators and trustees will need more time to comply with new pension scam rules being introduced by the government.