Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

Category: Pensions

  • Meet the General Secretary – Pension Scheme

    Seamus Searson the General Secretary would like to meet with SSTA members to discuss the issues that face secondary teachers and how we protect and improve conditions for members. The General Secretary will also give an update on Pay, Workload and the New Qualifications. A list of dates and venues are below.

    At this meeting there will be an important update on the new Scottish Teachers 2015 Pension Scheme and how it could impact on your future plans.

    The Scottish Teachers’ 2015 Pension Scheme
    Following the launch of the new Scottish Teachers’ 2015 Pension scheme, on 1 April 2015, we have seen an increase in the number of people seeking guidance. The main focus has been on how the scheme will operate and what actions can be taken to help secure retirement at a reasonable age.

    The new scheme has members that have ‘no protection’, ‘tapered protection’ and ‘protected status’ all dependent upon the teachers’ age on the 1 April 2015. In addition, there are various schemes to top-up your pension. However, there is a new arrangement called Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out (ERRBO). This option lets you pay extra contributions to reduce or remove the early retirement reduction if you retire before normal pension age. The ERRBO option is only available for 6 months after joining the new scheme. The clock started ticking for some members on the 1 April 2015. Do attend the ‘Meet the General Secretary’ meetings to get more information.

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    If you are able to attend please express your interest by contacting the SSTA head office on 0131 313 7300 or email us at info@ssta.org.uk

    ERRBO

    On 16 March SPPA wrote out to all scheme members who had either no protection or tapered protection setting out the changes being introduced from 1 April 2015. Enclosed with each letter was a leaflet which included details of the Early Retirement Buy Out Reduction and that there is a time limit of 6 months to request this option.

    The 20 day turnaround time is a target set by SPPA and is not set out in the regulations nor any scheme literature. Any application received up to and including the period of 6 months from the date of joining the scheme will be accepted.  In addition, where an enquiry is made within 6 months of joining the scheme which results in a quote being issued by SPPA outside the 6 month time limit,  then any subsequent election made within a reasonable time of that quote being issued can be accepted. The scheme regulations provide for an extension of time limits and elections received after the 6 month time limit in these circumstances will be considered under that discretion.

  • TEACHERS’ PENSION SCHEMES 2015/12

    STSS Circular 2015 12.pdf_Page_1

    The purpose of circular 2015/12 is to provide clarification on:

    1. Contribution rates and tiers for members joining and leaving the scheme
    2. CARE members who have additional contracts
    3. Cash conservation
    4. Employee and employer contributions payable whilst a member is on sick leave/maternity leave/shared paternity leave/ adoptive leave
    5. Contributions for members who receive holiday pay quarterly
    6. Salary sacrifice

  • Increase to public service pensions with effect from 6 April 2015

    Members should note the contents of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme Circular 2015/10

    STSS circular 2015 10

    The purpose of this circular is to notify employers of the increase to public service pensions with effect from 6 April 2015. Employers should apply these increases to mandatory and discretionary compensation payments that they pay to retired teachers.

  • Penison Contribution Rates – School Rep Bulletin

    Pension Contribution Rates – February 2015

    STSS
    New Pension Contributions rates from 1 April 2015

    For all scheme Members

    1. The tiered structure and rates for employee contributions are changing.
    2. A members actual pay rather than whole time equivalent pay should be used to determine the
    contribution rate due.

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    Employer contribution rates from 1 April 2015
    1.  The current employer contribution rate of 14.9% will continue to apply until 31 August 2015.
    2.  Employer contributions from 1 September 2015 will rise to 17.2%.

  • Pensions News – Have your Say

    The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) has opened three consultations on areas of pension reform.  They run until 4th January 2015 and can be found using the links below.

    Consultation on The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2014

    The above consultation is available to view on the SPPA website and runs from 6 November 2014 to 4 January 2015.

    Comments can be made online by completing the questionnaire or by completing the printable consultation form and returning it either by email to stsspensionsreform@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively by mail to:

     

    Consultation on The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2015

    The above consultation is available to view on the SPPA website and runs from 27 November 2014 to 4 January 2015.  Please note this consultation runs alongside the consultation issued on 6 November 2014.

    Comments can be made online by completing the questionnaire or by completing the printable consultation form and returning it either by email to stsspensionsreform@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively by mail to: STSS Consultation (2015 Reform Amendments), SPPA Policy, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE

     

    Consultation on the Teachers Pensions (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015

    The above consultation is available to view on the SPPA website and runs from 28 November 2014 to 4 January 2015.  Please note this consultation runs alongside the consultations issued on 6 and 27 November 2014.

    The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the Teachers Pensions (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 which cover a number of technical changes to over-riding pensions legislation.

    Comments can be made online by completing the questionnaire or by completing the printable consultation form and returning it either by email to stsspensionsreform@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively by mail to: STSS Consultation (2015 Reform Amendments), SPPA Policy, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE

  • Pension Reminder

    Members should be aware of the last increase in employee contribution to pensions.  Details are in the table below. This will apply on April salaries onwards.

    Pension Increases [FileName]_1

  • Pay and Conditions of Service Agreement 2013-15

    The SNCT has agreed a number of proposals in relation to pay and conditions of service.

    Agreement has been reached on:

    •  A two year pay deal for 2013-14 and for 2014-15.
    • Short term supply to be defined as 2 days (from 1 April 2014).
    • No cap on the maximum class contact time for short term supply teachers.
    • An automatic 10% pay uplift for preparation and correction time for all short term supply teachers.
    • The revised SNCT package arising from the McCormac recommendations to be implemented from 1 August 2014.
    • SNCT issuing a statement on teacher professionalism.
    • Working Group: a tri-partite working group chaired by COSLA to be established and tasked with identifying practical answers to common issues with availability of supply teachers.

    The pay agreement for teachers and associated professionals covers the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2015.

    The terms of the agreement are:

    Effective Date   % Increase

    1.4.2013                1%
    1.4.2014                1%

    Full details are set out in the revised Appendix 2.1 of the SNCT Handbook –Handbook Part 2 Appendix 2.1 Revised 03/14.

    Local Authorities will be seeking to implement the backdated increase as soon as possible, likely in salaries to be paid over the April or May paydates. There may be some delay in the backdated increase being paid to supply teachers and those whose employment circumstances have changed during the year due to the additional complication

    Arising from the agreement further changes to the Handbook and guidance will be issued by the SNCT in due course.

    Yours sincerely

    Alan McKenzie
    Acting General Secretary

     

  • SSTA Relieved at Pay Settlement

    The SSTA today expressed relief at the news that the way is now open for the settlement of this year’s and next year’s salary deal.

    Alan McKenzie, Acting General Secretary, said “This is welcome news that should allow the salary increase that was inevitable ending up in the pay packets of our members. We have always been of the view that the changes to the work practices proposed were minor and that view remains unaltered to this moment. It is commendable that the small wording changes have been enough to satisfy others involved in negotiations.”

     

    Further information from

    Alan McKenzie
    Acting General Secretary

    0131 131 7300

     

    4 March 2014

     

  • Survey on Pensions

    The Association is inviting members who will be directly affected by the proposed pension changes to take part in a survey to establish what their views are.  Teachers born on or after 1 April 1962 will be affected by the proposed changes.

    Email invitations have been sent out to members.  If are affected by the proposed pension changes and have not received an invitation to the survey please email info@ssta.org.uk with your name, school, date of birth and email address to receive an invitation.

    Background information on the changes is available from here.

     

    The Survey has now closed.

  • Curriculum for Excellence Working Group on Tackling Bureaucracy

    Following concerns among teachers that the level of bureaucracy is threatening to divert teachers from what they should be doing (i.e. teaching), the Cabinet Secretary has set up a short-life working group to look at ways of addressing these concerns.

    The SSTA are represented on the Group by Richard Goring (Professional Officer) and, following the first meeting, it is hoped to offer advice and reassurance to all teachers in August.