Glossary and Definitions

The benefits for service already completed.

The day-to-day running of a pension scheme, eg collection of contributions, payment of benefits, record-keeping.

The administrator for the Fund is Isio.

An amount against which an annual increase in benefits is tested to determine whether a tax charge applies to the individual.

Additional voluntary contributions. Contributions over and above a member's normal contributions, if any, which the member elects to pay to an occupational pension scheme in order to secure additional benefits. A legal requirement until 2006, but still offered by many schemes.

A pension scheme that no longer admits new members. Contributions may or may not continue and benefits may or may not be provided for future service.

Commutation factors dictate the extent to which pension benefits are increased or reduced by late or early retirement. They also determine the relationship between the lump sum taken (if any) and the level of the remaining pension.

The length of time you’ve worked for an employer who participates in the Fund, without a break in service.

The government’s principal measure of price inflation. It’s an internationally comparable measure of inflation that employs methodologies and structures that conform to international legislation and guidance.

Commonly used to describe a scheme that provides benefits in place of the State Second Pension (S2P, previously SERPS). Currently these benefits from the scheme are paid for by means of a rebate of the relevant NI contributions

Defined benefit scheme. A scheme in which the benefits are defined in the scheme rules and accrue independently of the contributions payable and investment returns. Most commonly, the benefits are related to members' earnings when leaving the scheme or retiring, and the length of pensionable service. Also known as a “final salary” or “salary-related” scheme.

Defined contribution scheme. A scheme in which a member's benefits are determined by the value of the pension fund at retirement. The fund, in turn, is determined by the contributions paid into it by that member and by any investment returns. Also known as a “money purchase” scheme.

A member entitled to a deferred pension (sometimes known as “preserved benefits”).

A benefit relating to the past service of members of an occupational pension scheme who are no longer active members but have not yet retired. The benefits are payable at retirement or death, whichever occurs first.

The disclosure requirements define what information trustees are obliged to provide about a scheme and the benefits the scheme offers. Some of this information must be given in evidence automatically, and other aspects of it must be provided on request.

The earnings cap is the limit on earnings to which contributions and benefits are related (£145,800 for the tax year 2014/2015). The earnings cap will increase annually, broadly in line with the increase in the Retail Prices Index.

Your best 12 consecutive months of pensionable salary drawn in the 36 months prior to retirement or leaving, and subject to the limitations of the earnings cap, if applicable.

See DB scheme.

The Cable & Wireless Superannuation Fund.

As Data Controller under the General Data Protection Regulations, the trustee has both a legal obligation to process to process data relating to you, and a legitimate interest in doing so. This may include passing on data to the Plan’s actuary, auditor, administrators, and such other third parties as may be necessary

Guaranteed Minimum Pension. The minimum pension that an occupational pension scheme must provide as one of the conditions of contracting out of SERPS for service rendered before 6 April 1997 (unless it was a DC scheme contracted out through the provision of protected rights).

The amount of retirement pension available to you before any of it is exchanged for a cash payment at retirement. Your gross entitlement excludes any extra pension bought with additional voluntary contributions (unless you bought a joint-life pension from the Fund).

Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs

Internal Disputes Resolution Procedure. The written procedure used to deal with disputes between beneficiaries on the one hand and trustees on the other, which occupational pension schemes are required to put in place. You can find more information on this procedure from the documents section of the website. Go to booklets and rules to download the full dispute resolution procedure.

An amount introduced by HM Revenue & Customs as part of the Finance Act 2004 against which retirement and death benefits will be tested, once they are brought into payment, to determine whether an additional tax charge will be levied. Find out more about the Lifetime Allowance here https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/lifetime-allowance.

For pension earned before 6 April 2006, an annual increase based on either the movement in the Retail Prices Index or five per cent, whichever is lower. For pension earned after this date, the increase is capped at 2.5 per cent.

For the majority of members this will be the last day of the month in which you reach age 60. Some members in the 1986 and former TR sections will have a different normal retirement age.

Pay As You Earn. This is the collection of income tax by HM Revenue & Customs under schedule E regulations and applies to all UK payroll Fund pensioners. This will not apply to some Fund members who are paid through a non-UK payroll.

This has been set by the Trustee as the year ending 5 April, and is the period over which your pension accrual and additional voluntary contributions are tested against the Annual Allowance.

Established to pay compensation to members of eligible defined benefit pension schemes, whose sponsoring employers become insolvent. The PPF is funded by a levy on all eligible DB schemes. The PPF became operational on 6 April 2005.

Your basic salary plus any fluctuating pay that you’ve been notified is pensionable, and subject to the earnings cap, if applicable.

Your service as a contributing member of the Fund in years and days, plus any credits regarding which you’ve been notified.

The day-to-day running of the scheme, including the collection and allocation of contributions and the routine calculation of the benefits of individual members on retirement, in deferment, on death, or on ill health. It also includes the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date member records and the management of operational risks.

An independent organisation which gives free advice to the public about occupational or personal pension scheme. It does not give financial advice or advice on state scheme benefits. Formerly known as the Occupational Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS) when its remit was restricted to occupational pensions.

Regulates work-based pension schemes in the UK.

Benefits that arise upon an individual ceasing to be an active member of an occupational pension scheme, payable at a later date (eg to a member who leaves that employment before his or her retirement date).

Prospective pension. The pension you would expect to receive at NRA, based on your current pensionable salary and pensionable service up to NRA.

Service as a member of the scheme, together with any service as a member of a previous scheme from which the benefits have been transferred.

Any benefit retained in a previous pension scheme. This could be either a company pension scheme or a personal pension.

Retail Prices Index. The index of retail prices (for all items) published by the Office of National Statistics, or any substituted index published by that Office (or its successor), which is used to determine the rate of inflation over the previous 12 months. Increases to state pensions and index-linked gilts are equal to the rate of change in the RPI, while increases to private pensions in payment are dependent on the rate of change in the RPI.

State Second Pension. The earnings-related element of the state pension scheme that replaced the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS), designed to enhance the basic state pension.

A booklet for members that should set out clearly the benefits offered by a pension scheme and how the scheme is run. The scheme booklet is given to all members of the scheme when they join.

In relation to any individual scheme member, his or her wife or husband in a legally binding marriage, or, if applicable, his or her widow or widower; this is not meant to refer to a "common law" partner. A spouse shall, for the purposes of the scheme, include the civil partner of an individual (except where otherwise stated), and any reference to marriage or equivalent shall be said to include civil partnerships.

A sum of money available to pension scheme members at retirement in exchange for a reduction in pension payments. It is currently tax-free upon payment.

The amount of money that a scheme will pay to another pension arrangement in lieu of benefits that have accrued to a member. Sometimes referred to as a CETV (cash equivalent transfer value).

The conversion into a cash sum (commutation) of a pension that is below a prescribed level.

A legal document, executed in the form of a deed, that establishes, regulates or amends a (pension scheme) trust.