Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Change in Administration

Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Change in Administration

 We are writing to alert Branches to forthcoming changes to the administration of the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS). Essentially these changes revolve around the appointment by the Cabinet Office of Capita Employee Benefits Ltd (Capita) as the new service provider from 1st October 2018.  As a result of this our members in the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) will be receiving directly from the Cabinet Office correspondence alerting them to these changes.  Additionally the Trustee is also in the process of writing to scheme members regarding this matter.  The key messages from the Trustee are:

”This change will have no impact on the value or security of your benefits”

“The benefits built up before April 2012 and held in the RMSPS continue to be underwritten by the government”

By way of background, in 2012 the Government took over responsibility for all pensions built up in the Royal Mail Pensions Plan (RMPP) and transferred them to the RMSPS. Royal Mail’s Pension Services Centre, now based in Sheffield, was appointed to administer the scheme. However, following a procurement exercise run by the Cabinet Office last year, responsibility for administering the RMSPS will be transferred to Capita (the successful bidder) on 1st October 2018.  Responsibility for administering the separate RMPP scheme (covering pension benefits accrued since April 2012) will remain with Royal Mail via the Pension Service Centre.

It is important to stress to all of our members that the change in administration and the appointment of Capita will have no impact on the amount and future security of the pensions you receive. The Cabinet Office decision to award the contract to Capita only relates to the way the RMSPS scheme is administered in the future.  Crucially the Trustee will retain full legal responsibility for management of the RMPP and payment of those benefits earned since April 2012; therefore members shouldn’t be alarmed by the change in the administration. The benefits built up before April 2012 and held in the RMSPS continue to be underwritten by the Government and the money to pay your RMSPS benefits will continue to come from HM Treasury.

In light of the changes, the CWU will be closely monitoring developments to ensure that the excellent service levels currently provided by our members working for Royal Mail are maintained by Capita and there is no deterioration in the pension admin service offered to scheme members going forward. It is also important that there is close interaction between the two scheme administrators (Royal Mail’s Pension Service Centre and Capita) to ensure members receive their correct benefits and are able to access accurate information about their pensions, both physically, electronically and via phone to the Pensions Helpline (details below).

Both the Cabinet Office and the Pension Trustees will be writing to pension scheme members (active, deferred and those currently in receipt of a pension) in the coming days to notify them of the forthcoming changes. Individuals do not need to take any action.

Members with queries about any pension benefits built up in the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP) from April 2012 will need to contact:

The Pension Service Centre

PO BOX 5863

Pond Street

Sheffield                                                          Email: pensions.helpline@royalmail.com

S98 6AB                                                          Telephone: 0114 241 4545

From 1st October 2018, for queries about your RMSPS benefits (built up before April 2012) members should contact:

Capita

Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme

11b Lingfield Point

Darlington                                                        Email: enquiries@rmsps.co.uk

DL1 1AX                                                          Telephone: 0333 222 0078

Finally, the change of Pension Administration is very unfortunate, especially for those members working in this area who are subject to being TUPED to Capita. However, this decision was down to the Cabinet Office following the procurement process.  As a consequence of this situation the Union is naturally dealing with the inevitable TUPE implications arising from the change of administrator.  Enquiries relating to this particular aspect should be addressed to Andy Furey’s Department.

Any enquiries in relation to the change of pension administration and content of this LTB should be addressed to the DGS(P) Department.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Terry Pullinger – Deputy General Secretary (Postal)                                      

Andy Furey – Assistant Secretary

18LTB495 – Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) – Change in Administration