Guidance

Countdown Bulletin 48 - August 2019

Published 30 August 2019

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Final Data Cuts for Ceased Schemes

To give schemes their final membership position we have always planned final cuts of SRS data as the last step in the SRS process.

This is based on HMRC records following the completion of all queries from the Scheme Reconciliation Service (SRS).

The provision of final SRS data cuts is now part of the final phase of SRS Automation.

Scheme Cessation files that were ongoing in the scheme cessation area in April 2018 are now part of the automated SRS process.

We amended the scheme cessation process to align with the SRS process. This means ceased schemes that benefited from automated SRS responses will also benefit from an automated final SRS data cut.

We are being asked if we can clerically provide final schemenq data cuts to ceased schemes included in the automated SRS process. Unfortunately, we are unable to do so due to competing higher priority HMRC clerical workloads.

We take into account when prioritising requests for schemenq that the on line GMP Checker Service can provide:

  • Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) amounts at the date of scheme cessation
  • related contributions and earnings information

To get a calculation at the date of scheme cessation follow the guidance and request a Calculation Type 6 from the on line GMP Checker Service.

Approach for producing Final Data Cuts

We will produce Final SRS Data Cuts in November 2019 for:

  • all schemes that engaged in the SRS
  • all ceased schemes that had an ongoing file in the scheme cessation area in April 2018

Due to the high number of schemes that will receive a data cut, we will prepare a run schedule before the production of data cuts.

We will agree the ordering of the run schedule with HMRC and their IT Supplier.

Schemes will be:

  • allocated a run date based on the number of members within their scheme
  • grouped to ensure the total number of members for each run date does not exceed HMRC IT system limits

We will load final data cuts to Shared Workspace e-rooms in order of production.

It is currently expected we will issue all data by the end of December 2019.

We will provide more detail as it becomes available in future Countdown Bulletins.

GMP Conversion

We understand that some pension schemes are considering or have carried out a GMP conversion exercise.

As HMRC have not tracked contracted-out rights since 6 April 2016, you do not need to send Form CA8476 when members’ GMP rights are converted.

Look at the HMRC: pension schemes reconciliation services for more information

Earlier editions of the National Insurance Services to Pension industry: countdown bulletins

Guidance on the end of contracting-out for scheme administrators and trustees

Contact details

For general queries about contracted-out pensions please contact the helpline on Telephone: 0300 200 3500

General queries about the Scheme Reconciliation Service or Scheme Cessation should be made to the Customer Relationship Team at email: CRM.schemereconciliationservice@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

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