Second Phase of 2015 Remedy (McCloud) – Immediate Choice Remediable Service Statements

Background Information

Please refer to our animated video ‘Next Phase of the Remedy - What to expect’ for background information. This is available on the dedicated McCloud Judgment and 2015 Remedy webpage.

Distribution of Immediate Choice Remediable Service Statements

We are in the process of preparing and sending Immediate Choice Remediable Service Statements (RSS) to members who retired before 1 October 2023, including those who partially retired, and are affected by the 2015 Remedy.

Check out our What to Expect Guide which provides a brief overview.

‘At a glance’ information is also available so you can see the breakdown of affected pensioners and our progress to date. 

You will find this on our Distribution of Immediate Choice Remediable Service Statements (RSS) webpage which we intend to update on a monthly basis.

These statements will allow affected pensioners to choose between having their service during the Remedy Period, (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022), treated as either Legacy PCSPS(NI) [Classic, Classic Plus, Premium, Nuvos] or as reformed scheme benefits (alpha).

There is nothing anyone needs to do at this point. We will be contacting affected pensioners directly to provide them with details of their retrospective choice.

For those members in the tapered group, currently receiving a mixture of scheme benefits for the Remedy Period, you will be impacted slightly differently, and we will highlight if you are in this group in our correspondence to you.

There is no guarantee that members who retired with Remedy service from one scheme will be better off by moving to the alternative scheme which is why we need to write to each of the affected members individually with the options to allow a choice to be made.

What will you find in the Immediate Choice RSS?

The Immediate Choice RSS pack will include the option to keep existing benefits or choose benefits payable under the alternative scheme for the Remedy Period.

However, if you ‘tapered’ or moved to the alpha scheme after 1 April 2015 and on or before February 2022, meaning you have a mixture of Legacy PCSPS(NI) and alpha benefits for the Remedy Period, you will need to choose either Legacy PCSPS(NI) or alpha benefits for the whole Remedy Period. This means you will not be able to retain your existing mixed benefits.

We will provide key choice illustration documents showing your options, with supporting information to help you decide which option is right for your financial situation.

You will have a maximum of 12 months to make your choice (from the date of the letter), and you will be asked to return the 2015 Remedy (McCloud) – Immediate Choice Option Form to the postal address (or email address if sending electronically) at the top of the letter. Please note if you wish to send your form electronically a copy of photographic ID and confirmation of your address will be required. You will receive an acknowledgement confirming receipt of your completed Immediate Choice option form.

Timelines for distribution

There are a significant number of Immediate Choice RSS packs to issue. This process involves complex calculations to provide members with individually tailored statements.

The regulatory timeline for issuing Immediate Choice RSS packs is 31 March 2025 and the original aim was to meet this timeline. However, due to the complexity of the calculations and some prolonged work to finalise policy elements of the remedy, not all Immediate Choice packs will be issued by 31 March 2025. The legislation for the 2015 Remedy provides discretion which allows the Scheme Manager to extend beyond this date and it is now necessary to use this discretion. Our priority remains to provide you with all the accurate information you need to make a choice. It can be noted that other Public Service Pension Schemes are also in a similar position.

Please be assured, Civil Service Pensions is aiming to issue Immediate Choice RSS packs as efficiently as possible. You won’t lose out if your choice is issued later as we will pay you interest on any monies owed to you up to the date your choice is implemented.

Remember, you will also have 12 months to make your choice from the date you receive your RSS pack. It is important to note, for some members their optimum benefits are already in payment and their choice may be to retain their original benefits, so no change will be needed.

We understand affected members will be keen to receive their Immediate Choice RSS and we are working extremely hard to deliver these as soon as we can. We would appreciate your co-operation and patience at this time.

 Please note a zero-tolerance policy will be adopted for any calls or other communication deemed to be of an abusive or offensive nature.

Order of distribution

As stated previously, there are a significant number of Immediate Choice RSS letters to issue (approximately 10,000). Cases are being processed according to the type of retirement (member cohort) with focus initially on the less complex cases. Civil Service Pensions have already issued RSS for the less complex Ill-Health and Partial Retirements. The next group to be processed and issued will be Normal Pension Age Retirements and then Early and Late Retirement cases. 

Can you help me make my 2015 Remedy Choice?

Please note we cannot provide you with any financial advice as to which is your best option. If you require further assistance with this, we suggest you seek advice from an independent financial advisor. MoneyHelper, who are backed by government, have a useful tool for locating an FCA regulated Financial Advisor in your area. The tool is on their website under “Pensions & retirement", “Find a retirement adviser” at www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en.

Processing returned Immediate Choice Option Forms

All our resources are currently allocated to the calculation of alternative benefits and subsequent issue of Immediate Choice RSS letters to as many affected members as possible in advance of 31 March 2025.

This means that for those members who have returned or are returning their 2015 Remedy (McCloud) – Immediate Choice Option Form, there will be an impact on the timeframes for processing and implementation of the 2015 Remedy Choice option.

However, please be assured that once all Immediate Choice RSS letters have been issued, we will then be able to begin implementing any returned members’ Remedy Choices. We anticipate that we will be in a position to start processing choices received for alternative benefits in the autumn of 2025.

We appreciate your co-operation and patience at this time.

Your benefits are safe

Where different benefits are chosen for the Remedy Period other than those already in payment, arrears and interest (or monies owed if appropriate) are applicable from the original date of entitlement and will continue to accrue until any revised award is put into payment.

But please do not worry, your benefits are safe and your original pension benefits will continue to be paid until you receive your Immediate Choice RSS, you make your decision, and we are able to process your choice.

If your decision is to retain your original benefits that are already in payment, these will continue to be paid, and you will have no further action to take.

Further Information

If your circumstances requires some more specific information, please refer to the Immediate Choice Remediable Service Statement Frequently Asked Questions section where we have listed some Immediate Choice RSS FAQs under several topics.

Watch this Space

We will keep you updated as we continue to implement this second stage of the 2015 Remedy and we will continue to update our ‘at a glance information’ so you can see what progress has been made – keep checking the website for further information!!