Your Contingent Decisions Application

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The application process is for members who wish to buy back service they opted out of during the 2015 Remedy Period. We will open applications for other types of Contingent Decisions at a later date agreed by the Scheme Manager.

Before you apply

It's important that you fully understand the process and the evidence requirements needed to support your application, and the potential costs involved with buying back opted-out service. Therefore, please ensure you have taken time to read the below information and have used the tools available before progressing with your application.

Am I eligible to apply?

You could apply to buy back service from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022 if you opted out between 12 March 2012 and 28 February 2022, and the reason you opted out was in response to the discrimination identified by the courts.

If your application is successful, your opted-out service can be bought back for all qualifying service built up from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. Your service will be reckonable in your Legacy scheme.

Eligibility summary:

You’re eligible for 2015 Remedy
The service you want to buy back is during the period of 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022
You opted out between 12 March 2012 and 28 February 2022
You would not have opted out if you had been allowed to remain in the Legacy Scheme beyond your transition date, or you were a protected Member who was not allowed to join the 2015 Reformed Scheme from 1 April 2015. Evidence of this will be required. If you do not meet the above criteria your application will be declined

What information do I need to apply?

Remedy Opt Out Member Contributions Estimator

This tool designed to help members understand the potential costs involved in buying back opted-out service. It's important you complete this process before proceeding with your application.

To ensure the information you input into the Remedy Opt Out Member Contributions Estimator is as accurate as possible, you'll need;

An understanding of the dates you opted out of the pension scheme
Details of your salary information (including pensionable bonuses and allowances) for the period you opted out of the pension scheme. This could be obtained from payslips, P60s or tax returns

If you don't have the necessary information, you can contact your employer/previous employer for the necessary details.

Go to the Remedy Opt Out Member Contributions Estimator

Evidence requirements

You'll be required to supply evidence to support your application. You can supply whatever evidence you feel supports your application in the best way. Some examples of evidence may be:

Letters or emails with your employer and/or union
Letters, emails or decisions from the Northern Ireland Civil Service Pension Scheme (NICSPS)
Letters, emails or documents from a financial adviser or any third-party advice including an independent advice or advocacy service, for example your local Citizens Advice Bureau
A formal complaint or claim
Any other written correspondence that demonstrates the changes to your pension influenced your financial decision

If you don't supply evidence, there's an increased risk that your application will be declined.

How do I apply?

Fully read the Contingent Decisions FAQs and check your eligibility.
Complete the Remedy Opt Out Member Contributions Estimator. taking a screenshot of the results and saving this to your device (and/or printing a copy if necessary) as you will be required to attach this to the application form
Supply your supporting evidence.
Once you’ve completed your application form, either online or by printing and filling it in. Please make sure you include all the required supporting documents.
You can then send everything to us in one of two ways:

By email to ContingentDecisionsCSP@finance-ni.gov.uk (please use the subject line: Contingent Decision Application)
Or by post to the address provided in the guidance. Please send your application as soon as possible.

What happens after I have applied?

You will receive an acknowledgement within 5 working days of us receiving your application.
We will complete eligibility checks and the assessment of your application. During this assessment we may contact you for further information, or to clarify information you have provided as part of your application.
We will provide you with a written outcome of the assessment within 4 months of receipt of your application. The outcome will confirm that your application has been ether accepted or declined and the reasons why we have come to that decision.
If we cannot provide you with an outcome within the agreed timescales detailed above, we will issue a holding letter detailing the next steps and timescales for completion of the assessment.

What happens if my application is accepted?

We'll issue you with the below documents:

Schedule of Contributions – this will confirm the total value of the contributions due, inclusive of interest that has been applied and adjusted for tax relief
Remediable Service Statement (RSS) – this will show you the current value and impact to your accrued benefits should you decide to opt back in. It will show benefits in both your Legacy and alpha scheme, if you have not made an Immediate Choice or a choice as part of a retirement. For members who have already made a choice of the benefits to be paid for the Remedy Period, you will only be provided with an RSS illustrating the choice you have made
Acceptance Form – this is to be completed and sent back to the Scheme Administrator as confirmation to reinstate your opted-out service and your agreement to pay back the outstanding contributions plus interest in full. This form will also contain instructions on how to make a payment
Pension Savings Statement (PSS) if applicable – this will show the potential impact on your Annual Allowance and associated tax

We may need to engage with your employer/previous employer(s) to obtain additional information to calculate your outstanding contributions and generate these documents. We aim to have these documents completed and issued to you as soon as possible following the issue of your final decision letter.

Once in receipt of your Acceptance Form, we will process your request, reinstate your service record and collect the outstanding contributions owed. We will send confirmation once this has been completed. You will have 12 months to decide and send back your Acceptance Form.

What happens if my application is rejected?

If your application is rejected, we'll provide you with details to explain the reason(s) for this. You can then choose to accept this decision, or you can appeal against the decision. Further information will be sent to you.

You’ll also have the right of appeal to The Pensions Ombudsman.

Application process - Overview

1. Visit the Remedy Opt Out Member Contributions Estimator using the button below to get an estimate on your opt out figure.