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General information for pensioners

Keeping you up to date

As a pensioner, you are still a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) [PCSPS(NI)], and we have designed this section of the website to keep you up-to-date with things that might interest you.

Yearly Newsletter

Download the yearly Pensioners Newsletter for a round up of recent news.

Pensions Increase 2013

Public Service Pensions which began before 25 April 2012 will receive an increase of 2.2% with effect from 8 April 2013.

Pensions which have begun more recently will receive an increase with effect from 8 April 2013 in accordance with the following table:

Pension Beginning Date

Percentage Increase
25 April 2012 - 24 May 2012

2.02%
25 May 2012 - 24 June 2012

1.83%
25 June 2012 - 24 July 2012

1.65%
25 July 2012 - 24 August 2012

1.47%
25 August 2012 – 24 September 2012

1.28%
25 September 2012 – 24 October 2012

1.10%
25 October 2012 – 24 November 2012

0.92%
25 November 2012 – 24 December 2011

0.73%
25 December 2012 – 24 January 2013

0.55%
25 January 2013 – 24 February 2013

0.37%
25 February 2013 – 24 March 2013

0.18%
25 March 2013 onwards

NIL

Pensions which began on or after 25 March 2013 will not be eligible for increases until 2014.

It should be noted that the increase payable on the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) element of your Public Service Pension will be paid along with your State Pension by the Social Security Agency under the heading of 'Additional Component' (AC). You will receive the full increase on your pension but from two separate sources.

Pension changes

Every time there is a change in the gross annual rate of your pension (e.g. pensions increase), a change in your PAYE tax code notified by HM Revenue and Customs, or a change in other deductions made, this will be shown on your next monthly advice note.

Re-employment

If you are re-employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) or by an employer covered by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) [PCSPS(NI)], depending upon the precise terms of your re-employment, the pension benefits you get may be reduced or fully suspended. This is known as abatement.

Therefore, before you accept re-employment, you should contact us to see how your pension would be affected.

Death and dependants’ pensions

In the event of your death, your next of kin or personal representative should notify us as soon as possible, quoting your pension reference number. We will then issue an application form for any eligible widow/er, surviving civil partner, children or other dependant to claim a pension.

Any benefits overpaid because we are not aware of your death or change of entitlement must be refunded. In the event of your death, we will tell your next of kin or personal representative of any amount overpaid and will seek recovery.

Death benefit nominations

You have probably already nominated someone or an organisation to receive any lump sum payable when you die. You can make, change or cancel such a nomination after you start drawing your pension. To get the relevant form, you will need to either contact us or download it from the resources section

Remarriage or cohabitation

If you are receiving a widow’s/widower’s/civil partner’s pension from us, and you remarry, register (a new) civil partnership, or cohabit as husband or wife or as civil partners (i.e. cohabitation with someone of the same or opposite sex), your full pension will need to be adjusted under classic, your pension based on service before 1 October 2002 will need to be adjusted, under classic plus. If this applies to you, please let us know as soon as possible.

Find out more

For further information contact the Member Administration Section. You can find their number in the contact us section.