Pensions
Page updated July 2018
Pension Update on Capita
https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/the_practice/b/weblog/posts/capita-and-the-nhs-pension-fiasco-what-is-going-on
https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/the_practice/b/weblog/posts/capita-and-the-nhs-pension-fiasco-what-is-going-on-part-2
https://www.bma.org.uk/connecting-doctors/the_practice/b/weblog/posts/capita-and-the-nhs-pension-fiasco-what-is-going-on-part-4
GP Survival suggestion to use a 'subject access request' (SAR) to PCSE to demand details of pension payments
NESG has been made aware of the GP Survival forum ''CAPITA CAMPAIGN CALL TO ARMS''. We think that this information will be of interest to NESG members.
GP Survival suggests that GPs can use a 'subject access request' (SAR) to PCSE to demand details of all pension payments made on their behalf.
The GP Survival information is as follows:
CAPITA CAMPAIGN CALL TO ARMS
=============================
We have heard reports from up and down the country of doctors sending their pension contributions to PCSE (Capita) and receiving no confirmation that the payment has been received, nor added to their pension. Inquiries by GPs to PCSE has yielded little information. This is simply unacceptable. This is our pension money and we have a right to know that it is safely accounted for.
A member of our forum has come up with the rather outstanding idea of sending a subject access request (SAR) to PCSE to demand details of all pension payments made on their behalf. This means PCSE are legally required to provide this data within 40 days, or else may be referred to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for breach of the Data Protection Act. Even if they reply in time, but with inadequate data then they could be referred to the Financial Ombudsman.
Therefore, GP Survival is asking ALL members who pay into the NHS Pension to send a SAR to Capita demanding they provide the information you are entitled to about your own money.
The SAR text is shown below, and should be sent to the Managing Director of PCSE, Guy Dickie, whose email address is: guy.dickie1@nhs.net
The cost of an SAR is £10, however this is not always charged, and is only due to be paid if they reply to you asking for it. We think this is a small price for what could be huge collective action to bring Capita to account. If, however, any members of GPS are unable to pay the £10, the Committee has agreed to reimburse the first 50 applicants upon provision of proof of the SAR being sent.
We need your help, and call upon as many of you as possible to join us in this action.
Thank you
==========================================
SAR TEXT, to be sent to guy.dickie1@nhs.net
[Your full address]
[Phone number]
[The date]
Dear Primary Care Support England (PCSE)
SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST:
[Your full name and address and any other details to help identify you and the information you want.]
Please supply the information about me I am entitled to under the Data Protection Act 1998 relating to all pension contributions you have received from me, when these payments were received, and when these payments were allocated to my pension.
If you need any more information from me, or a fee, please let me know as soon as possible.
It may be helpful for you to know that a request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 should be responded to within 40 days.
If you do not normally deal with these requests, please pass this letter to your Data Protection Officer. If you need advice on dealing with this request, the Information Commissioner’s Office can assist you and can be contacted on 0303 123 1113 or at ico.org.uk
Yours faithfully
[Name]
==========================================
ONCE YOU HAVE SENT YOUR SAR PLEASE CLICK ON OUR POLL SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF NUMBERS SUBMITTED
EDIT: should any of you get a generic attempt to bounce you to the TRS website, please be aware this does NOT satisfy your request. Immediately reply to the request with the following:
The Total Rewards System website does not show the data I require. Hence this SAR. You have 40 days to respond with the data I am requesting or the matter will be referred to the Information Commissioners Office. If you do not possess or cannot find the information I have requested then I will refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman.
Updated Pension Contact Information (updated 18/6/2019)
NHS England has now updated the PCSE website which has a GP locum section. The webpage now includes information about where to send what, contact details for issues for locums, and information about BACS payments which is now a national process (including the bank details and the process).
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Pension Section, Primary Care Support Services Preston Office by e-mail
pcse.pensions-preston@nhs.net or telephone 01772 221444.
Pensions agency guidance and forms for GP locums
1. All guidance and forms available on NHS pensions website
2. Detailed instructions are contained on the LOCUM FORM A and LOCUM FORM B available here. Please note these form change every April so ensure you are using the correct form.
3. Cheques/forms should arrive no later than the seventh day of the month, following the month the form relates to.
4. Use form B to record all the pensionable pay received for GMS/PMS/APMS/area team/ LHB work in one calendar month.
5. Your pensionable pay is 90% of your GP locum fee.
6. The monthly cheque must include the 14.3% employer contributions.
7. You cannot claim NHSPS membership for any freelance GP locum work that is more than 10 weeks old.
8. Your tiered contribution rate is based on your global GP (Practitioner) pensionable income, not just locum work.
9. You may wish to request a receipt (or enclose one for PCSE to sign and stamp) FOR EACH monthly payment and enclose a SAE.
10. You may wish to request an ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY PCSE AND PAID TO THE PENSION AGENCY ON YOUR BEHALF
11. Remember to keep copies of all forms you send in.
Locum forms and Guidance from NHS pensions Website
This link takes you to all relevant locum forms (locum A, locum B and Solo) and to the type 2 practitioner self assessment forms and guidance
Type 2 Self-Assessment of Tiered Contributions
Type 2 medical practitioner self assessment forms need submitting annually at the end of February (see link above)
NHS pensions GP locum factsheet 2016
GP locum fact sheet version 6 from the Pensions Section of Primary Care Support Services
GPC GUIDANCE ON GP LOCUM PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS FROM 1ST APRIL 2013
The document below is appendix 8 to GPC news and covers advice about changes in the way superannuation payments will be made from 1st April 2013.
pensions employers newsletter re employers contributions to locum superannuation
GPC guidance for locums April 2013
BMA FAQ page on locum pensions
BMA
http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/pensions/faq-locum-gps