Welcome to The Tyne and Wear Pension Fund
The website has been recently developed as part of our ongoing efforts to improve communication with our members. We will be very grateful to receive your thoughts and opinions about the site. Please click here to submit your comments.
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is available for local government employees in England and Wales and employees of associated bodies who are entitled to join the pension fund under an admission agreement.
Within the LGPS there are several regional funds which manage the scheme. The Tyne and Wear Pension Fund manages the LGPS in the Tyne and Wear area and is administered by South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council.
Whether you're taking the first steps in planning for retirement, you want to find out more about your existing pension, or you're looking for ways to top up your pension, this site will provide the information you require.
The New-Look LGPS 2008
Also, explore the New-Look LGPS 2008 presentation
You may be aware that the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is under review. Several changes have been made and there are further changes proposed. Alongside these changes, discussions are taking place between the Government, unions and employers on a new look LGPS for 2008.
Visit the New-Look LGPS section for information about the changes that will take effect from 1 April 2008.
Please read - important information!
Please note that we are currently updating this site, to include changes introduced by the recent simplification of tax rules governing pension schemes, and recent changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations.
Due to this, some of the pages you visit may be out of date. You should not make any decisions about retirement before you speak to us, so that we can then tell you about how these changes would affect you.
Please call our Pensions Helpline on telephone number 0191 424 4141.
Hot off the Press.....
Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) for Deferred Members
We will be mailing the 2008 Annual Benefit Statements for deferred members from 20 November 2008. As a result of this, we expect to receive a very high volume of calls. If you are attempting to contact the Pensions Helpline with any query, please remain patient and we will deal with your call as quickly as possible.
If you have not received your statement by 10 December 2008 please contact the Pensions Helpline.
Click below to see a sample of this year's statement.
Sample of Statement for Deferred Members
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Nomination of Cohabiting Partner
The changes to the new look LGPS now include the opportunity to register your partner for a survivor's pension.
To do this, you must complete a nomination form and register your cohabiting partner.
Please click below to open a cohabiting partners nomination form:
Cohabiting Partners Nomination Form
Please note, this is separate to a nomination for your death grant payment. You may complete a death grant nomination form as well as a cohabiting partner nomination form.
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Death Grant Nomination Form
This form allows members to nominate the person(s) or organisation(s) that they want to receive the death grant should they die before reaching retirement or very soon after retiring.
Please click below to open a death grant nomination form:
Please note, this is separate to a nomination for your cohabiting partner. You may complete a cohabiting partner nomination form as well as a death grant nomination form.
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Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) for Active Members
We have commenced mailing the 2007 Annual Benefit Statements for active members. As a result of this, we are experiencing a very high volume of calls during this busy period. If you are attempting to contact the Pensions Helpline with any query, please remain patient and we will deal with your call as quickly as possible.
If you have not received your statement by 29 February 2008 please contact the Pensions Helpline.
Click below to see a sample of this year's statement:
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Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) for Deferred Members
We will be mailing the 2007 Annual Benefit Statements for deferred members during week commencing 8 October 2007. As a result of this, we are experiencing a very high volume of calls during this busy period. If you are attempting to contact the Pensions Helpline with any query, please remain patient and we will deal with your call as quickly as possible.
If you have not received your statement by 30 November 2007 please contact the Pensions Helpline.
Click below to see a sample of this year's statement:
Text of statement for Deferred Members
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Consultation on a new look Local Government Pension Scheme
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) has been under review for a number of years. This review, known as the Stocktake, first led to a number of amendments to the LGPS regulations from April 2004.
On 30 June 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), which now has responsibility for the LGPS, issued a consultation document entitled "Where Next? - Options for a new-look Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales".
Included in this document are a number of costed options for the new LGPS, which is to be introduced in April 2008.
Copies of this document, together with a covering letter and Jargon Free Questions and Answers document, can be found by clicking here.
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TWPF response to The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) (Amendment) (No. 2 ) Regulations 2006.
Please click on the document below to view the response of the TWPF in relation to the above mentioned LGPS regulations.
TWPF response to The LGPS (Amendment) (No. 2 ) Regulations 2006.
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The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) (Amendment) (No. 2 ) Regulations 2006.
On 30 March the Government made regulations amending the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Further information can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website. If you wish to view the draft regulations, please click here. Alternatively if you wish to view the accompanying consultation document, please click here.
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Pensions Increase 2006
The draft pensions increase for 2006 is 2.7 % effective from 10 April 2006.
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LGPS: Compliance with HMRC Tax Regime from April 2006
With the implementation of the new HMRC tax regime from 6 April 2006, the Employers Organisation for local government have issued information which compliments the ODPM's letters of 1 and 3 February 2006.
Employers Organisation for local government letter of 8 February 2006
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Compliance with HMRC Tax Regime from April 2006
Please note it is our normal practice to refer employers to the ODPM's website to obtain copies of their documents. To date their website has not been updated with the latest information. Therefore, on this occasion for ease of administration, we have published the following documents on the Fund's website.
ODPM Letter of 1 February 2006
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The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment)(No3) Regulations 2005: Addendum
Following the announcement of the draft regulations and consultation exercise, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has published an addendum to the draft regulations. This can be found on the ODPM's website at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/road/xoq83/addendum.htm
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The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment)(No3) Regulations 2005 - Consultation Draft
Following a statement made to Parliament on 2 December 2005 by the Minister for Local Government, Phil Woolas, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has commenced a consultation exercise and issued the draft regulations which propose further changes to the LGPS.
Copies of the draft regulations, a covering letter and written statement by the Minister for Local Government can be found on the ODPM's website at http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/road/xoq83/whatsnew.htm
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To view previous items which have been published on the 'Hot off the Press....' section please visit our 'Pension News' section for archived material.