FAQs

BCSSS pensions are paid on a monthly basis, on the last working day of each month. A list of future paydays is provided in Pensions News.

The administration office will not be able to give you this information over the telephone, but they will be able to provide you with an estimate of your benefits in writing. This will usually be posted to you in five working days of your request. Click here to contact the administration office. In addition, details of your pension are provided in your annual benefit statement, which is posted to deferred members each summer.

Your Scheme payslip and P60 details can be accessed from the Scheme’s secure member website, bcsss.orbitbenefits.com

The administration office can provide you with login details (you will need to pass some security questions first). To obtain your login details please call the administration office on 0333 222 0074.

A change of address form can be found on the forms section of this website. In addition, if you have registered for the Scheme’s secure member website, you are able to change your address online at: bcsss.orbitbenefits.com. Alternatively, the administration office will be able to send you a form on request, click here to contact them.

A change of bank details form can be found on the forms section of this website. In addition, if you are a Scheme pensioner and have registered for the Scheme’s secure member website (Orbit), you are able to change your bank details online at: bcsss.orbitbenefits.com Alternatively, the administration office will be able to send you a form on request, click here to contact them.

Yes, you can make a nomination under Rule 28A of the Scheme. A nomination form can be found on the forms section of this website. In addition, if you have registered for the Scheme’s secure member website, you are able to update your nomination online at: bcsss.orbitbenefits.com Alternatively, the administration office will be able to send you a form on request, click here to contact them.

The Scheme’s Trustees will take your nomination form into account when determining to whom any benefits will be payable on your death.

Unfortunately no, the BCSSS is a closed scheme, which means that it cannot accept any new entrants, or ‘new money’ into the Scheme.

Unfortunately no, the BCSSS is a closed scheme, which means that it cannot accept any new entrants, or ‘new money’ into the Scheme.

Yes, if you are under age 59 you can transfer your pension to any new employer’s scheme you may join (provided they can accept it) or any other HM Revenue & Customs approved arrangement. If your pension transfer value is over £30,000 the law says that you must take independent financial advice. However, if it is under £30,000 we would strongly recommend that you think very carefully and take financial advice before you transfer your benefits out of the Scheme. Further information about pension transfers can be found here.

The Scheme’s Normal Retirement Age (NRA) is 60, unless members qualify for early payment of pension as a result of redundancy (with certain qualifying criteria), in which case NRA is the later of age 50 or the date of redundancy.

Yes, if your full Scheme benefits are payable from age 60, you can take your benefits at any time from age 50 (with the exception of any benefits re-instated into the Scheme after 6 April 2006). If you do choose to take your benefits before age 60, they will be reduced – this is to take account of the fact that they are being paid early and also because your pension will be paid for longer than it would have been had you taken your benefits at age 60.

Yes, you have the option of ‘further deferring’ – this means leaving your benefits in the Scheme. Further deferred benefits will be increased during the period of deferment. Currently the rate of increase is 0.25% for each month that benefits are further deferred. You are not able to further defer your pension past age 60.