If you have a question about your Scheme membership or benefits, or need to let us know about a change in your personal details, contact the Scheme administrator.
You can do this online at pensionuk.aptia-group.com. Aptia will usually issue your quotation within 10 to 15 days of your request, but it may take longer depending on your situation.
Aptia will usually issue your quotation within 10 to 15 days of your request, but it may take longer depending on your situation.
Want some help understanding your options or making your decision? You can get free, impartial guidance you can trust from MoneyHelper.
If you’d like to go ahead and take your pension benefits from the Scheme, you’ll need to complete the forms and return them with any documents requested (eg birth certificate). Aptia will return the originals to you.
Once your forms are received, Aptia will:
– set up your pension benefit & pay any arrears due
– confirm your first payment & when it will be made
– liaise with HMRC to determine your tax code & make any necessary adjustments to your pension
If you choose to take a tax-free cash sum, we’ll arrange for this to be paid on or around your retirement date.
If you have additional voluntary contributions (AVCs), the process may take slightly longer as the administrator will have to liaise with the AVC provider before your benefits can be finalised.
Pension payments will be paid monthly and increased each year in line with the Scheme Rules. You will only receive a payslip if there has been a change of more than £5 since your previous monthly payment.
You can do this online via pensionuk.aptia-group.com. Aptia will usually issue your quotation within 10 to 15 days of your request, but it may take longer depending on your situation.
If your transfer value is worth more than £30,000, you must receive regulated financial advice before you are able to transfer your benefits away from the Scheme.
Watch this video if you haven’t taken your pension yet and are considering your options. It explains what you need to know before you decide to transfer your pension.
When the forms are completed and Aptia have the evidence they need, they can start performing the necessary checks. They will review whether you have the right to a transfer value quote and consider any information that can affect the calculation e.g. if you have a guaranteed minimum pension and/or any additional voluntary contributions. Your calculation will also be based on certain estimates, including rates of inflation, expected returns on investments and life expectancies.
Once you’ve received your quote from Aptia, you’ll need to decide whether to go ahead. If so, there will be further steps you’ll have to take.
Watch this video if you have requested a transfer quote. It explains the transfer process and potential timeline from the point of request and the next steps.
Your request can only go ahead once Aptia have received your completed transfer request and discharge form, as well as evidence that you’ve taken regulated financial advice. If you’ve received your quote, you have three months from your guarantee date to decide if you want to proceed and return the required paperwork to Aptia. If you decide to proceed, you’ll need to contact your new pension provider and follow the checklist in your information pack.
Watch this video if you have received a transfer quote. It explains your quotation documents and guides you through the rest of the process.
The simplest way to report the death of a Scheme member is via the Scheme administrator’s bereavement online service at pensionuk.aptia-group.com/bereavement.
If you are informing us of a bereavement, please click on ‘Inform us of a bereavement’ at pensionuk.aptia-group.com/bereavement and provide the following:
If you need to provide us with additional information, please use ‘Provide additional information’ to complete the information online or ‘Raise a general bereavement query or upload your documents’ to upload a copy of the completed form at pensionuk.aptia-group.com/bereavement.
It’s important to tell us if you’ve moved house, got married or have a long term partner. It helps us make sure we can pay your benefits promptly.
The Trustee also needs to know who you would like to receive any lump sum benefit payable on your death.
The quickest way to update your details is online at pensionuk.aptia-group.com.
It’s wise to take independent financial advice before deciding how you’ll use your Scheme savings. Find out how to find a pension or retirement adviser on the MoneyHelper website here. Please make sure they are qualified to provide pension advice and you understand all the potential costs for their services upfront.
The Trustee has recently taken steps to secure the Scheme’s benefits with an insurance company, Canada Life. This insurance policy (known as a buy-in policy) with Canada Life covers the cost of paying members’ benefits, whether or not your pension is currently in payment. It also covers the benefits payable following the death of a pensioner or deferred member.
The Trustee owns this buy-in policy as an asset of the Scheme and will remain responsible for paying your pension at this time. The buy-in policy covers the cost of making payments due from the Scheme to members.
Nothing will change – your benefits under the Scheme remain as before. We are not changing the way your benefits are calculated or paid. We believe this insurance makes your benefits even more secure. The Scheme pays a fixed amount to the insurer and, in return, Canada Life will pay the Scheme money each month to cover the payment of your benefits.
Please contact the Scheme administrator to get a copy of your pension payslip.
We hope you’re happy with the service you receive. If you have any complaints, please raise them with the Scheme administrator first at pensionuk.aptia-group.com. If you’re dissatisfied with the response, you can contact the Trustee at Kion@vidett.com.
If you paid AVCs and/or transferred benefits into the AVC policy they are currently invested with Utmost Life and Pensions Limited or Standard Life Assurance Company.
You should receive an annual statement showing the current value of your AVC account, together with a projection of the possible benefits you might receive at retirement. Remember to also review your AVC investment choices to make sure they’re still appropriate for your circumstances and retirement plans.
