Transfers

When joining or once you have left the Scheme, you may want to investigate a transfer into or out of the Scheme. All transfers are subject to certain conditions and time limits and it may be possible to transfer benefits to and from schemes abroad.

Transfers in

Members may find it advantageous to bring previously accrued benefits into the Research Councils Pension Scheme (RCPS). If requested, JSS will investigate this on the member’s behalf. The member is under no obligation to accept any transfer offer that JSS make.

To request a transfer in, members must complete and return a transfer request form for each transfer that they want JSS to investigate. The transfer request form acts as authority for JSS to obtain transfer information from the former scheme(s). If a transfer is acceptable to the RCPS, JSS will then provide details of what the transfer would mean in terms of RCPS membership.

Completion of the transfer request form is only an expression of interest and does not represent a formal agreement to a transfer.

Transfers in can be done on a 'Club' or non-club basis.

The Public Sector Transfer Club is a group of salary related occupational schemes that have agreed reciprocal transfer arrangements. A 'club' transfer only applies to the transfer of final salary benefits from a 'club' scheme, a list of 'club' schemes can be found on the Civil Service Public Sector Transfer Club (PDF, 668KB) - opens in new window page.

'Club' transfers (all members of the Research Councils’ Pension Scheme)

The expression of interest (transfer request form) must be received by JSS within the first 11 months of the member joining the Scheme. If it is not received within this timescale, a transfer will not be possible. Members must formally agree to transfer within 12 months of being eligible to join the RCPS to benefit from the Public Sector Transfer Club arrangements (which only apply to 'club' schemes).

Any application for a transfer on 'club' terms must also be made before the member reaches the pension age of the former Scheme. It is important to note that a transfer can only proceed on Club terms if the gap between leaving the sending scheme and joining the receiving scheme is less than five years. If the gap is more than five years, then the transfer is calculated on non-Club terms.

For more information on Club transfers please see the leaflet The Public Sector Transfer Club on the Scheme Guides and Forms page.

'Non club' transfers - Classic, Premium and 'Classic Plus' members

If a member wishes to transfer benefits from an occupational scheme that is not a 'Club' scheme, the 'expression of interest' (transfer request form) can be sent at any time whilst they are a current member of the Research Councils Pension Scheme but the member must formally agree to the transfer before the commencement of the administration process for claiming their pension.

All other transfers, such as those from personal pensions are made on a cash equivalent transfer basis and must be completed within 12 months of being eligible to join the RCPS. (The 'expression of interest' form must be received in JSS within the first 11 months of RCPS eligibility).

'Non club' transfers - Nuvos members

The 'expression of interest' (transfer request form) must be received by JSS within the first 11 months of the member joining the Scheme, and the transfer must be completed within 12 months of being eligible to join the RCPS.

Transfer request form (PDF, 208KB) - opens in new window

Transfers out

When a member leaves the Scheme it may be possible to transfer the accrued benefits to another pension scheme. Please note that a transfer out is not possible if they have already instructed JSS to implement their pension payments, or are already in receipt of a pension, pension lump sum or annual compensation payment.

Members should act promptly as there are time limits that may affect a transfer from the Scheme. For example, any member who leaves with less than two years' service must apply for a transfer within six months of JSS writing to them, with details of their options.

If they wish to transfer their benefits, former members should provide their new Scheme / pension administrators with JSS contact details in order that they can request transfer details directly from JSS.

Since 6 April 2015, members have not been permitted to transfer their RCPS benefits to a Defined Contribution pension arrangement. This was part of Government legislation banning transfers from unfunded public sector Defined Benefit Schemes. This does not affect transfers to Defined Benefit pension schemes. Your current pension provider will be able to tell you what Scheme you are in if you are unsure.

Divorce valuations

JSS can calculate the cash equivalent transfer value for any member involved in divorce proceedings. The member or the member's legal representative should contact JSS.

Details on the charges and the implications that divorce may have on your pension can be found in the Pensions and Divorce leaflet.

Pensions and divorce (PDF, 668KB) - opens in new window

If you require a valuation, please email pensions@jss.ukri.org providing your scheme number or National Insurance number.