On 28 April 2022, at 4:35 pm we issued legal advice to our client regarding the GMP conversion exercise for two schemes, along with final versions of the deed of amendment to bring into effect GMP conversion; the Conversion Date was set for 1 May 2022. At 4:43 pm, we get an e-mail from our … Continue Reading
Today marks the third anniversary of the landmark Lloyds legal case. This case confirmed a legal requirement to provide sex equality in pension scheme benefit structures, and remove any remaining inequality resulting from the way in which Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs) have to be provided under Government regulations.… Continue Reading
Since the first Lloyds judgment, trustees and sponsoring employers have, understandably, been focussing on some of the more straightforward elements of GMP equalisation (if there is such a thing). However, following Lloyds 3, some tricky issues have reared their head; employers and trustees are having to take a closer look at previous transfers and in … Continue Reading
Shortly after the High Court’s decision now referred to as “Lloyds 3“, which considered the issue of guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) equalisation and the extent to which past transfers-out should be revisited, we published a summary of the decision and our initial reaction.… Continue Reading
The recent court ruling known as “Lloyds 3” answered lots of questions about the need to revisit past transfer payments, where those transfer payments had been calculated without taking into account the obligation to equalise benefits for the effect of unequal guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs). However, the more we look at Lloyds 3, which focused … Continue Reading
“Big Data” is a topic that is frequently referred to in the news. The traditional definition of Big Data is data that contains greater variety, arriving in increasing volumes and with ever-higher velocity. Whilst this definition isn’t typically of direct relevance to trustees of UK occupational pension schemes, it does have some application in the … Continue Reading
GMP Equalisation and Underpaid Cash Equivalent Transfer Values – Will Trustees Have to Trace and Compensate Members Proactively, or Can Trustees Wait for Claims? Shortly after the High Court decision commonly referred to as “Lloyds 3”, which considered the issue of guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) equalisation and the extent to which past transfers out should be … Continue Reading
Should receiving scheme trustees chase CETV top-ups? Background It is currently generally accepted that trustees of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes are obliged to equalise benefits between male and female members to correct inequalities in guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs), and that this extends to transferred-in benefits. Following the most recent Lloyds judgment, we now also … Continue Reading
Will the number of transfer top-up claims be any more predicable than the weather – can we expect a blizzard or a light flurry? Shortly after the recent High Court decision on the issue of guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) equalisation and historic transfers (the latest ruling in legal proceedings relating to a number of pension … Continue Reading
Are GMPs getting you down? ‘Tis the season for a lighthearted view of a serious issue. We have set the history of GMPs to verse in our “GMPs Rock” poem, and invite you to reminisce with us. All the best from the Squire Patton Boggs Pensions Team. GMPs Rock! It all began way back in time, in Nineteen … Continue Reading
Some of the questions we have been asked this week in relation to GMP equalisation, include – Do we have to equalise for GMPs? How do we do this? Do we have to make back payments? What should we tell our members? How do we deal with outstanding and new cash equivalent transfer value requests? … Continue Reading
