PSI13.3.11 - Withdrawal from Service: Deferred Benefits - Money Purchase Schemes


(This archived guidance relates to HMRC discretionary practice before the 6th April 2006. For current guidance on Registered Pension Schemes see the Registered Pension Schemes Manual)

The preservation requirements do not require a short service benefit or alternative (see PSI13.1.7 and PSI13.1.9 -10) to exceed the long service benefit, in other words the amount which would have been provided under the scheme rules at normal pension age (see PSI6.3.2) at the same level of remuneration. So on no account should an increase in the short service benefit or alternative above the normal Inland Revenue maximum of N/NS x P or N/30ths (as appropriate) cause the resultant benefit to exceed the maximum benefit which would have been permissible at normal pension age based on final remuneration at the date of leaving pensionable service. For schemes approved prior to 29 November 1991 the limit for an early leaver is a deferred pension (including the pension equivalent of any deferred lump sum benefits) of 2/3rds of final remuneration (calculated at the date of leaving pensionable service) having due regard to retained benefits, plus any statutory revaluation increases required by the relevant Social Security legislation. For schemes approved on or after 29 November 1991 the limit for an early leaver is a deferred pension (including the pension equivalent of any deferred lump sum benefits) of the greater of:-

[PN10.13]

  1. 1/60th of final remuneration for each year of service (up to 40 years) increased in accordance with PSI13.3.8, and
  2. the total benefit the member could have expected to receive at NRD calculated on the same basis as applies for incapacity (see PSI10.2.7) together with any statutory revaluation increases required by the relevant Social Security legislation.

This limit is modified (see PSI13.3.32) where a member’s benefit entitlement in the scheme is

  • permanently reduced by a pension sharing on divorce order (see PSI3.5.4), and
  • the pension debit must be taken into account for Revenue limits purposes (see PSI6.5.89).