RPSM14301120 - Scheme Administrator Pages: Transfers: Making a transfer from a registered pension scheme: Transfer to a registered pension scheme - protected low pension age under an OPS

Transfer to a registered pension scheme - protected low pension age under an occupational pension scheme

If the member claims that they are entitled to low pension age protection, you may need to carry out some checks.

The member qualifies to retain their low NRA after transferring from your scheme if

• your scheme, before 6 April 2006, was either

• the member's NRA under your scheme on 5 April 2006 was an age under 55, and
• your scheme rules on 10 December 2003 conferred this NRA on at least some members of the scheme, and
• this included the member now transferring from your scheme (or would have done if he had been a scheme member on that date), and
• the transfer is part of a block transfer.

But even if all the above conditions are satisfied, the member will be treated as receiving an unauthorised payment from the new scheme on crystallisation at the earlier age unless

• he becomes entitled to all benefits (that were not in payment on 5 April 2006) under the receiving scheme at the same time, and
• he is not employed by a sponsoring employer after becoming entitled to a pension from the receiving scheme where the conditions set out in RPSM03106062 are met.

This will only be determined when the member actually reaches the NRA in question. This will be a matter for the new scheme administrator.

You do not have to take any special action regarding this either when making the transfer, or at the date of the eventual benefit crystallisation event.