The Church of Scotland Pension Plan (Defined Contributions Group Personal Pension)
Please find the latest presentation regarding the Church of Scotland pension plan including where to go for help and guidance HERE
The Legal and General App is now available so you can manage your pension via your phone and can be downloaded on both Apple and Android. Regular updates on pension matters are given by Legal and General throughout the year in the form of webinars. Information will be forwarded from Faith Action. Please check your Pension Plan at least on a yearly basis as important documentation, including your Benefit Statement will be made available.
Information about your pension scheme
All eligible Ministers and other employees will be automatically enrolled into a Defined Contribution pension arrangement, administered through Legal and General. You will receive initial correspondence about this from the Payroll Team followed by a welcome pack from Legal and General.Your Pension Plan and other information and useful documents can be accessed online here: Legal & General – Manage Your Account
If you have been a Church of Scotland Office Holder or employee for some time and are unable to locate your customer account number, please phone the L & G helpline on 0345 070 2628 and they can provide the reference number over the phone.
Please note that for the purposes of pensions, the Ministries Council and World Mission Council continue as part of the Faith Action structure.
Current Pension Contributions
The Church of Scotland will contribute to the scheme on your behalf.
| Employee Contribution | Employer Contribution |
| 0%
2.5% and above |
11.5%
14.0% |
Ministers and other employees who fall under the Ministries Council or World Mission Council are automatically enrolled into the Pension Scheme at 5.0% employee contribution.
You are able to change your contribution rate at anytime and can contribute above 5% up to a maximum level of £60,000. A change of Contribution Form can be found by following this link and returning the form to the Payroll department. The changes will occur at the next payroll deadline.
One off payments can also be made directly to L & G. Information is available on how to do this within the ‘help & contact’ facility within your online pension plan.
Pension Flex
At the point of auto-enrolment you will automatically be placed in Pension Flex. This is a more efficient way to make contributions to the Pension Plan as it is a salary sacrifice arrangement. If you wish to opt out of this you should utilise the tick box on the Change of Contribution Form.
Death in Service Benefits
On joining the Defined Contribution pension arrangement, members will be provided with the following benefits of death in service:
- A lump sum equal to 5 times pensionable salary at date of death;
This is through the Ministries Council and is via insurance provision. Please ensure that you have completed an Expression of Wish Form and returned this to Faith Action
- A refund of the monies within your Defined Contribution pension arrangement (including both employer and employee contributions)
This is managed through the Legal and General website and can be accessed under ‘Manage my pension’, ‘Quick links’ where you are asked to nominate your beneficiaries.
Please note that if you opt out of the pension plan, you will not be covered for a Death in Service payments
Income Protection Arrangements
For some Office Holders and Staff, Income Protection arrangements are in place for times of ill health. Further information can be found in the Ministers Handbook or for MDS, by contacting the Human Resources Department.
Personal Information
Due to the structure of the pension set up, it is important that you ensure that your personal information is kept up to date in the following ways.
Legal and General – as any correspondence from L&G comes direct from them you would have to notify them in any change to your personal information e.g. name or address (postal and email)
Faith Action – your Expression of Wish form is confidentially stored and would be used only in the event of your death in service.
Pensions Department – If you have service prior to 01 January 2014 it is important that you advise the pensions department directly of any changes to your personal information or contact details so that you can be contacted directly about benefits under the closed Defined Benefits scheme.
Closed Defined Benefits Scheme (up to 31st December 2013)
The Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Ministers and Overseas Missionaries; Ministries Development Staff.
(Defined Benefit Scheme)
The Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Ministers and Overseas Missionaries and Ministries Development Staff closed to future accrual and to new members on 31st December 2013, but many existing Ministers and other staff will be deferred members of the Schemes. If this includes you, this means that you have stopped accruing benefits in the Scheme but will be entitled to a pension from the Scheme when you come to retire.
If you have a query about the pension which will be payable to you from the Scheme or are thinking about transferring your benefits to another pension arrangement, please contact the pensions administration department either via email pensions@churchofscotland.org.uk or by phone on 0131 240 2255.