UKAEA Pensions
Refund of family benefit contributions
Can I receive a refund of family benefit contributions?
Unmarried members can receive a refund of family benefit contributions in respect of service prior to April 1978 (for men) and April 1988 (for women) assuming that they were unmarried during that period. These contributions can be refunded in full (plus interest, less tax) at the time of retirement as there is no liability to pay a contingent widow(er)’s pension in respect of this service.
As I am unmarried do I have to provide for a spouse benefit in case I marry in the future?
Service after 5 April 1978 (for men) and after 5 April 1988 (for women) carries a liability for payment of a post retirement widow(er)’s pension and the family benefit contributions paid in respect of this service for members who are unmarried can only be refunded at retirement to members who are aged 60 or over, provided that they have remained unmarried.
Are there any deductions from the refund?
However, from the refund of family benefit contributions in respect of this service an insurance type one off premium will be deducted from the refunded contributions to cover the cost of providing a pension to the widow/widower of a post retirement marriage.
Can I choose which level of cover I provide?
There is a choice of premium available to provide either a larger or smaller spouse pension. The choice is between providing a post-retirement pension at the level of the widow’s/widower’s guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) or at the rate of a United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension scheme widow’s/widower’s pension. The premium is either 20% of the annual value of the widow’s/widower’s GMP or 30% of the annual value of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Scheme widow’s/widower’s pension.
What is a guaranteed minimum pension (GMP)?
The guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) is the minimum level of pension which the Department of Work and Pensions requires the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension schemes to provide for pensionable service before 6 April 1997.
If I marry or remarry after I have left the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension scheme will I still receive a refund of family benefit contributions?
If you are unmarried when you leave the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Scheme and under age 60, and marry or remarry at any time since then you would not be eligible to receive a refund of family benefit contributions in respect of the service after April 1978 (for men) and April 1988 (for women) on reaching age 60.
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