The Occupational Pension Schemes (Power to Amend Schemes to Reflect Abolition of Contracting-out) Regulations 2015

Section 24(2) of the Pensions Act 2014 (c.19) gives employers sponsoring contracting-out salary related occupational pension schemes a power to amend the scheme rules to reflect the abolition of contracting-out for these schemes: ‘the power’. Amendments may be made to increase employee contributions or alter the future accrual of benefits, or do both, for or in respect of some or all of the scheme members. But the extent to which the scheme rules may be amended using this power is limited by reference to the increase in the sponsoring employer’s national insurance contributions due to the abolition of contracting-out.