Transfer of Pensionable Service - Department of Education, Northern Ireland

Transfer of pensionable service

When you join the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (NITSS) you may be eligible to transfer pensionable service from a previous scheme, including an overseas scheme, as long as the previous scheme meets HM Revenue and Customs and Department of Social Security requirements, and, you apply for a transfer within 12 months of entering pensionable employment. The requirement to apply within 12 months of joining the NITSS does not apply to the transfer of previous service from the teachers’ pensions schemes in Scotland, England & Wales and the Isle of Man.

On receipt of all the relevant information from your former scheme you will be provided with the estimated service credit that your former benefits will purchase in the NITSS. The transfer will not proceed until you have completed an option form confirming that you wish the transfer to proceed. Once payment of the transfer value has been received, you will be informed that the transfer process has been completed and the amount of service purchased in the NITSS will be confirmed.

If you want to transfer pension rights out of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme, we require a formal application from your new scheme. You should contact your new scheme and ask them to write to us seeking a transfer on your behalf. On receipt of the application we will calculate a transfer value and forward this to your new scheme. They will then forward this to you along with an option form for you to complete. Once the signed acceptance has been received together with a request for payment from your new scheme, payment of the transfer value will be made.

Transfers to overseas schemes are also allowed provided you and the scheme meet certain requirements.

The Department has power to extend the time limits in which the application for transfer of pension rights from a previous scheme may be made. However, this power is used only where there are sound reasons for doing so. Even where the time limits are extended the member may still suffer considerable loss in terms of the service in the Teachers' Pensions Scheme which the transfer value purchases. The amount of loss depends on the difference between the person's salary and age while subject to the previous scheme and his/her salary and age in the Teachers' Pensions Scheme at the time the transfer value is received. The terms under which transfer values are received in schemes funded by HM Treasury are decided by the Government Actuary’s Department. The Department has no scope for discretion in this matter.