Changes have been announced for members of the career average arrangement who have teaching contracts in addition to their full-time employment.
Previous to the 1st April 2015, full-time teachers with additional part-time teaching contracts were unable to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) with the part-time contract. However, teachers would have been eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for the part-time contract, provided their employer also participated in the LGPS.
This situation has now changed for members of the career average arrangement, although it will continue to be the case for Teachers’ Pensions members who remain in the final salary arrangement.
In April this year, additional part-time teaching contracts became eligible in the TPS for members in the career average arrangement, and are therefore no longer eligible in the LGPS. Members who transition into the TPS career average arrangement must ensure their employers stop contributions to the LGPS for part-time teaching contacts and instead make contributions to the TPS.
Members must be enrolled into the TPS for their part-time contact from the date they move into the career average arrangement. Members who wish to opt-out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme for their part-time teaching contact can do so via the Teachers’ Pensions website.
Please note, if your employer fails to enrol you in the TPS it could lead to arrears of contributions being due to the Scheme. You may also miss the chance to opt-out from the point of entering the career average arrangement for the part-time contract.