Pensions for hourly-paid part-time lecturers

'PRESTON' PART-TIMER CASES: OFFER LETTER

There has been a delay in sending out offer letters between November 2004 and March 2005 as they had to be revised. This has happened and the Association of Colleges has now completed training on how to process the claims so employers should be processing claims more speedily.

If you are in your final year and cannot afford to pay a lump sum or clear the debt of purchasing the backdated access to your pension please contact NATFHE pensions official Geraldine Egan at [email protected].

If you are now older than 60 years of age and continuing to work, you are likely to encounter difficulty as the model is designed for those under 60 years of age. However there is a route. If you are in this position please email [email protected].

Letter from the Tribunal notifying you that your claim will be struck out

Many thousands of members who lodged claims for backdated access to the Teachers' Pension Scheme are now receiving the above, commonly referred to as a 'strike out' letter.

It is important for members to remember that you can have continuous employment with your employer and still receive a strike out letter. The main reason that your claim is likely to be struck out is that you did not lodge it within six months of ceasing hourly paid work referred to as the 'stable employment relationship', by moving to a fractional or full-time post, or leaving.

Your claim can only be continued if after accepting your new post you continued to be employed in the hourly paid work up to the lodging of the tribunal claim or within six months of this date.

For full details see Bulletin 9 from the tribunal at www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk.