
Electriumプラン
概要
このセクションは、Electrium年金制度の元加入者全員を対象としています。これには、1997年6月1日付でElectrium年金制度へ給付が移管されたHanson企業年金制度の加入者も含まれます。Electrium年金制度は、2022年5月1日に全加入者がSiemens福利厚生制度へ移管されたことを受け、「Electriumプラン」となりました。2022年5月1日以前のエレクトリウム年金制度については、「旧制度」と表記します。
旧制度は2004年11月18日をもって新規加入の受付を終了しました。
1997年6月1日の給付権移管後に旧制度に加入した加入者は、2007年12月31日に繰延年金受給者となり、2023年1月1日まで直近の給与が算定基準として適用されます。これらの加入者には、2008年1月1日時点で、Siemens年金積立プランまたはElectriumステークホルダー・プランのいずれかで将来の給付を積み立てる機会が提供されました。移管前に旧制度に加入していた者も、これを申請することができました。これらの加入者は「継続加入者」と呼ばれ、Siemens年金積立プラン/ステークホルダー・プランを脱退した者は「元継続加入者」となります。
2016年3月31日以降、旧制度における年金算定対象期間の積立は行われていません。
Electriumプランによって提供されるすべての給付は、Siemens福利厚生制度の限度額および生涯給付限度額の影響を受けます。この限度額に関する詳細については、Resourcesセクションをご覧ください。
エレクトリウム・プランには複数の区分があり、どの区分に属するかによって年金の算出方法が異なる場合があります。一般的に、確定給付型(最終給与ベース)の年金は、給与の一定割合と、在職中に給付権を積み立てた期間に基づいて算出されます。
退職時には、以前の制度を離脱した時点での最終年金算定給与に基づき、以下の通り給付額が算出されます。または、2007年12月31日に退職された場合、最終年金算定給与は2023年1月1日までの直近の給与に基づいて算出されます。
以前の制度を脱退した日から給付受給開始日までの間、繰延給付額は増加します。これは法律で定められており、「法定再評価」と呼ばれます。これにより、給付額の価値を維持することができます。
保証最低年金(GMP)には、異なる料率が適用されます。また、Electriumプランのすべてのセクションにおいて、年金給付の現金価値の25%に相当する一時金が支給されます。
Crabtreeセクション
このセクションでは、給付額は、旧制度での年金積立が終了した日までの年金対象勤務期間(満月単位)1年につき、最終年金対象給与の960分の1に基づいて算出されます。保証最低年金に関連して、追加の年金受給権がある場合があります。
Wylexセクション
このセクションでは、2002年4月以前の年金算定対象勤務年数1年につき、最終年金算定対象給与の720分の1を基に給付額が算出されます。これには、Scholes Group plc退職給付制度で積み立てた勤務期間も含まれます。
さらに
、2002年4月以降から以前の制度における年金積立が終了する日までの各年金算定対象年数につき、最終年金算定給与の1/720が加算されます。勤続期間は満月単位で計算されます。1ヶ月未満の日数が合計で30日以上ある場合、2002年4月以降の勤続期間に1ヶ月が加算されます。
Dorman Smithセクション
このセクションにおける給付額は、旧制度での年金積立が終了する日までの各年金算定対象勤務年数につき、最終年金算定給与の720分の1に基づいて算出されます。
退職とは、人によってその意味が異なります。早期退職を希望する人もいれば、65歳(通常の定年)を超えて働き続け、給付額を増やしていくことを選ぶ人もいます。あるいは、退職に向けて段階的に移行していきたいと考える人もいるでしょう。どのような選択をされるにせよ、本制度では様々な選択肢をご用意しています。
退職時には以下の選択肢があります:
- 早期退職 – 55歳(2028年には57歳に引き上げられます)から退職することができます。給付金は早期に支払われるため、減額される場合があります。
- 定年退職 – 定年は、65歳に達する月の末日となります。
- 遅延退職 – 受託者の裁量により、65歳を超えて退職することができます。
- 健康上の理由による退職 – 55歳に達していない場合でも、受託者の同意を得れば、給付金を早期に受け取ることができます。これは、受託者が医学的助言を踏まえた上で、あなたの心身の健康状態により通常の職務を遂行できない(かつ今後も遂行できない)状態にあると認めた場合に限り適用されます。同時に、Siemens年金積立プランに基づく給付金も受給する必要があります。ほとんどの場合、Electriumプランに基づく給付金は、早期に支給されるため減額されます。
The Trustee have the discretion to decide how your cash sum death benefit is divided between your relatives, dependants, legal personal representatives or nominated beneficiaries. This way, payment can be made more quickly and the benefits are unlikely to have Inheritance Tax applied.
However, you can update your beneficiaries on My Work Pension and the Trustee will pay close attention to it. Just head to the ‘Your Account’ section and click on ‘Nominated Beneficiaries’. It’s a good idea to keep it up to date if your circumstances change especially if you:
- get married
- register a civil partnership
- separate or divorce
- have children
Even if you’re unattached or don’t have children, you may have family members or close friends who you would want the Trustee to consider.
If you die before you take your retirement benefits
If you are more than 10 years older than your spouse or partner, the pension will be reduced for each year over the 10 by which the spouse is younger.
Cash sum
For all sections of the Electrium Plan a cash sum is payable, equal to the value of all contributions made by you, including any additional voluntary contributions.
Crabtree section
Spouse’s pension
A spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s pension will be paid for members who are still employed by Siemens, equal to 50% of the pension you would have received, calculated at the date of your death, using the retirement method described previously.
This is paid for the life of the surviving partner.
If you have a same-sex spouse and you built up pension benefits before 5 December 2005 a spouse’s pension is subject to the discretion of the Trustee.
Eligible children’s pension
A pension will be paid equal to 25% of the pension you would have received, calculated at the date of your death, using the retirement method described previously.
This is for your eligible children up to a maximum of four.
Other dependants
If you’re not married or living with a spouse when you die, the Trustee have discretion to pay the spouse’s pension to any other dependant.
Wylex section
Spouse’s pension
A spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s pension will be paid equal the pension you would have received, calculated at the date of your death, using 25% of your pensionable salary.
This is paid for the life of the surviving partner.
If you have a same-sex spouse a spouse’s pension is subject to the discretion of the Trustee.
Eligible children’s pension
A pension will be paid equal to 25% of the pension your spouse would receive, using the retirement method described previously.
This is for your eligible children up to a maximum of four.
If there is no spouse, or your spouse dies, the Trustee may increase the children’s pensions. The total amount of all pensions must not be more than two times the spouse’s pension.
Dorman Smith section
Spouse’s pension
A spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s pension will be paid equal to 50% of the pension you would have received, calculated at the date of your death, using the retirement method described previously.
This is payable for the life of the surviving partner.
If you have a same-sex spouse a spouse’s pension is subject to the discretion of the Trustee.
Eligible children’s pension
A pension will be paid equal to 25% of the pension your spouse would receive, using the retirement method described previously.
This is for your eligible children up to a maximum of four.
If there is no spouse, or your spouse dies, the Trustee may increase the children’s pensions. The total amount of all pensions must not be more than two times the spouse’s pension.
Other dependants
If you are not married or living with a spouse when you die, the Trustee have discretion to pay the spouse’s pension to any other dependant.
If you die after you take your retirement benefits
Cash sum
If you die within five years of retirement, a cash sum equal to the balance of 5 years’ instalments of your pension will be paid (excluding increases). For information on the cash sum paid if you retire later and die after age 75, please contact the Member Services Team.
Crabtree section
There is no spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s or children’s pension payable under this section of the Electrium Plan unless you have guaranteed minimum pension benefits. In this case a spouse’s GMP benefit would be paid.
Wylex section
Spouse’s pension
A spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s pension will be paid equal to 50% of the pension you received at the date you died (assuming no pension was used to provide a tax-free cash sum).
This is paid for the life of the surviving partner.
Eligible children’s pension
A pension will be paid equal to 25% of the pension your spouse would receive.
This is for your eligible children up to a maximum of four.
If there is no spouse, or your spouse dies, the Trustee may increase the children’s pensions. The total amount of all pensions must not be more than two times the spouse’s pension.
Dorman Smith section
Spouse’s pension
A spouse’s/civil partner’s/dependant’s pension will be paid equal to 50% of the pension you received at the date you died.
This is paid for the life of the surviving partner.
Eligible children’s pension
A pension will be paid equal to 25% of the pension your spouse would receive.
This is for your eligible children up to a maximum of four.
If there is no spouse, or your spouse dies, the Trustee may increase the children’s pensions. The total amount of all pensions must not be more than two times the spouse’s pension.
Other dependants
If you are not married or living with a spouse when you die, the Trustee have discretion to pay the spouse’s pension to any other dependant.
However, you can update your beneficiaries on My Work Pension and the Trustee will pay close attention to it. Just head to the ‘Your Account’ section and click on ‘Nominated Beneficiaries’. It’s a good idea to keep it up to date if your circumstances change especially if you:
Once in payment, your Electrium Plan pension is subject to annual reviews in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI).
Your pension is guaranteed to increase each year on 1 April by the rise in the RPI during the 12 months to the previous December, up to a maximum of 5%. If RPI does not increase, your pension will remain at the same level (it will not decrease).
Different increases apply to any guaranteed minimum pension benefits that form part of your pension.
Additional voluntary contribution (AVC) pensions receive the same increases unless they don’t increase.
Wylex and Dorman Smith sections
The increases for these sections are the same as previous but the minimum increase is 3% per annum on the total pension, excluding those secured by AVCs.
Pension increases are pro-rated for part-year retirements. The increases applied depend on when the benefits were accrued and under which were accrued and under which pension plan. You will receive a letter and payslip annually informing you of your increase.
...you worked part time?
You still receive the full range of benefits. However, to ensure that your benefits reflect your part-time hours of work, your part-time pensionable salary and your pensionable service were converted to their full-time equivalents when calculating your benefits.
...you want to transfer benefits into the Plan?
You aren’t able to transfer benefits from a previous employer’s pension scheme or from a personal pension into the Electrium Plan.
…you want to transfer your benefits out of the Plan?
Please contact the Member Services Team if you’d like a quote on the value of your benefits to transfer to another arrangement.
...you get divorced?
Pension rights are normally taken into account as part of a couple’s assets. There are a number of options available to the Court in dealing with pension rights and we will comply with any instructions from a court. Any pension credit for an ex-spouse will need to be transferred from the Electrium Plan. If you need more pension information, please contact the Member Services Team.
If you are getting divorced or dissolving your civil partnership, you should consider updating your beneficiaries on My Work Pension. Just head to the ‘Your Account’ section and click on ‘Nominated Beneficiaries’.
Pensionable service
Any continuous period in years and complete months during which you were a contributing member of the Previous Scheme (plus any other service you have built up from a transfer or for any other reason). This would be either until you left the Previous Scheme or when it closed and no longer allowed the build-up of benefits on 31 March 2016 (whichever is earlier). For the Wylex section this service is further split between service before and after April 2002.
Continuing member
You are a continuing member if you were a contributing member of the Previous Scheme on 31 December 2007, when it closed as a result of the Company’s pension changes.
From 1 January 2008, you were no longer able to build up further pensionable service under the Previous Scheme. However, benefits built up until that date are protected and benefit from annual increases (known as enhanced revaluation) from 31 December 2007 until 1 January 2023.
You will remain a continuing member until you leave the Electrium Plan, take your benefits, die or until 1 January 2023.
You could also become a continuing member if you requested it in writing and ceased to be a contributing member on 31 December 2007.
Former continuing member
A continuing member who left Siemens after 31 December 2007 or who voluntarily opted-out of continuing member status (to manage your lifetime allowance position for example).
Maximum limits
For the 2022/2023 tax year, the earnings cap is £181,800 a year. It increases broadly in line with increases in the Retail Prices Index (RPI). Maximum Siemens Benefits Scheme limits apply only to your Electrium Plan benefits. You may have additional Siemens Pension Saving Plan benefits that exceed these limits.
Lifetime allowance
Please go to the resources section to read more about this allowance here.
Annual allowance
Please go to the resources section to read more about this allowance here.
AVCs are also limited by the annual allowance. Any AVCs paid in above the annual allowance will incur a tax charge.
A reduced annual allowance applies in some circumstances, such as for high earners or for anyone that has taken advantage of flexible money purchase benefits. For more information contact the Member Services Team.
Spouse
The person to whom you are legally married at the date of your death. In line with the Civil Partnership Act 2004, same-sex partners who have been through a civil ceremony will be treated as spouses with regard to payment of any contracted-out benefits built up after 6 April 1988. In addition, they will be treated as spouses in all respects with regard to benefits built up after 5 December 2005.
If you’re not married or in a registered civil partnership, or not living with a spouse, this definition is extended. It also includes any person who, in the opinion of the Trustee, was dependent on you:
- financially
- because of disability
- because you had a mutual financial dependence on each other.
Final pensionable salary
For most sections of the Electrium Plan this would be the greater of:
- Your highest annual average of any 3 consecutive pensionable salaries in the 10 years before the 5 April preceding your normal retirement date, or the date you stopped contributing to the Previous Scheme, and
- Your pensionable salary as at 6 April preceding your normal retirement date, or the date you stopped contributing to the Previous Scheme.
Dorman Smith section
This is your scheme earnings at 6 April preceding your normal retirement date, or the date you stopped contributing to the Previous Scheme.
Pensionable service
For most sections this is any continuous period in years and complete months during which you were a contributing member of the Previous Scheme up to 31 December 2007. This also includes any service credited to you because of a transfer in or for any other reason.
Statutory revaluation
This the increase applied to your benefits, required by law. It is applied from the date you stopped contributing to you pension benefits in the Previous Scheme to the date you start taking your pension, or the date you transfer them to another registered pension scheme.
It’s currently based on the rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) subject to a maximum of 5% a year for benefits built up before April 2009 and 2.5% a year for benefits built up after that date.
Payment date
The earliest of the date you retire and draw a pension, die, transfer out benefits or reach normal retirement date.
Eligible child
Any child of the member (including a step-child or legally adopted child) who is:
- under the age of 18
- in full-time education or vocational training under the age of 23
- dependent on the member at the time of his/her death on account of physical or mental incapacity
Log in to your DB account
If you've not already registered for your online account, please click here. You'll need your membership reference, which you can find on any personal letters, emails or updates sent to you by Trafalgar House. You can ask for a reminder of your membership reference by clicking here and completing the form.
By registering and logging in you can view/update the following...
✓ Your current pension amount and tax code
✓ A history of previous payments
✓ Your personal details, including postal and e-mail address
✓ Your bank details
and much more...