|
news
 The Budget and Police Pensions
THE BUDGET AND POLICE PENSION INCREASES
As a result of numerous enquiries following the Chancellor’s Emergency Budget last week NARPO HQ thought it prudent to update you on our current understanding of the implications of the budget on Police Pension increases.
Police Pensions are increased under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 and Section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975. The latter provides for public service pensions to be up-rated at the same time and by the same percentage as the increase in the additional pension provided under the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS), which has traditionally been based on the September to September increase in the Retail Price Index (RPI).
In the Emergency Budget the Chancellor announced that the Government will use the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the indexation of benefits and tax credits from April 2011, but more significantly for police pensioners, the Chancellor also announced that the change would also apply to public service pensions through the statutory link to the indexation of the Second State Pension (which replaced SERPS in 2002).
What does this mean to police pensions?
In our view this means that in April 2011 police pensions will increase by the same percentage as the RPI increase from September 2009 to September 2010.
Thereafter the indication from this budget is that police pensions will increase annually in April by the same percentage as the CPI increase from September to September.
This in real terms reduces the value of police pension increases as the RPI is generally higher than the CPI and when calculated over a period of over 20 years would amount to a significant amount of money.
We are currently discussing with other public sector pensioner organisations the full implications of the emergency budget and are considering a response and any future course of action we may consider taking, bearing in mind the assurances given in April 2010 by all three major political parties, that there were no plans to change the current index-linking of pensions in payment.
UPDATE
Following further consultation it would appear that the police pension increases will revert to the CPI in April 2011 which means that the increase payable in 2011 will be linked to the CPI and not the RPI. The circulation ‘THE BUDGET AND POLICE PENSION INCREASES’ has been amended accordingly.
New Narpo Travel Insurance - February 2010
NARPO Group Travel Scheme
----------------------------------------
NARPO are delighted to announce the launch of our their own annual NARPO Group Travel Scheme, exclusive to NARPO members, which comes into force on 1st May 2010. Whether you are off on holiday, or going away on business, our new exclusive NARPO Group Travel Insurance Scheme, with AXA PPP healthcare, will keep you well protected against the unforeseen.
Premiums for the year from 1st May 2010 - 30 April 2011
Single £80
Couple £115
Single Parent £115
Family £120
See the February 2010 edition of NARPO News and call 0800 330 8575 today for an application form.
Apologies absence of web site Feb 2010
On Wednesday morning (10th February 2010) the web site was unaccessible for several hours. This was due to a server setting issue which was quickly rectified by our hosts. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Benefits Advice - New Service
Following the announcement in the November edition of the NARPO News of the retirement of our Benefits Advice Consultant, Angela Maxwell, we have made alternative arrangements to provide members with this service. Angela’s last article appeared in the November edition of the magazine and her helpline continues to operate until 30 November 2009.
We have been in discussions with a company called ‘Wordshop’ and they have agreed to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Angela Maxwell. They will be providing articles on benefits for each quarterly magazine starting in February 2010.
We have also negotiated with them that they will provide a Benefits Information Service direct to members in a similar way to that provided in the past by Angela Maxwell. This new service with Wordshop will commence on 1st December 2009. Initially access to the Benefits Information Consultant will be by letter, fax or email although, in appropriate cases, the Consultant may telephone the member following receipt of the initial correspondence. I have included all the relevant required contact details below. Members should include in the correspondence that they are NARPO members.
By Post: Benefits Information Consultant
Wordshop
7 Tilton Court
Digby Road
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 3NL
By Fax: 01935 812800
A link to the details of this new service will appear on the ‘Home’ page of our website at www.narpo.org with a direct link to the Wordshop email address above. Full details of the service will also be published in the February 2010 edition of NARPO News.
Clint Elliott QPM
Chief Executive
Flood Damage - NWPBF - Lodges Update
As you will probably be aware from news reports, Cumbria hs suffered the worst weather for many years which has resulted in flooding to various parts of Cumbria. Unfortunately, the Benevolent Fund lodges situated at White Cross Bay, Windermere, Cumbria, have been affected as Lake Windermere broke its banks due to the torrential rain. White Cross Bay Leisure Park is currently closed and until the checks on site have been completed and the damage fully assessed we don’t know at this stage when the site will re-open. The lodges obviously suffered damage and until the insurance assessment has been completed we won’t know the full extent of the damage to our lodges.
As you can appreciate I am currently experiencing a high volume of calls but until I am in receipt of the full facts I can’t say how far ahead bookings will be cancelled. Can I ask that you please bear with me and as soon as any further information is available I will update the members. In the meantime no further bookings will be taken for the lodges and those who already have booking will be contacted personally.
PLEASE NOTE:- The South Lakeland Leisure Village, Carnforth site is totally unaffected and the bookings remain unchanged
Jackie Smithies
Secretary
North West Police Benevolent Fund
State Pension increase 2010
November 2009
The basic state pension is to increase from April 2010 by 2.5%. For a single pensioner, the weekly pension will rise from £95.25 to £97.65, while a pensioner couple will see a rise to £156.16 from the current £152.30.
State and public sector pensions are both calculated with reference to September inflation figures and the rise comes despite the Retail Prices Index (RPI) being negative last month.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the RPI in September was -1.4%.
Other state benefits are linked in a similar method to another measure of inflation (the Rossi index) which is the RPI excluding housing costs. This is also negative so housing benefit, council tax benefit, incapacity benefit, job seekers’ allowance (JSA) and income support will all remain at the same rate from next April.
No rise in Police Pension 2010
November 2009
The Retail Price Index (RPI) for the month of September was - 1.4%. The RPI is the index that affects our Police Pensions from next April and is used by the NEC to set the levels of subscription to NARPO for the coming year, starting January 2010. Police Pensions will not be reflected by a negative figure -in other words there will be no rise in your Police Pension next year.
Care First to end - latest Narpo circular
Scarborough Conference 2009
The first motion at conference was whether or not the NEC should fund Care First for a further year before making a final decision on its future. Your Chairman spoke in favour of its retention but despite his valiant efforts conference voted to end the contract on the 31st October, 2009. National Narpo will be sending out details in due course. Whilst the indications were that the vote would be to end your committee were still extremely disappointed. We will now have to look at alternative options to strengthen our welfare support to you the members.
Branch Circular
Interested in being a committee member
March 2009
Hi All A number of our committee will be standing down at the AGM in May. All have given long and invaluable service to supporting the membership. If you are interested in becoming a member of the committee please contact the secretary as soon as possible. It is important that committee membership reflects the varying age groups, sex and location of our membership. Membership involves attendance at a meeting roughly every two months, having responsibility for a number of our over 80's and dealing with welfare issues.
Dave Anderton will provide you with full details
Please do think about it.
thank you
Malcolm Parry Chairman
Web site - new guest book
December 2008
We have now added a guest book to the site. On our old site many of the messages were from fellow Narpo colleagues dotted across the globe. Why not let us know where you are, what you are doing or alike.
Thanks for visiting us
Top
Items of Interest
Merseyside Police Band
The below music was recorded at Fairfield and is entitled MERSEYSIDE POLICE BAND, under the direction of Captain Pottle MBE, LRAM, RM (Retired)and the vocalist is..Tom Cowan.
The band consisted of Sgt. M Brownbill, Sgt Bonell, Con. Ward, Con Jarvis, Con Bailey, Con Gardener, Con Clarkson, Con Garton, Con Jones, Con Hurley, Con Morgan, Con Walpole, Con Pearson, Con Hewitt, Con Corbett, Con Smith, Con Fleming, Con Jackson, Con Peters, Con Morris, Con Mathews, Con Cain
To hear click on a clip below:
Clip one Clip Two Clip Three Clip Four
Top
Events
Merseyside Police Comrades Association
Forthcoming events
2010
Wednesday 8th September - coach trip to Windermere
Friday 19th November until Monday 22nd November - Turkey and Tinsel Weekend - Winnock Hotel, Drymen, Loch Lomond, an old favourite with the Comrades
Coaches will depart from local venues.
Friday 26th November - Annual Lunch Riversdale
Wednesday 15th December - Pensioners Party at Riversdale
2011
Wednesday 13th April - Pensioners Party at Riversdale
Wednesday 11th May - Coach Trip to James Pringle Weavers Anglesey North Wales
Monday 9th May - AGM at Riversdale 7.30pm
For further information email Lewis A May
Top
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, however, no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, concerning the content or accuracy of the information stored and maintained within this information service is made.
If you have any items for this page or for the newsletter please email the secretary
Top
|
