This section is for information only. The articles were correct when we published them, but please don't rely on them to still be accurate.
31/07/08 - Age discrimination – an update
Although it's more than 18 months since the last amending age regulations took effect, the dust hasn't settled yet.
28/03/08 - Welfare Reform Act – new state benefits announced
The details we’ve all been waiting for are finally out! With final regulations now in Parliament, DWP have now announced the levels of the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and confirmed that their new approach will take effect from 27 October.
22/11/07 - Registration and reporting - clarification from HM Revenue & Customs
In the latest edition of their pensions tax simplification newsletter (No 31), HM Revenue & Customs clarify two things that impact on registered group life schemes
05/04/07 - Latest focuson now available
The March edition of our regular Employee Benefits technical letter is now online. Articles include the ongoing impact of tax simplification and an update on age discrimination legislation. Read focuson.
01/10/06 - Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 come into force
The regulations came into force on 1 October 2006. They make it illegal for employers to discriminate on any aspect of employment, including benefits, on the grounds of their employees' age, or apparent age, unless this can be objectively justified.
05/07/06 - Long-awaited Pensions Regulator guidance on S255 is published
This is the last piece of the jigsaw trustees of occupational pension schemes (OPS) have been eagerly waiting for, to let them know whether they can continue to provide a death-in-service (DIS) only category under their OPS without being in breach of their Pensions Act responsibilities.
28/06/06 - Further transitional protection for tax treatment of pre A-day death lump sums
The Revenue has announced that, following representations from the industry, it intends to extend the transitional protection for payment of lump sum death benefits paid in respect of members who died before 6 April 2006.
10/05/06 - Update on transitional protection for death benefits
Since the fine detail of the Revenue's intentions here was published in Schedule 1 of this year's Finance Bill, the industry has been working to analyse the complex legislation and clarify any remaining issues. Although there are some areas still needing resolved we now have a clearer picture of how this is intended to work.
14/03/06 - Revenue move to transitional protection for death benefits
In response to industry pressure, the Revenue has now announced its intention to extend transitional protection to insured death benefits.
01/03/06 - DWP give their view on occupational pension schemes providing some members with life assurance benefits only
The DWP have at last given their view on whether an occupational pension scheme which contains a death-in-service (DIS) only category will fulfil their new Occupational Pension Scheme (OPS) criteria under the Pensions Act - that of making sure that the scheme activities are restricted to 'retirement benefit activities'.