Pension info for new recruit

Limerick1937

Hi.

Would anyone know where I could get information regarding the Garda pension?

I am in my Mid Thirties so wouldn't have the 30 years done by retirement age, would you just get a percentage or can you increase your contribution.

Any help would be great.
Thanks.

kerryman85

Limerick1937 wrote: »

Hi.

Would anyone know where I could get information regarding the Garda pension?

I am in my Mid Thirties so wouldn't have the 30 years done by retirement age, would you just get a percentage or can you increase your contribution.

Any help would be great.
Thanks.

I’m not sure if it’s of any help but I normally look at the www.gra.ie website when I’m looking for this kinda info. They have a section on pensions,
https://gra.ie/information/pension-retirement/

Hopefully it might give you some bit of an indication.

Limerick1937

Thanks, had a quick look yesterday and sent them an email but no luck so far, might just drop into the local station.

weadick

You can increase your contribution. It is expensive but you can do it. Also if you ever worked in public service before 75% of your service can be transferred.

Limerick1937

Thanks, have a decent pension with my current employer for the last 10 years but its not public sector. Extra contributions seems to be the only option.

Maybe im missing something obvious but i thought the cut off for AGS was 35? so if you're in your mid 30s then can you even apply?

shar01

If you joined after Jan 2013, you're in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. It's a career average earnings scheme (the concept of "service" is not a feature of the scheme).

Regulations haven't issued yet for the purchase of extra benefits or the transfer from other private schemes.

Limerick1937

Thanks lads, for the record I applied when I was 34, 35 now (on a Deferral from last intake)

So I take it I dont need a full 30 years service, the pension amount is based on a % x no of years service x annual salary?

docst

As previously mentioned all new recruits fall under the single public service pension scheme. As you can’t do the full 30 years you get receive a percentage of the full pension. There is NOT a faculty to buy back additional years anymore. All you can do is pay into AVCs Top up your pension.

JKerova1

shar01 wrote: »

If you joined after Jan 2013, you're in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. It's a career average earnings scheme (the concept of "service" is not a feature of the scheme).

Regulations haven't issued yet for the purchase of extra benefits or the transfer from other private schemes.

I know someone who joined the civil service in 2012 and is carrying 75% of their ''service'' into the Guards.

shar01

JKerova1 wrote: »

I know someone who joined the civil service in 2012 and is carrying 75% of their ''service'' into the Guards.

Yes - pre 2013 you could as it's a different pension scheme.

shar01

Limerick1937 wrote: »

Thanks lads, for the record I applied when I was 34, 35 now (on a Deferral from last intake)

So I take it I dont need a full 30 years service, the pension amount is based on a % x no of years service x annual salary?

No - that formula doesn't apply to you - it's a career average earnings scheme. Have a look here http://singlepensionscheme.gov.ie/for-members/scheme-information/scheme-booklet/

SinWin

I'm working in HSE since November 2013 until up today, waiting to be called in Templemore. Can I carry over my 75% service too? and how does it work? Do I have to notify Gardas when joining or it applies automatically?

shar01

docst wrote: »

As previously mentioned all new recruits fall under the single public service pension scheme. As you can’t do the full 30 years you get receive a percentage of the full pension. There is NOT a faculty to buy back additional years anymore. All you can do is pay into AVCs Top up your pension.

I believe regulations for a "purchase of notional benefits" scheme may issue in the not to distant future.

shar01

SinWin wrote: »

I'm working in HSE since November 2013 until up today, waiting to be called in Templemore. Can I carry over my 75% service too? and how does it work? Do I have to notify Gardas when joining or it applies automatically?

At the risk of repeating myself The SPSPS is a career average earnings scheme. There is no "service" as such. You're in the SPSPS in the HSE and you'll be in the SPSPS in the AGS.

JKerova1

SinWin wrote: »

I'm working in HSE since November 2013 until up today, waiting to be called in Templemore. Can I carry over my 75% service too? and how does it work? Do I have to notify Gardas when joining or it applies automatically?

You should ring the pensions dept of Garda HR to clarify this but I know the person I know who worked in civil service since 2012 will carry 75% of their pension into AGS. So they will be bringing just over 4 years of pension into AGS meaning they will have to work 26 years in AGS to have full pension. This is what they were told by AGS pay and pensions dept. None of this is taken into account until you recieve your attestation.

SinWin

Thank you

shar01

JKerova1 wrote: »

You should ring the pensions dept of Garda HR to clarify this but I know the person I know who worked in civil service since 2012 will carry 75% of their pension into AGS. So they will be bringing just over 4 years of pension into AGS meaning they will have to work 26 years in AGS to have full pension. This is what they were told by AGS pay and pensions dept. None of this is taken into account until you recieve your attestation.

From the explanatory leaflet of the SPSPS:
Can I transfer benefits from prior private
sector employments?
The option for a member of the Single Scheme to
transfer in benefits from private sector pension
schemes or affiliated arrangements is not
available at present but may be subject to the
making of regulations in the future by the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.

What happens if I have benefits from prior
public service employments?
If you hold benefits from earlier employments
under an earlier Pre-2013 public service pension
scheme, you cannot transfer these benefits to
the Single Scheme. Such benefits remain to
be administered separately under your earlier
scheme.

JKerova1

shar01 wrote: »

From the explanatory leaflet of the SPSPS:
Can I transfer benefits from prior private
sector employments?
The option for a member of the Single Scheme to
transfer in benefits from private sector pension
schemes or affiliated arrangements is not
available at present but may be subject to the
making of regulations in the future by the Minister
for Public Expenditure and Reform.

What happens if I have benefits from prior
public service employments?
If you hold benefits from earlier employments
under an earlier Pre-2013 public service pension
scheme, you cannot transfer these benefits to
the Single Scheme. Such benefits remain to
be administered separately under your earlier
scheme.

All I know is that I am aware of people that have gone into the Guards since 2014 who transferred 75% of their service for pension purposes, so there has to be some sort of arrangement there for existing civil servants. But they were in the civil service long before Jan. 2013, could this be the reason they were allowed carry 'service' so to speak? Similarly the person I know who is joining now was also employed in the civil service since 2012.

shar01

JKerova1 wrote: »

All I know is that I am aware of people that have gone into the Guards since 2014 who transferred 75% of their service for pension purposes, so there has to be some sort of arrangement there for existing civil servants. But they were in the civil service long before Jan. 2013, could this be the reason they were allowed carry 'service' so to speak? Similarly the person I know who is joining now was also employed in the civil service since 2012.

If they were existed Civil Servants prior to Jan 2013, they wouldn't be in the SPSPS. They'd retain the entitlement to transfer service using the "uniform accrual" method.

Limerick1937

Lads, quick question, where do the Gardaí stand with getting the State Pension, do they get it as normal like everyone else?

Elliot192

Yup, but will probably need to make voluntary prsi contributions or find a job between the ages of 60 and 68. Or 63 and 68 if you manage to climb the ladder.

Not sure if you can sign for credits instead of the voluntary contributions?

shar01

Limerick1937 wrote: »

Lads, quick question, where do the Gardaí stand with getting the State Pension, do they get it as normal like everyone else?

You'll be paying class A PRSI. Therefore if you fulfil the conditions, you'll be entitled to a State Pension

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/PRSI---Pay-Related-Social-Insurance---Contributions-and-Clas.aspx

shar01

Elliot192 wrote: »

Yup, but will probably need to make voluntary prsi contributions or find a job between the ages of 60 and 68. Or 63 and 68 if you manage to climb the ladder.

Not sure if you can sign for credits instead of the voluntary contributions?

Only if PRSI class were D.

Elliot192

shar01 wrote: »

Elliot192 wrote: »

Yup, but will probably need to make voluntary prsi contributions or find a job between the ages of 60 and 68. Or 63 and 68 if you manage to climb the ladder.

Not sure if you can sign for credits instead of the voluntary contributions?

Only if PRSI class were D.

Is that for the voluntary contributions or signing for credits?

shar01

Elliot192 wrote: »

Is that for the voluntary contributions or signing for credits?

I think it could be both actually. Anyone I've known that signs for credits are retired but below the State Pension age. I'm sure there are other conditions.

However I couldn't be ar$ed looking it up

Elliot192

😆 Same. Either way. There's an 8 year gap and you need to have your PRSI cons covered somehow to make up the difference for the state contrib. pension. By the time we get to retire it might even be a 10 year gap!

shar01

OP (Limerick1937) appears to be Single Pension Scheme. His minimum retirement age is linked to the State Pension so he ain't retiring @ 60.

Although I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) - no harm OP in contacting the AGS pension section in Killarney to confirm.

Limerick1937

Thanks lads, I have sent off a few emails last week (HRM pensions being one) no reply so far so might start making calls.

Elliot192

Think 60 is mandatory retirement age for guards unless in a senior position and then it's 63.

Don't think that was changed recently but I could be wrong.

shar01

https://gra.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GRA-Pensions-Booklet-July-2017.pdf

Chapter 5 goes someway to answering some of your questions OP.