Frozen POPS

[Stormproof]

I’m looking into getting my old POPS pension when I’m 55. It was frozen in 1993 when I left the business and had only paid into it for 4 years and when I rejoined RM in 2003 I didn’t have it linked to whatever the scheme was (RMPP?).
I’ve spoken to someone in Pensions who said I have 2 pensions listed so I’m guessing that is the old RMPP and the current one, so any ideas where my frozen POPS one would’ve disappeared to?

[RobertT]

POPS is the old name for section C of the RMPP, and anyone who joined RM and/or the pension scheme anytime between 1987 and 2008, will be in that section. The name was changed in the early 2000's if I remember correctly.

If you have 2 pensions listed, it sounds to me as if you actually have two section C pensions, one from 1989-1993 and one from 2003-?.

[freespeech]

I’m looking into getting my old POPS pension when I’m 55. It was frozen in 1993 when I left the business and had only paid into it for 4 years and when I rejoined RM in 2003 I didn’t have it linked to whatever the scheme was (RMPP?).
I’ve spoken to someone in Pensions who said I have 2 pensions listed so I’m guessing that is the old RMPP and the current one, so any ideas where my frozen POPS one would’ve disappeared to?

The two will be RMSPS and RMPP. POPS will be the RMSPS one which is administered by the Cabinet Office and the other is RMPP which will be for the later service and still administered by RM.

[RobertT]

I’m looking into getting my old POPS pension when I’m 55. It was frozen in 1993 when I left the business and had only paid into it for 4 years and when I rejoined RM in 2003 I didn’t have it linked to whatever the scheme was (RMPP?).
I’ve spoken to someone in Pensions who said I have 2 pensions listed so I’m guessing that is the old RMPP and the current one, so any ideas where my frozen POPS one would’ve disappeared to?

The two will be RMSPS and RMPP. POPS will be the RMSPS one which is administered by the Cabinet Office and the other is RMPP which will be for the later service and still administered by RM.

Stormproof doesn't say whether they're still employed by RM.

So the old POPS(1989-1993) pension will come under the RMSPS, administered by Capita/Cabinet Office. But the newer pension(2003+) might actually come under both RMSPS & RMPP or just RMSPS, depending on when or if they've left RM employment.

RMSPS is up to 31st March 2012, RMPP is afterwards.

[Stormproof]

Thanks all. I’m still employed by RM. I wasn’t sure which one the POPS one came under or if it was a separate one because it was frozen when I left and when I rejoined 10 years later I didn’t link them it to the scheme that was running at the time. Pensions are sending me a pack with both listed though I am only interested in the earlier one. (Probably only worth a fiver )

[Stormproof]

I received the info from RMSPS this morning. It doesn’t give me any dates of when the pension started/stopped which worries me a bit. Though the amounts aren’t a lot so I’m wondering if it’s what I paid in 89-93 and 2003-2008. Option 1 is £540 pa, Option 2 is £425 and a lump sum of £3k. I don’t want to touch any current pension so I’m hoping those figure doesn’t include everything I’ve paid in to.

[RobertT]

It sounds to me as if your options relate to your 89-93 service.

I don't understand why you think it might relate to 2003-2008 aswell, as that will form part of your second pension from 2003-present, which will subsequently be paid out by both RMSPS and RMPP when you take that in the future.

If in doubt I suggest you contact the RMSPS for clarification.

In practice RM pensions are very complicated, but in short:

Your second pension(2003-present) will be split between NRA60(2003-2010) and NRA65(2010-2018+DBCBS).
But it will be paid out by the RMSPS(2003-2012) and the RMPP(2012-2018+DBCBS).

Further info can be found on the RMSPS and RMPP websites:

https://www.royalmailsps.co.uk/
https://www.royalmailpensionplan.co.uk/

[Stormproof]

I don’t know why I think that either, everything seems so confusing what with having one that’s frozen and schemes changing over the years. I will phone them on Monday and ask which pension it relates to. It was Capita who I spoke to and if I understand correctly they deal with the old schemes and not current ones.

[RobertT]

I don’t know why I think that either, everything seems so confusing what with having one that’s frozen and schemes changing over the years. I will phone them on Monday and ask which pension it relates to. It was Capita who I spoke to and if I understand correctly they deal with the old schemes and not current ones.

Not quite!

When RM was privatised, the government took over all RM pensions accrued up to 31st March 2012 and later appointed Capita to administer them.

RM's in house Pension Service Centre(PSC) in Sheffield deal with all pensions accrued from 1st April 2012.

So Capita will deal with your 89-93 pension, but both Capita and the PSC will deal with your current 2003-present pension when you come to claim it.

It's a bit of a mess as many posters on this forum will confirm, but that's the way it is!

[Stormproof]

I phoned them and you are correct it does pertain to my 89-93 pension. Thanks for your help now to try and fill in the paperwork!

[RobertT]

I phoned them and you are correct it does pertain to my 89-93 pension. Thanks for your help now to try and fill in the paperwork!