Teachers guidance

Pension

Under statute you’re required to make provision for your pension. We provide membership of the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme (STPS) to employees aged under 75.

The Scheme in which you participate is provided by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. This is a career average salary scheme and a qualifying pension scheme, which meets or exceeds the government standards. A career average scheme means that your pension will be worked out every year and inflation increases added, to ensure it keeps up with the cost of living. The STPS is contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS).

As a member of the Scheme you’ll be required to contribute a percentage of your salary based on your pensionable pay in the month. The current contribution rates are available on the Scottish Public Pensions Agency’s website

A commitment from us

We must continue to maintain your membership of the STPS (unless you personally choose to opt out of membership of the scheme or cease to be eligible for membership), and we must ensure the scheme continues to meet certain government standards.

If we were ever to:

  • cease to offer you membership of the scheme, or
  • you cease to be eligible for membership of it whilst in our employment, or
  • we change the scheme in such a way that it no longer meets the government standards,

we would:

  • if you're under age 75 and
  • earn more than the national insurance lower earnings limit,

immediately put you into another scheme that meets those government standards.

Opting out of the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme

If you don’t want to be a member of the Scheme

If you don't want to be a member of the STPS Scheme or decide at some later date that you don’t want to be a member), you can opt out. You should download and complete the opting out form on http://www.sppa.gov.uk/ – however, you cannot sign and date the form until, at the earliest, the first day of membership of the Scheme.

Further information

For an employee’s guide to STPS, visit Scottish Public Pensions Agency’s website

For more general information about pensions and saving for retirement visit www.direct.gov.uk/workplacepensions

Contact details

Telephone
01896 893 000

email
There is a secure form on the website for making contact.

Address for postal enquiries
Scottish Public Pensions Agency, 7 Tweedside Park, Tweedbank, Galashiels, TD1 3TE.

Website
www.pensions.gov.scot/