Pension Increases Bonus Payments

Pensioners under GMP age (65 men, 60 women)

Your Scheme pension is made up of different component parts, which increase differently:

1) Guaranteed Pension: increases on 1 January each year based on the change in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) in the 12 months to the previous November.
2) Bonus: does not increase.

Pensioners over GMP age (65 men, 60 women)

Your Scheme pension is made up of different component parts, which increase differently:

1) Pre April 1988 GMP: will not increase. 
2) Post April 1988 GMP: will increase by the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) up to a maximum of 3%, effective from 6 April each year.
3) Your Guaranteed Pension: element increases on 1 January each year based on the change in the RPI in the 12 months to the previous November.
4) Bonus: does not increase

GMP for Spouses

If a male member dies and leaves a surviving spouse or civil partner, their BCSSS pension will be at least half of the member’s GMP for their membership from 6 April 1978 up to their date of leaving service.

If a female member dies and leaves a surviving spouse or civil partner, their BCSSS pension will be at least half of the member’s GMP for their membership from 6 April 1988 up to their date of leaving service.

For most members the Scheme dependant’s pension will be higher than the GMP entitlement.

For GMP arising from the member’s contributing service after April 1988 the BCSSS will pay the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 3%, effective from 6 April each year.

GMPs for former contributing members

The Scheme’s liability to pay a pension at least equal to the GMP for a former contributor does not arise until age 60 for women and 65 for men, when HMRC tells the Scheme about the amount of GMP due. For most members, the Scheme pension is higher than the GMP but if it is not, the BCSSS would increase the pension so that it is equal to the GMP. From age 60 for women and 65 for men, the following arrangements for increases to any GMP element apply:

If you reached State Pension Age before April 2016:

• The State is responsible for any increase on GMP relating to contributing service between April 1978 and April 1988. Any increase payable is added to your State pension by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) when your State pension increases. These increases are effective from 6 April each year.
• For GMP relating to contributing service after April 1988, the BCSSS will pay the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 3%. These increases are effective from 6 April each year. In any year that CPI increases by more than 3% the DWP will make up the difference to the CPI level. These increases are also payable from April each year.

If you reached State Pension Age after April 2016:

• The GMP relating to contributing service between April 1978 and April 1988 will not be increased by the BCSSS or the DWP.
• For GMP relating to contributing service after April 1988 the BCSSS will pay the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 3%, effective from 6 April each year.

For more information about GMPs please see the Scheme's GMP factsheet.

Bonuses were awarded to members from their 50% share of surplus between 1995 and 2019. This is a flat-rate bonus that will neither increase or decrease.