July 2006

61.1 Introduction

Pension schemes is a general title for a variety of personal and occupational pension arrangements which provide scheme members with retirement and death benefits. This chapter provides guidance to official receivers when dealing with such schemes. The chapter is divided into the following parts:

Part 1 - Bankruptcy - Personal pensions - Bankruptcy Petition on or after 29 May 2000. (paragraphs 61.2 - 61.19)

Part 2 - Bankruptcy - Pensions and Divorce/Dissolved Civil Partnership (paragraphs 61.20 - 61.22)

Part 3 -Bankruptcy - Pension schemes - Bankruptcy Petition before 29 May 2000. (paragraphs 61.23 -61.41)

Part 4 - Pensions Act 2004 - Provisions applicable where insolvency order made on or after 6 April 2005. (paragraphs 61.42 - 61.56)

Part 5 - Pensions in liquidation - Initial action (paragraphs 61.57 - 61.62)

Part 6 - Pensions in liquidation - Scheme winding - up (paragraphs 61.63 - 61.81)

Part 7 - Background guide to pension organizations/information. (paragraphs 61.82 - 61.90)

Part 8 - Pension jargon - definitions (paragraphs 61.91 - 61.130)

See Part 9 of Chapter 31.4B for information and advice on recovery of excessive pension contributions

The following abbreviations are used in this chapter:

AVC's - Additional Voluntary Contributions

FAS - Financial Assistance Scheme

FSA - Financial Services Authority

LTA - Lifetime allowance

PA95 - Pensions Act 1995

PA2004 - Pensions Act 2004

PPF - Pension Protection Fund

PSA93 - Pension Schemes Act 1993

RPS - Redundancy Payments Service

TPAS - The Pensions Advisory Service

WRPA99 - Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999

Useful contact details: For further details of what each organization does see Part 7

www.dwp.gov.uk - Department for Work and Pensions

www.dwp.gov.uk/fas - Financial Assistance Scheme

www.fsa.org.uk - Financial Services Authority

www.gad.gov.uk - Government Actuary's Department

www.hmrc.gov.uk/pensionschemes - HM Revenue and Customs

www.opsi.gov.uk - Link to the Office of Public Sector Information (for pensions legislation)

www.opas.org.uk - The Pensions Advisory Service

www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk - The Pensions Ombudsman

www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk - The Pension Protection Fund

www.ThePensionsRegulator.gov.uk - The Pensions Regulator

www.pensionservice.gov.uk - The Pension Service

www.pensionsatwork.gov.uk - The Pensions at Work website

www.sharingpensions.co.uk - Website focusing on pensions, pensions on divorce and annuities

[On to Part 1 - Bankruptcy - Personal pensions - Bankruptcy Petition on or after 29 May 2000]