How may we help you?

If you are absent from work due to ill health, the Income Protection policy that is linked to the Plan and funded by the Company may apply.

If you are an active member of the Plan and you are unable, because of a medical condition, to continue in your job, or any job to which you are suited, you may qualify for income protection benefits.

If you qualify, you may receive an income, subject to any restrictions imposed by the insurer. Payments may not start immediately, but will continue until whichever happens first:

• your health recovers
• your employment ends
• you die
• you reach age 65

As long as you are receiving income protection benefits under the policy, payments will also be made to your Account in line with the rates of employee and employer contributions that were being paid immediately prior to your illness.

These benefits are provided through a policy, the terms of which may vary from time to time. You are included for cover under the insurance policy if you satisfy any requirements set out by the company, including the provision of evidence of good health.

In the event of a claim any entitlement to benefit would always be determined by reference to the policy terms and conditions. The benefits are provided to the extent that cover is available and the Company reserves the right to end or vary them at any time, but this will not affect any claims already accepted.

For more information please contact your HR department.

If you are granted leave of absence from work the Company will consider whether your membership should be continued and for how long.

Death in service benefits and ill health provisions under the Plan (other than benefits provided on leaving service) will cease if you are absent for more than 12 months.

During your statutory maternity leave, you and the Company will continue to contribute to your Account at your chosen rate on your actual pay. Your membership of the Plan will continue including death in service benefits and ill health provisions.

Should you take further maternity leave which is unpaid; no more contributions will be paid to your Account. Your membership of the Plan will continue including death in service benefits and ill health provisions for 12 months.

Your contributions will continue at your chosen rate on your actual pay during any period of Company agreed paternity leave. Your membership of the Plan will continue including death in service benefits and ill health provisions for 12 months.

If you are a member of the Main Section and you die in service The Trustees may provide the following for your dependants or nominees:

• a lump sum equal to 12 times your Pensionable Pay
plus
• a lump sum equal to the value of your own contributions

Pensionable Pay is determined in the year prior to your death.

In normal circumstances the full cover will be provided automatically without any enquiry into the state of your health. However, if your benefits exceed a certain level or if you do not join the Plan at your first opportunity, you may be required to attend a medical examination and have special terms imposed, or cover restricted. You will be notified if this affects you.

If you fail to attend a medical, or do not complete the relevant forms when required your cover may also be restricted or declined.

If you are a deferred member of the Plan and you die before retirement
If you die after you have left the Company but before you retire and you have not transferred the value of your Account out of the Plan, the Trustees will pay a lump sum up to maximum statutory limits.

If the value of your Account is in excess of those limits, the Trustees may provide a pension for your Spouse, Children or Dependants.

Your Nomination Form
It is important that you complete a Nomination Form outlining who you would like to receive any benefits following your death. Equally, if your personal situation changes, for example, you marry, divorce or become a parent, you may need to complete another Nomination Form.

The Trustees have the final decision over payment (in this way, the amount does not become part of your estate and can be paid free of inheritance tax). So, the Nomination Form is not legally binding, but the Trustees will take account of your wishes. If you have previously completed a form, you only need to fill in a new one if you want to change your nominations.

You can print off a Nomination Form here

The type and level of benefits payable in the event of your death after taking some or all of your retirement benefits is dependent upon how you have taken benefits and how old you are.

Drawdown
Date of death	Format of benefits	Tax position	Can be paid to
Before age 75	All benefits	Tax-free	Any beneficiary
From age 75 onwards	Lump sum (paid out of the Plan)	Taxable at marginal Income Tax rate
	Income (continuation of Drawdown)	Taxable at marginal Income Tax rate

Annuity
	Death before age 75	Death from age 75
Joint-life annuity	Any beneficiary can receive payments tax-free	Any beneficiary can receive payments at marginal Income Tax rate
Guaranteed term annuity
Value protected annuity

If you leave employment you keep the Account you have built up within the Plan. You may:

• leave your benefits in the Plan where they will continue to be invested in line with your instructions
• transfer your Account to another pension arrangement or
• access your Account if you are aged 55 or over

The most suitable option for you will depend on your situation at the time you leave. You may want to seek financial advice before deciding what route you will take.