Uniformed public sector employees (FOI)

Request

A

Which Public Sector employees are classed as "Uniformed"?

B

Whether - as an example - an employee within the categories at (A) above employed as a Receptionist, IT person, somebody not customer facing etc is also classed as "uniformed".

C

Why "uniformed" Public Sector Workers can draw their Public Sector Pension 10 years earlier than "Non-Uniformed" personnel? What are the key differences and how are they justified?

D

Whether employees under (B) above categories are all under the same Pension arrangements with regard to contributions from the Employer, and their own contributions?

E

Whether those in categories under (B) above are also permitted to draw their Public Sector Pension 10 years earlier than "Non-Uniformed" in similar positions?

Response 

A

Under Public Employees Pension Fund legislation uniformed members are defined as; - 

• The chief ambulance officer, assistant chief ambulance officer or an emergency ambulance officer in the Government of Jersey's ambulance service
• The chief officer, deputy chief officer or any police officer in the States of Jersey Police Force
• Any firefighter in the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service
• An officer in the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service
• The prison governor or a prison officer
• An air traffic controller in the air traffic control unit maintained at Jersey Airport 

B

Only persons listed under the response to question A can be classed as a uniformed member.

C

Uniformed members in the Career Average Scheme of the PEPF have a normal retiring age of 60, with the option to retire up to five years early with an actuarially reduced pension to reflect the fact the pension is being paid before normal retiring age.

Non-uniformed members of the Career Average Scheme have a normal retiring age linked to the Island wide State Pension Age, which is increasing to 67 years of age. Non-uniformed members have the option to retire up to 10 years early with an actuarially reduced pension to reflect the fact it is being paid before normal retirement age. 

The earliest age that Uniform members can draw their pension from the Career Average Scheme is 55 years of age and the earliest age that Non-Uniformed members can draw their pension is 57 years of age. Career Average Scheme pensions paid before Normal Retiring Age are subject to an actuarial reduction. Uniformed members have an earlier Normal Retiring Age to reflect the fitness levels required to adequately complete their roles and the earlier retirement ages for uniform members reflect similar arrangements in the UK public sector.

D

Uniformed members contribute 10.1% of pensionable salary to their pension. 

Non-Uniformed members contribute 7.75% of pensionable salary to their pension. 

The employer cost of the uniform member pension benefits is 20.2% of pensionable salaries. The employer cost of the non-uniformed member pension benefits is 15.5% of pensionable salaries. The employer pays a combined weighted average employer contribution rate into the scheme of 16% of pensionable salaries for all scheme members.  

E

Response to question C sets out when a pension can be drawn.