2015 Remedy - Employer Hub

2015 Remedy (McCloud) overview:

In 2015, the Government introduced reforms to public service pensions. These reforms saw most Civil Service workers being moved into a new pension scheme called ‘alpha’.

As part of these reforms, some members were not moved into alpha and some were moved in at a later date, depending on their age.

Because these members were treated differently based on their age, some Public Service workers raised concerns that this was discriminatory and took the Government to court.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal judged that the difference in treatment between those closer to retirement and everyone else, was unlawful age discrimination.

As a result of this judgment, steps are being taken to address those 2015 reforms. This is where the name 2015 Remedy comes from.

The members who stayed in their original schemes (also known as Legacy schemes) back in 2015 were moved across into the alpha scheme on 1 April 2022.

All members of Civil Service Pensions who continue in service from 1 April 2022 onwards, do so as members of alpha. Legacy pension schemes (classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos) were closed in relation to service after 31 March 2022. 

In scope members will be able to choose benefits from either alpha and or their Legacy scheme for the Remedy period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. This choice will be available to members at retirement after 1 October 2023. Any affected members who retired before 1 October 2023 will be remedied at a later date.