Monthly Interface

When a record fails a data validation check, we will report it to you as a Data Validation Failure (DVF) on a Data Validation Report (DVR).

There are two types of DVFs:

1. Errors occur when data provided in an interface file is wrong.
2. Warnings occur when data provided in an interface file could be wrong, so we need you to check it.

What you need to do

All Errors and Warnings need to be reviewed and any corrections or confirmations submitted to the Scheme Administrator ahead of your next monthly interface submission.

Regardless of the interface type used, you need to ensure that any data corrections or confirmations returned to the Scheme Administrator are also reflected in your source payroll data.

This will prevent Errors and Warnings being repeated in subsequent interface files.

The Monthly Interface is governed by a set of compliance measures. Their purpose is to help you to improve the timeliness and quality of monthly data submissions by clearly outlining what we expect of you and reporting to you on how you are performing. 

The headline performance measures and targets are as follows:

Interface Timeliness

• The submission of a single interface file per month, no more than two working days before or after your agreed submission date; 
• The correction of all DVFs ahead of your next interface scheduled delivery date.

Interface Quality 

• No more than 0.5% DVFs when taken as a percentage of membership data received in the interface files (this was 2% in 2018, 1% in 2019 and moved to 0.5% in 2020);
• If you are advised of errors and warnings in your data, submission of no more than 2, completed Data Validation Report returns. 

We will monitor your performance against the measures and targets. Where you are unable to meet these targets, we will offer guidance and support and if necessary, ask you to provide a plan to improve your performance. However, further escalation through Cabinet Office may be required where performance does not improve.