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Provisions, Policies & Procedures of the GSF (Schemes)

This document describes various provisions of the GSF Act and outlines various procedures, practices and policies applied in the administration of the GSF Schemes. It is intended as a guide only for administrators, contributors, beneficiaries and employers to illustrate and describe determinations made in respect of the GSF Schemes.

The exercise of the Authority’s discretion under the Act will be made on a case by case basis. 

The document can be downloaded using the link at the bottom of this page.

Table of contents

  • MISCELLANEOUS

    • Disclaimer

    • General

    • Definitions

  • CONTRIBUTIONS

    • Employee Contributions

    • Employer Contributions

  • IN SERVICE ELECTIONS

    • Contributing at a previous salary following a reduction in salary

    • Leave without pay

    • Contributing in respect of prior or interrupted service

    • Ceasing contributions – withdrawal, suspension (inc members of Prisons Service Scheme ceasing contributions after 32 years contributory service)

    • Ceasing contributions – Deferred pension

  • CHARGES

    • Granting a charge over contributions

    • Information available to a contributor, chargeholder or potential chargeholder

    • Procedure where a charge notified

    • Payment of a charge

    • Rights of a chargeholder

    • Procedure for payment of a charge

    • Effect on contributor of payment to a chargeholder

    • Effect on annuities, allowances and other payments on payment to a chargeholder

    • Giving of notices

    • Authority may apply to Court for direction

  • BENEFIT ENTITLEMENTS

    • Calculation of retiring allowances and pensions

    • Cost of living adjustments

  • OPTIONS ON CEASING GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    • Summary of options

    • Immediate retiring allowance

    • Deferred retiring allowance

    • Refund of contributions

    • Continue to contribute after ceasing service

    • Transfer to another superannuation scheme

    • Leave contributions in the Fund and reactivate later

    • Continuing to contribute on changing employment

    • Breaks in service

    • Payment of a deferred pension where member has previously elected to cease contributions and join another superannuation scheme

  • ALLOWANCES IF RETIRE AS MEDICALLY UNFIT

    • Applications for medical retiring allowance

    • Application for enhanced refund on medical retirement

  • ADDITIONAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A RETIRING ALLOWANCE OR PENSION

    • Summary of options

    • Capitalise part of retiring allowance or pension

    • Pay a lump sum to increase an immediate retiring allowance

    • Receive a variable allowance

    • Receive a lump sum and defer receipt of retiring allowance

    • Provide an allowance or additional allowance for a spouse, partner or approved dependent

    • Assignment of part of retiring allowance or pension to another person

    • Pay part of an allowance or pension to a spouse or partner under a Matrimonial Property Agreement (aka Pension Sharing)

  • DEATH BENEFITS

    • Options and entitlements

    • Eligibility criteria – spouse or partner

    • Child allowances

    • Capitalise part of spouse annuity

    • Death in receipt of a retiring allowance or pension

    • Death of a contributing member

    • Death of a member who has suspended contributions (inc members of Prisons Service Scheme ceasing contributions after 32 years contributory service)

    • Death of a member who has ceased contributions to join another superannuation scheme and receive a deferred pension which is not yet in payment

    • Death of a member who has ceased contributions and elected a deferred retiring allowance which is not yet in payment

    • Death of a member who has ceased contributions and elected to leave their contributions in the Fund with a view to reactivating later on resuming Government service before age 50

    • Death of a member who has ceased service and not made an election

    • Death of a member who has retired but elected to receive a lump sum and defer receipt of their retiring allowance and has not yet reached the deferred age

  • PAYMENT OF ENTITLEMENTS

    • Payment of entitlements

  • INDEX

DOWNLOAD: 2024 04 30 Provisions, Policies & Procedures of the GSF (Schemes)