August 2021

UK. Govt encouraged to make CDC pensions more flexible to improve take-up

The government should make the framework for collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes more flexible to encourage take-up and make it fairer for younger members, according to LCP. The firm’s response to the government consultation on CDC regulations said further flexibility was needed due to the framework having been drafted with the Royal Mail scheme in mind, leaving sponsors who may wish to explore different benefit structures facing limited options. Read also UK’s biggest pension scheme set to screen investments based on...

UK. Do CDCs offer the best of both?

The DWP recently launched its consultation on draft collective defined contribution pensions scheme regulations, which is due to close on 31 August. Once these regulations are firmed up, by the end of this year in all probability, single or connected employers will be able to open collective defined contribution schemes for their employees. The Royal Mail, in a show of unity between employer and trades union, will be the first to do so. We will have to wait until early...

July 2021

UK. Can CDCs solve the pension funding problem?

Defined-benefit (DB) pension schemes have been in decline for years and in most professions younger employees are offered defined-contribution (DC) schemes, which lack many of the former's benefits. But a new option aims to deliver the best of both types of pensions. This week, the government has issued a consultation on draft legislation for Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Schemes, spurred on by Royal Mail (RMG) which had been lobbying for new legislation to accommodate CDCs since 2018. CDC pensions work by...