Civil Service Pensions Podcast
The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector. But what makes it so good? We want members of the scheme to feel informed and empowered when it comes to planning for their financial future, but we know that pensions can feel complicated and difficult to understand. This podcast aims to make things simple - whether you're working or retired, if you've left the Civil Service - or even if you're thinking about joining the Civil Service - there's something for everyone. Hosts Rob Walker and Emily Eccles from MyCSP (the scheme administrator for Civil Service Pensions) take things back to basics. Their conversations will help you get to grips with your pension and even make some informed decisions about your future. No question is too small and no answer is too complex. Each episode explores different aspects of the scheme. With expert guests and members talking about their life experiences and perspectives, and how these events have affected their views on retirement and their pension. Each informative episode could help you think about your pension in different ways. Many people believe that a pension is something to think about later in life, or something to get round to dealing with eventually. That just isn't true. It’s never too early to start saving or planning for your future beyond work. Your pension is one of your most valuable assets and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact further down the line. It is a crucial personal financial benefit and your ticket to living your best life when you're no longer working. It's key to making your retirement years as fulfilling and rewarding as possible. From learning the basics, we explore a number of topics surrounding pensions and the scheme itself. Our first series features case studies of members in their 20s and 30s through to retirement, as well as discussions around the Gender Pension Gap, discovering how common life events can affect your ability to save for the future and the steps you can take to boost your pension. Even if you've never worked for the Civil Service before, this podcast is full of useful information and advice for anyone with a workplace pension. We hope you enjoy it. To find out more about the scheme, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Episodes
In our final minisode of Season 2, Liz Scully, Risk & Control Director, joins us to talk about pension fraud. What is it? How does it happen and can someone really steal your pension?
Liz shares the warning signs to look out for, how we combat fraud and what you can do to protect your retirement savings.
Useful links:
In our final full-length episode of this season, Rob & Emily chat to Sarj Wheelwright, Engagement Manager for Civil Service & Royal Mail Pensions about what our members are saying about pensions and this scheme.
With recordings from live events over summer 2023, we hear members’ thoughts and views and where retirement planning sits among their financial priorities right now. From keeping up with the cost-of-living to manag...
In this minisode, Cathryn Murray, Training & Engagement Manager, shares the 6 things you can do to kick-start your retirement planning.
From transferring in an old workplace pension, to nominating a beneficiary and joining a Pension Power webinar – this episode could be your quick checklist to lay the foundation for your financial future.
Useful links:
After 45 years working in HMRC, Gerald had big plans for his retirement. But those plans were turned upside down when health issues rendered him too ill to work.
In this episode, Gerald talks to Rob and Emily about his experience of having to leave work through the Ill Health Retirement route, earlier than he had planned.
Navigating retirement with an invisible illness brought a unique set of challenges for Gerald. One of the tou...
In this minisode, we share a sneak preview of our conversation with Gerald, who took ill health retirement after a long career in HMRC.
Gerald tells us about a shock diagnosis that turned his retirement plans upside down, forcing him to leave work behind earlier than he’d planned. He talks about how he adapted to his new lifestyle and condition and how he was able to take up a whole new line of work.
Look out for Gerald’s story i...
“So, what do you do?” It’s often the first question we ask when we meet someone new, and it can tell a lot about who they are… or can it?
Cilla Christmas (Valuation & Strategic Review Manager and Co-Chair of the Civil Service Carers Network) returns to the podcast to discuss the idea that our jobs can be a defining part of our identity.
Rob shares his experience of being furloughed in 2020 during the first COVID19 lockdown,...
Every year, we issue Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) to active members of the scheme.
To help you understand your ABS, Emily Wilson, Senior Training Consultant from MyCSP takes listeners through their statement, step by step and page by page. Helping you to better understand how your pension is doing and plan for the future.
Emily also answers some of the most common queries we receive into the contact centre and explains ...
We often say it’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement, but what if you’re coming to it later in life?
Whether you’ve been through a divorce, had a career-break or can see your retirement on the horizon, there are many ways to get the most out of your pension, whatever your circumstances.
This week, we’re joined by Liliana Gonzalez, Training Consultant at Civil Service Pensions, who tells us why it’s nev...
Our second minisode focuses on the 2015 Remedy (McCloud). Ian Korner, Civil Service Pensions Policy Lead talks about this important topic, what it is, how it works and if you could be affected.
The legislation will be implemented from October 2023, so have a listen to Ian’s explanation on how it will be delivered and where to find out more.
All Season 2 episodes were recorded between June – August 2023. All information shared is ...
In this episode, we chat to Mary, who decided to take partial retirement after a fulfilling career in the DVSA.
She was a civil servant for almost 30 years and while she loves her job, it’s clear she’s having the time of her life in retirement so far.
Mary tells us about her initial decision to leave work behind for good, but a chance-encounter with a colleague made her re-evaluate and opt for partial retirement ins...
In our first minisode of the series, we share a sneak preview of our conversation with Mary, who took partial retirement after almost 27 years in the DVSA.
Mary tells us about her life after taking a step back from work, whilst continuing to do a job she loves on her own terms. She talks about splitting her time between the UK and Turkey, the support she’s received from her family and her partner’s concerns when it came to leaving...
Over the past year, many of us have felt the squeeze on our finances caused by the cost-of-living increases.
If you’ve been worried that saving for your future might be leaving you short of money in the present, this episode is for you.
Kicking off the series, Kerrie Cureton-Williams, Deputy Director of Civil Service & Royal Mail Pensions in the Cabinet Office and Thomas Lynas, Money Advice Supervisor at the Charity for Civil...
We’re back for a season 2 of the Civil Service Pensions Podcast, with new topics and questions for our guest speakers.
How does the cost-of-living affect your pension? Are we all heading for an identity crisis in retirement? Is it true that someone can actually steal your pension? Plus, we hear what members think about the scheme and explore new retirement journeys – including how Gerald left work behind for the sake of his health...
In the final episode of this series, Rob and Emily chat to Mick Mulligan, Head of Engagement for Civil Service and Royal Mail Pensions in the Cabinet Office, and Emily Wilson, Senior Training Consultant at MyCSP.
There are many common life events that most of us go through at one stage or another-from getting a new job and joining the scheme, to getting a promotion, taking a career break, having children and beyond. Mick and Emily...
Rob and Emily are joined by Andy Jones, Engagement Manager for Civil Service and RoyalMail Pensions in the Cabinet Office, and Jane Bates, Head of Life Events at MyCSP. They discuss what happens to your pension if you leave the Civil Service or opt out of the scheme.
We know that the vast majority of members stay in the scheme once they're opted in by their employer, but a small number opt out. We talk to Andy about some of the fa...
James is 32 years old, lives in Liverpool and is a Policy Advisor in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. He's also about to become a dad...but he doesn't really know much about his pension.
In this episode, James chats to Rob and Emily about his perspective on why some of our younger members could be less engaged with their pension and may not be planning for their retirement yet.
Also joining us is Cathryn Murr...
In this episode, Rob and Emily are joined by guests from the Cabinet Office to discuss the Gender Pension Gap and why half the UK’s population may be facing an unbalanced future in retirement.
Cilla Christmas, Valuation and Strategic Review Manager and Co-Chair of the Civil Service Carer's Network, and Sarj Wheelwright, Stakeholder and Engagement Manager for Civil Service and Royal Mail Pensions talk us through the social, politic...
Linda shares her story and retirement experiences. From unconscious bias to thermal underwear, this episode is guaranteed to leave you thinking about your financial future in a different way.
Linda is a former civil servant who worked for 45 years at HM Revenue & Customs before retiring in 2019. Her retirement story is unique, and she gives us a lot of food for thought about planning for our own financial futures.
From studyi...
Ever had a question about pensions that you were afraid to ask? We've got you covered.
No question is too small as we kick off the series with Dominic Arthur, Director of Pensions and Government Recruitment, Cabinet Office and Duncan Watson, Chief Executive, MyCSP. They chat to our hosts Rob and Emily about the basics of pensions - what is a pension? Why is it important? What makes it better than saving your money in other ways? A...
The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector. But what makes it so good?
We want members of the scheme to feel informed and empowered when it comes to planning for their financial future, but we know that pensions can feel complicated and difficult to understand.
This podcast aims to make things simple - whether you're working or retired, if you've left the Civil Service - ...
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