Applying For A Pension
Application forms for the payment of pension and lump sum are automatically forwarded by the Department of Education and Skills to teachers due to retire on compulsory grounds. For other categories of retirement an application form must be requested from the Pensions Section of the Department of Education and Skills or downloaded from the DES website.
Completed applications forms and the Bank Form 1 (PDF) should be returned to the Department, (Primary Pensions Section, Athlone, Co. Westmeath), six to eight weeks in advance of the effective date of retirement, in order to ensure payment of the pension and lump sum on retirement. Bank Form 1 is a mandatory application form to authorise the payment of pension directly to a bank or building society account.
Teachers retiring at the end of the school year should date their retirement effective from 31 August in order to ensure payment of full salary for the months of July and August.
Contacting the Department of Education and Skills
Queries regarding teachers’ pensions are dealt with in the Primary Pensions Section, Department of Education and Skills, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Email pensions@education.gov.ie or phone 090648-4189. This phone line is open daily, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Pension payments are issued from the Department of Education and Skills offices in Athlone.
Issuing of Lump Sum and Pension
Teachers are strongly advised to complete and return, without delay, the relevant documentation which is issued in connection with retirement.
Lump sum is normally be issued by the Department of Education and Skills within one month of retirement.
The following documentation issued to a teacher approximately one week before the lump sum is issued:
- A statement of the benefits being paid and a pension number.
- Pension Declaration Form. This declaration must be returned to the Office of the Pay Master General (PMG) which issues pensions. The first pension payment will not be issued until this form is returned. Normally the first pension payment will be issued by October and will contain any arrears of pension due.
- A form for claiming a rebate of income tax in respect of deductions (if any) from the lump sum e.g. for outstanding contributions to the Spouses’ and Children’s scheme/Substitute Service.
- A general information leaflet.
- An application form for membership of the Retired Teachers’ Association.
Pension payments are issued fortnightly.
VHI contributions can be deducted directly from retired teachers’ pensions. However, the Group Scheme for retired teachers operates on a calendar year basis and accordingly retired teachers should contact VHI and arrange direct payment of premiums for the period during their retirement date and the renewal date of the retired teachers’ scheme which is 1 January.
General Information
Transferability of Superannuation Rights
Local Government and Civil Service Transfer Schemes
Members of the Primary Teachers’ and Secondary Teachers’ Superannuation Schemes are approved for participation in the Civil Service Pension Schemes and the Local Government Transfer scheme. This provides for the reckoning by each
participating organisation, of earlier pensionable service with any other organization in the transfer network. Under its provision there is a link-up between the Civil Service, the Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, National and Secondary Teachers and over 110 participating bodies, the vast majority of which are in the public sector.
Accordingly, teachers who have given service in another organisation should contact the Pensions Section of the Department of Education and Skills to enable the relevant service to be transferred.
In addition, both schemes make provision for the payment, on a transfer value basis only, of a once-off lump sum to organisations outside the network, provided that certain conditions are met.
Teachers’ Estates
Payment of lump sum to the estate of a teacher who dies in service Where a teacher dies in pensionable service, a death gratuity is payable to the teacher’s legal representative on production to the Department of Education and Skills of Letters of Administration or Grant of Probate of Will.
The gratuity will be the greater of (i) one year’s pensionable salary and allowances at the rate applicable at the date of death of the teacher, or (ii) 3/80ths of the annual rate of pensionable salary multiplied by the length of pensionable service.*
* Where a teacher dies in service pensionable service is made up of actual service plus added years, similar to the calculation for disability retirement
Procedures which should be undertaken following the death of a teacher
As soon as is convenient, notify the Pensions Section of Department of Education and Skills, asking for a declaration of monies due to the estate by way of death gratuity, and balance of salary and allowances. Details of monies due from other sources should also be sought for inclusion in the total estate. If the teacher has made a will, an extraction of a Grant of Probate of the will should be sought, at the nearest Probate Office, or at the Central Probate Office, Four Courts, Dublin 7. If a will has not been made an extraction of a grant of Letters of Administration should similarly be sought. An extraction of a Grant of Probate, or Letters of Administration, may be obtained for a small fee, if reference to a solicitor is not desired.
Teachers may contact The Central Probate Office, First Floor, 15-24 Phoenix St North, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Tel 888 6343.
Everybody is strongly advised to make a will, since this would obviate inconvenience and possible dispute, leading to a sale of property and goods. It is also recommended that both husband and wife should make separate wills.
When making a will the declaration should be as simple and unambiguous as possible and should be witnessed by two persons. The will should also declare the identity of an executor, or possibly two executors. For obvious reasons, at least one executor should be younger than the person making the will.
There are District Probate Registry Offices in the following areas:
Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Kilkenny, Lifford, Limerick, Mullingar, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, Wexford.
Summary of Procedures to be adopted on the Death of a Teacher or Spouse of a Teacher
1. INTO Death Grant
(Paid to a member on the death of her/his spouse or to the estate of a member who dies).
Request an application form from Branch Secretary or Head Office.
2. Seek from the Department of Education and Skills:
- Details of death gratuity and other monies due;
- Application form for Spouse’s and Children’s Pension (if applicable);
- Application form for children’s allowances for any eligible dependent children.
3. Social Welfare Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension
Claim forms are available from all Social Welfare offices.
4. Voluntary Health Insurance
If VHI contributions were deducted from the deceased teacher’s salary it will be necessary to contact VHI to make alternative arrangements.
5. Income Tax
Notify Inspector of Taxes for Public Departments.
6. Will
Probate will or take out Letters of Administration.
Retirement Planning Seminars
Retirement Planning Seminars, open to teachers approaching retirement and their partners, are organised each year by the INTO.
The programme includes:
- A Healthy Lifestyle
- Social Welfare Entitlements
- Superannuation
- Making the Most of Your Investments
- Income Tax
- Wills & Inheritance Tax
- Retired Teachers’ Association
- Budgeting for Retirement
- Handling the Lifestyle Change
The seminars are run over one and half days i.e. Friday and half day Saturday. The Department of Education and Skills allows teachers to absent themselves from school on the Friday in order to attend the seminar. Prior approval of the board of management is required.
Details and application forms are published in InTouch magazine on a regular basis.
Retired Teachers’ Association
Retired teachers are strongly advised to join the Retired Teachers’ Association (RTA).
A membership application form is enclosed with the documentation issued by the Department of Education and Skills prior to retirement, or can be obtained directly from the National Secretary.
The National Secretary of the RTA is Billy Sheehan. Phone (01) 245 4130.
Members of the RTA are asked to quote their PPS number and telephone number on all correspondence.
