The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online Wolf Hall breaks BBC Two box office records Page 10 APRIL 2015 • Issue 2 New State Remembering Launch of BBC pension Ealing Studios Studios Page 2 Page 6 Page 10 NEWS • MEMORIES • CLASSIFIEDS • YOUR LETTERS • OBITUARIES • CROSPERO 02 BENEFITS Looking ahead to 2016: changes to the State pension system On 6 April 2016, the State pension system is changing. You might already be getting your State pension, or you might still be a few years away from State pension age. Either way, it’s a good idea Can you spare to know more about what is coming and how the changes might affect you. five minutes? get still depends on your National Insurance Contracting out record. You build up your National Insurance If you were in a salary-related pension record by making National Insurance scheme at work (for example, ‘final salary’ or contributions (these are usually deducted ‘career average’), or you were in any type of from your salary) or getting National pension scheme at work before April 2012, Insurance credits by claiming certain you are likely to have been ‘contracted out’ benefits, such as Child Benefit. of the additional State pension scheme (part Years in which you’ve already worked of the current State pension scheme). Some (and paid National Insurance) and years in stakeholder and personal pension schemes which you got National Insurance credits, were also ‘contracted out’. before April 2016, will still count in the If you’ve been ‘contracted out’ at any time new State pension scheme, as will the years before 6 April 2016, your ‘starting amount’ in which you work (and pay National in the new State pension scheme will include Insurance) or get National Insurance credits a reduction because: in the future (up to a limit). From time to time the Trustees of If you were born before • you’ll have paid National Insurance the BBC Pension Scheme ask you You will normally need a minimum of 10 contributions at a lower rate; or 6 April 1953 (women) or qualifying years on your record to get any State for feedback on the Scheme-related before 6 April 1951 (men) • some of the National Insurance services provided. pension. But you don’t have to have 10 years You will continue to get your State pension contributions you paid were used to If you would like to tell us how in a row – they can be years here and there. based on the current State pension system, contribute to your stakeholder or we’re doing and help us to improve Generally the more years you have, the more even if you defer your State pension until personal pension instead of the our processes then take five minutes to State pension you will get (up to a limit). after 6 April 2016. additional State pension complete the survey on our website The full amount of the new State pension You can learn more about the current A reduction for being ‘contracted out’ also bbc.co.uk/mypension. will be at least £148.40 a week (this is an scheme here: www.gov.uk/mystatepension. exists in the current State pension scheme. If you would prefer a paper copy illustrative figure for 2014-2015). Not You also have the opportunity to ‘top please call us on 029 203 22811. All everyone will get the full amount – it will up’ your retirement income by between £1 Any questions survey questions are optional and your depend on your National Insurance record. answers are confidential. and £25 a week through the State pension If you have any further questions visit You could get less than the full amount The survey will remain open until Top Up scheme. You have an 18-month www.gov.uk or call your local Pension Centre. depending on the number of qualifying 30 June. We will publish the results in window to make a lump sum payment You can find your local Pension Centre’s years you have on your record and the types the October edition of Prospero. (between October 2015 and April 2017) and number at www.gov.uk/find-pension-centre. of contributions you have made. You could the scheme will give you guaranteed extra also get more than the full amount if you income for life. have built up a certain amount of additional Register your interest now by emailing State pension in the current scheme. Go online to find [email protected] Leslie Huss-Smickler The qualifying years you have from before to receive more information when the 6 April 2016 will be used to calculate your out more scheme opens. Or visit ‘starting amount’ in the new State pension has been elected as www.gov.uk/statepensiontopup scheme. This is the least amount you will There are lots of videos about pensions to find out more. at the Department for get provided you have at least 10 qualifying Pensioner Trustee Work and Pension’s years when you reach State pension age. You If you were born on or after new YouTube channel, Leslie Huss-Smickler has been elected 6 April 1953 (women) or on will be able to increase this amount if you PensionTube. Visit as the Pensioner Trustee for the period or after 6 April 1951 (men) get qualifying years after April 2016 up to www.youtube.com/ 6 February 2015 to 31 December 2019. You are part of the new State pension the full amount of the new State pension, or pensiontube scheme. The amount of State pension you up until you reach State pension age. Please send your editorial contributions, or comments/ feedback, to: Prospero, BBC Pension and Benefits Centre, Prospero is provided free of charge to retired BBC Broadcasting House, Cardiff CF5 2YQ. employees, or to their spouses and dependants. Email: [email protected] Prospero provides a source of news on former Please make sure that any digital pictures you send are colleagues, developments at the BBC and pension scanned at 300 dpi. issues, plus classified adverts. To advertise in Prospero, please see page 12. The next issue of Prospero will appear in June 2015. To view Ariel online, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/ariel. The copy deadline is Friday, 8 May 2015. PROSPERO APRIL 2015 03 Do you need a NAO: toughest BBC history under helping hand? years ahead the spotlight for DQF In February 2015, the Applications are invited for grants from the Grace The BBC has so far BBC’s official historian, Jean Seaton, published Pinkoes Wyndham Goldie (BBC) Trust Fund, which exists to exceeded its Delivering Quality First targets but and Traitors: the BBC and help those engaged in broadcasting or an associated it faces ‘significantly the Nation 1970-1987. activity, now or in the past, as well as their children greater challenges’ in the This study of a critical and turbulent and dependants. latter years of the savings period in the history of the BBC takes its title from one of the ‘Dear Bill’ programme, according to a letters in Private Eye, ostensibly written The Trustees, in their discretion, will gym membership, sky digital, high mobile National Audit Office report. by Margaret Thatcher’s husband, Denis, consider giving assistance towards telephone charges or non-essential car costs The public spending watchdog found and fulminating against the BBC as educational costs in small ways, such as then you will be expected to be able to pay that the BBC has made overall savings ‘that nest of Pinkoes and Traitors’. The travelling expenses, school outfits, books for these yourself. of £374m so far, exceeding its target phrase captures one of the many strands and additions to educational awards. Those wishing to apply this year should of £367m by 2013/14. Most of this of anti-BBC feeling at a time when the Other grants can be made in respect of a write for an application form to: was achieved by renegotiating existing corporation was under attack as specific short-term unexpected need, which BBC Pension and Benefits Centre contracts, limiting salary increases and a public service from across the is beyond the means of the beneficiary and Broadcasting House political spectrum. not covered by aid from other sources. Cardiff CF5 2YQ or visit the website reducing the number of more expensive The resource of the Fund is limited. So where you can download an application senior staff. Jean Seaton’s compelling account takes that help can be given where it is most form: www.bbc.co.uk/charityappeals/ The report concluded that this up the BBC story in 1974, at a time of needed, applicants must be prepared to give, about/grants/grace-wyndham-goldie. was good value for money and so national decline and disorder under the in confidence, full information about the Application forms should be returned no far has had only a limited impact on Labour governments of Harold Wilson circumstances supporting their applications. later than 31 July. audience perceptions. and James Callaghan. It culminates in It is important to recognise that the Fund Applicants are considered annually in But the NAO also concluded that 1987, during Thatcher’s energetic and has been established to act as a safety net and September and in no circumstances can future savings ‘involve more significant iconoclastic Conservative premiership, not to fund expensive lifestyle choices. If you continuing help over a number of years and potentially riskier changes to with the forced resignation of Alasdair therefore have expenses such as holidays, be promised. organisational structures and ways Milne as director-general, a convulsive of working’.