Category
Author: James Heppe-Smith
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McCloud and tax: refunds, charges, and what HMRC actually does
McCloud rollback can change your historic Annual Allowance and lump-sum tax position. Here is HMRC’s framework, the deadlines, and how the numbers settle.
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Remediable Service Statement: how to read your McCloud RSS
Your McCloud Remediable Service Statement explained in plain English: what each section means, the choice it sets up, and the live state of every scheme in 2026.
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Firefighters’ Pension: FPS 1992, 2006 & 2015 explained
What the Firefighters Pension Scheme actually delivers in 2026/27, the four schemes still running, the new five-tier contribution structure, the Sargeant and Matthews remedies, and what happens at retirement.
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Police Pension: PPS 1987, 2006 & 2015 explained (2026/27)
How the three police pension schemes (PPS 1987, 2006 and 2015) actually work in 2026/27, contribution rates, double accrual, McCloud, ill-health and injury benefits, and Scotland and NI variations, in plain English.
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Armed Forces Pension Scheme: AFPS 75, 05 & 15 explained
What the Armed Forces Pension Scheme actually delivers, the only public sector pension where you pay 0% in contributions. How AFPS 75, 05 and 15 fit together, the Early Departure Payment, the McCloud remedy delays,…
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LGPS guide: how the Local Government Pension Scheme works
What the Local Government Pension Scheme actually delivers in 2026/27, CARE accrual at 1/49, the 50/50 section, your pre-2014 final salary link, the McCloud underpin, and what pooling means for your money, in plain English.
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Teachers’ Pension Scheme: plain-English guide (2026/27)
What the Teachers’ Pension Scheme is actually worth in 2026/27, career average accrual at 1/57, the final salary sections you might still hold, McCloud, Phased Retirement, and the Capita-to-TCS handover, in plain English.
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Civil Service Pension: alpha, classic, premium & nuvos
A plain-English guide to the UK Civil Service Pension Scheme for 2026/27, alpha, classic, classic plus, premium and nuvos, plus Partnership, Effective Pension Age, McCloud, and the Annual Allowance trap.
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How UK public sector pensions actually work
How UK public sector pensions actually work, in plain English: defined benefit explained, the seven main schemes, CARE vs final salary, contributions, tax, and the McCloud Remedy. A primer for anyone in or joining the…
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NHS Pension Scheme: the plain-English guide
How the NHS Pension Scheme actually works in 2026/27: 1995, 2008 and 2015 sections, contributions, McCloud rollback, retirement options, plain English.