How to get involved
Step one: The application form
Once your pension scheme has decided to join the Combined Pension Forecasting (CPF) service, the first step is to complete an application form
If you have any queries regarding the application form please contact a Customer Account Manager
Please note: Combined Pension Forecasting is a voluntary service and the information contained in the application form is not binding.
Step two: The registration agreement
Once we have received your application form we will look at the information you have provided and send your Pension Manager a registration agreement, telling them what happens next.
Please note: This agreement is not binding and you can change the dates on the form by discussing them with the Combined Pension Forecasting team at any time.
Step three: The data test
After the employer has agreed the registration agreement they will need to send us a small sample of mock data in the appropriate format for compatibility checks. This test run will ensure that the employer is able to convert their data to the correct format and can read the file when it is returned to them.
Our request file generator can help to create the data file in the appropriate format.
Find out more about the data test in the 'Combined Pension Forecasts – technical guide'
Step four: Getting employees’ consent
Employers need to let their employees know that they intend to take part in the Combined Pension Forecasting (CPF) service and give them the chance to opt-out or opt-in. The Combined Pension Forecasting team will provide the consent letter wording to go out to employees. These letters can be issued either directly, with pay statements or with other official correspondence.
The employers will need to keep a record of who has chosen to opt-out or opt-in and ensure that the details of employees who have opted out are not passed on.
Step five: Exchanging the data and issuing Combined Pension Forecasts
The next step is to send in the personal details of those employees who are happy to receive a Combined Pension Forecast. We will then work out each individual’s State Pensions estimate, based on their National Insurance (NI) payment records and a projected figure assuming similar NI contribution rates up to State Retirement age, and send this information back to the employer.
Employers can request for the forecasts to be presented as weekly, four-weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly amounts, to fit in with their own pension statements.
They then issue their statements as normal but also including the State Pension information provided by the Combined Pension Forecast, which can be merged into their statement format as a separate section or included as a separate sheet. In certain circumstances it can also be added to online statements.
Our reply file generator instructions will help you to convert files into Microsoft Excel and our mail merge instructions will help you merge the State Pension data into the statements.
You can also download a sample of a Combined Pension Forecast – [PDF file size 27kb]