Civil Service Pensions Podcast

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 wo...

“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 d...

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 co...

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,...

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...

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...

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’...

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 Su...

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 wo...

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 c...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 o...

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...

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...