Pensions sharing on divorce

Pension sharing could apply to any divorce where proceedings commenced on or after 1 December 2000.

Pension sharing isn't compulsory. Like offsetting it offers a clean break solution. It's generally the preferred option for clients who have insufficient assets to offset their pension or have other assets they want to keep. The main difference between earmarking and sharing is that there is a legal transfer of ownership under pension sharing.

In England & Wales all pension assets belonging to the couple are taken into account on divorce. In Scotland, only pension assets built up during the period of marriage/civil partnership are considered.

After the sharing order comes into effect, the receiving spouse/civil partner of the member owns the pension in their own right and can manage it as they wish. The member's ex-spouse's/civil partner's 'share' of the pension is called a pension credit. The reduction in the member's pension because of the pension share is called a pension debit.

In England and Wales pension sharing can only take place by court order. In Scotland pension sharing can be activated by court order or settlements can be reached by negotiations between the opposing solicitors; this will be contained in a 'qualifying agreement' rather than a court order.

The amount of pension to be transferred should be expressed as a percentage of the cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) and not as a specific lump sum (except in Scotland). This causes some practical problems, as the CETV can change quite significantly during the time that the divorce is being finalised, particularly if the stock market is going through a volatile period. The actual amount of the pension credit will not be known until the court order is finalised.

What pension scheme assets can be shared?

Pension sharing doesn't apply to all pension schemes. The table below gives details of what pension scheme assets can and cannot be shared:

How a pension sharing order works

The trustees of the member's pension arrangement are responsible for implementing a pension sharing order, although in practice this duty will usually fall to the scheme administrator.

In order to implement a pension sharing order the administrator may require information from the trustees of the pension arrangement, the member and the member's ex-spouse/civil partner as well as the court.

Following implementation of the order the member's ex-spouse/civil partner will receive a pension credit which may be held within the existing pension arrangement or transferred to another pension arrangement. The member's pension receives a corresponding pension debit.

Pension sharing process 

Both parties to the divorce are required to get valuations of their pension benefits. These are then used to agree whether a split is needed and if so, what that split will be. This information is required before the divorce hearing. It is important that the scheme/provider is made aware that the information is required for a divorce.

It’s worth noting and making your client aware that as the split is a percentage of the value of the plan, the amount is not guaranteed. This is because the unit price of the funds will change between the original valuation to agree the split and when the benefits are actually shared after the divorce is finalised the figure will change. This is not a mistake. The rules in Scotland are different as it is monetary amount that is agreed and not a percentage.

The pension sharing order may be implemented on any day, chosen by the trustees, within what’s known as the implementation period. The implementation period runs for 4 months from the date of the pension sharing order or the date the trustees have all the information they need if later. The scheme administrator chooses the valuation date within the implementation period on which to calculate the actual share of the pension rights. The benefits must then be transferred before the end of the implementation period.

Extension of the implementation period

In certain circumstances the trustees of an occupational pension scheme can request that the implementation period be extended beyond 4 months, in order to allow them to deal with issues which affect the scheme as a whole.

The main examples of this are where a defined benefit scheme is in wind-up or where assets under a self-invested arrangement must be sold to effect the order and the trustees believe that market conditions are unsuitable to do this.

The reason for this is to ensure that none of the other scheme members are unfairly affected by the implementation of a pension share for one of their colleagues.

State pensions

If the individual reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 their Additional State Pension could be shared. This is the amount paid on top of any basic State Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit and is based on their earnings. 

If they get to State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 and their divorce or dissolution proceedings started on or after 6 April 2016, then their protected payment could be shared. Their protected payment is the amount paid on top of the standard weekly rate of the new State Pension. 

If the starting amount is more than the full new State Pension, the part of the starting amount that is above the full new State Pension is called the 'protected payment'. 

To help with the change between the old State Pension and the new State Pension, there are some temporary rules. These rules mean that if they reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 but their divorce proceedings started before that date, the Additional State Pension amount will be shared.

To apply for a valuation of state pension DWP form BR2ONSP should be completed

Options for the pension credit

Scheme membership

Trustees of unfunded arrangements are likely to offer scheme membership to their members' ex-spouse/civil partner. The member's ex-spouse/civil partner must be given fair value for the pension credit; however they do not have to be given the same benefit structure as other scheme members.

External transfer

Trustees of funded occupational pension schemes are more likely to offer an external transfer. This may be paid to any approved pension arrangement, including a personal or stakeholder pension or another employer's scheme.

Any advice regarding the most suitable receiving vehicle must of course be given by a qualified financial adviser.

Special situations

The pension credit from some pension arrangements must be treated in a specific way.

If the transferring plan is a pension in payment, annuity or scheme pension, it will be unwound and recalculated with the pension credit being split out as a cash equivalent value. This credit will be treated as uncrystallised and can be paid to another registered pension scheme. There is no requirement to purchase an annuity. If it is in drawdown, the split will just be applied to the drawdown fund.

The pension credit above is called a disqualifying pension credit because it will not be possible to pay out tax-free cash when the member's ex-spouse/civil partner chooses to retire since it has already been paid to the member.