Pensions

Welcome to the Pensions Tab of the National Federation’s Website 

If you are a member of the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers Pension & Life Assurance Scheme, I hope you find this Pension’s Tab informative and a resource for you to educate yourself on your pension fund.  You also have access to a full suite of Pension Scheme information including the following:

 

Introduction to Pension Scheme Benefits 

The National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers' Pension & Life Assurance Scheme is designed to provide benefits for you and your family, which are in addition to those provided by the State. As a member of the Scheme you and / or your family will be entitled to some or all of the following benefits:

  • A tax free lump sum.
  • A pension for life (also known as an Annuity) for you and possibly your dependant if you select this option at retirement.
  • An Approved Retirement Fund (ARF).
  • Taxable cash.
  • A lump sum on death in service.

 

A Brief Overview of the Scheme

The Pension Scheme is a Defined Contribution Scheme.  Your pension fund will be made up of:

  • Your pension contributions and any Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) you make;
  • Your employer's pension contributions;
  • Any investment growth (net of the Annual Management Charge and Total Expense Ratio). 

Your benefits at retirement will be based on the final value of your pension fund.

Your Employer currently pays 7% of your salary to the Scheme as follows: 

  • 6.35% is invested in your pension fund for your retirement.
  • The balance of 0.65% goes to cover the cost of your life cover and the running costs of the Scheme. 

You, the member, pays 5% of Salary, all of which is invested in your pension fund for your retirement.

The Normal Retirement Age (NRA) under the Scheme is your 65th birthday although early retirement is possible from age 50 onwards.  Working beyond age 65 needs to be agreed with your employer, but no further pension contributions will be paid and your life cover will also cease at age 65.

When you first join the Pension Scheme, your pension contributions will be invested in the Scheme's default investment strategy i.e., EMPOWER Personal Lifestyle Strategy (PLS).  Once your personal member record is set up in the Scheme, you will receive a ‘Welcome Pack’ from Irish Life.  You can then switch, if you wish, to any of the other investment funds available to Scheme Members using the Irish Life Member Portal, or by downloading an investment fund switch form

In the unfortunate event of your death before retirement there is a death benefit available to provide benefits, which comprises of a lump sum of three times your salary at date of death, plus the value of your pension fund.  Your Life Cover benefit is a separate policy to your pension fund.

 

Size of Pension Scheme

The National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers’ Pension & Life Assurance Scheme comprises of 25 participating employers; 8,285 members (5,655 Active members and 2,630 deferred members) and has a fund value under management in excess of €332m as at 31st December, 2023.   

 

Trustees

The Trustees of the National Federation's Pension & Life Assurance Scheme, whose role it is to protect your interests as a member of the Pension Scheme, are:

  • John McHugo (Chairman);
  • Pauline Brennan; 
  • Francis Coughlan;
  • Deirdre Herlihy; 
  • James Skehan (Professional Trustee and Vice Chairman).                                                  

For further information on the Trustees and their qualificiations please click here

 

Scheme Transfer to Irish Life Is Now Complete   

The Trustees reviewed the supply of Pension Administration, Investment & Consultancy Services to the Scheme which resulted in Irish Life being appointed as the Registered Administrator and Investment Manager for the Scheme, effective from 1st January, 2022.  The main purpose of this exercise was to comply with good governance and ensure members are receiving an excellent service and getting value for money for their investment.

Further information on the Scheme Transfer to Irish Life can be found here

Members no longer have to wait for their annual Pension Benefit Statement to find out the value of their pension fund, members now have immediate access to their Pension Fund by accessing their Irish Life online ‘Member Portal’, similiar to the way a member reviews their bank balance online.

The Member Portal allows you to:

  • Review your personal contact information, including adding your mobile number and updating your personal email address onto your record.
  • Check your current pension fund value which includes the transfer amount from New Ireland, if you previously contributed to the Scheme.
  • Review your investment choice.
  • Check out the projections tool which is a great help for targeting the income level you want to have at retirement.
  • Carry out an investment fund switch.
  • Update your beneficiary details in the event of your death.
  • View your Document Library which will in time contain all letters and correspondence sent to you.

To access your pension information online and at any time that suits you, you need to register for the online Member Portal.  If you have already given Irish Life your email address or mobile phone number, you can register now and get access to your online pension account.

If you have not already provided your personal details to Irish Life the above link will not work for you. To get access please email fedvol@irishlife.ie with the following details:

Your Name and address; Employer Name; Date of Birth; mobile number and your personal email address and ask Irish Life to provide you with a link to access your pension member portal.

Please also watch the Member Portal Video, which outlines how you can register for the Member Portal and the steps involved.

Once you have registered for the Member Portal, as outlined above, you can then download the “Irish Life EMPOWER” app on your mobile phone.  iPhone users can go to the Apple Store to download the app.  Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store.

 

Further Information

If you would like further information on our Pension Scheme, choice of investment funds, retirement options etc., please click Pension Booklets & Forms tab for our full range of Scheme booklets.

If you have any further queries on any aspect of our Pension & Life Assurance Scheme, please contact Maria McMahon, Pension Scheme Manager, National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers’ Pension & Life Assurance Scheme, Oranmore Business Park, Galway.  Tel: 091-792316 or email pensionadmin@fedvol.ie

If you wish to discuss your pension fund, please engage with your Irish Life’s Advice Team Point of Contact for your organisation.

It is highly recommended that, especially during the final 6 years prior to your retirement date, you engage with your Irish Life Advice Team contact to understand the different ways you can draw down your pension fund on retirement.  This is a big decision and should be discussed well in advance of your retirement date.  You can, if you wish, also seek your own independent financial advice.

You can contact Irish LIfe by:

  • emailing fedvol@irishlife.ie or
  • Telephone 01-8563753 between 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm any working day.
© 2024 National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers
  • Oranmore Business Park Oranmore Galway Ireland.
  • Phone: +353 91 792316
  • Fax:
  • Email: info@fedvol.ie
Website Last Updated: 12/03/2024 Web Design by Webtrade

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