Pension Awareness Week

Pension Awareness Week takes place from 15 to 19 September 2025.  

The college works with the Money and Pensions Service within Money Helper - they have a dedicated section for pensions and retirement.  

They also offer:  

• Pension Advice - for anyone over the age of 50 years - they can book onto a Pension Wise appointment. This one-hour appointment will explain the options for taking money from your defined contribution pension, all you need is to have an up-to-date statement of your policy. This appointment is impartial and backed by government.
• Pension Calculator - this calculator will provide a forecast of the likely pension income you will get when you retire. Your forecast will include income from defined benefit and defined contribution pensions and state pension. It will provide target retirement income to aim for, considering your salary. When you get your results, you can alter your retirement age to see how that affects your income. You can also see how increased contributions or taking a smaller tax-free lump sum can affect your yearly pension.
• Money Mid Life MOT - for anyone over the age of 45 years - this tool will help you assess your current financial situation and help you plan for the future. Your personalised report will tell you what to prioritise and link to guidance on how to improve your financial wellbeing from midlife through to retirement. 

Scheme Benefits Seminar

This seminar is a detailed overview for future retirement planning, also suitable for members of the Final Salary Schemes before April 2015. This session will cover the use of Additional Voluntary Contributions and Additional Pension Contributions to boost pension savings, the different types of retirement, and will also cover what options are available if you leave the pension scheme before retirement.

Topics will include: 

• Scheme background and benefits
  
• Increasing and decreasing your contributions
• Leaving the scheme before retirement
• Types of retirement
• How your pension is calculated
• Survivor benefits
• My NILGOSC Pension Online
• Questions and answers

The session will take place on Friday 12 September 2025 at 10am to 11:30pm via MS teams.

This session is fully booked, however you may be able join to view the session. To register for the session, click here. 

Pay Attention To Your Pension 

The Money and Pensions service will be running a 'Pay Attention To Your Pension' session.

Are you under 40?  Do you think that retirement planning is something you will get around to in later life?  If so, this is the session for you.  Find out why it’s never too soon to start planning for your retirement and learn how it can make a real difference to your future.  In this interactive session, you will learn about the practical steps on what you need to do when it comes to pensions and why you need to pay attention to yours. 

When: Wednesday 17 September 2025, from 11am to 12pm via MS teams  To register for the event click here.