Category Archives: Articles and technical

Information on employee benefits related developments

19 December 13

Not an outcome I was expecting…

For a few days now, I have been expecting the DWP to announce their response to the recent Consultation on pension charges. Those that have been following this story will be aware that this response is pivotal for employers and the pensions … Continue reading →

Posted by at 1:16 PM in Articles and technical, Pensions, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
18 December 13

Auto-Enrolment Earnings Triggers for 2014/15

Yesterday the DWP issued recommendations for the pensions Auto-Enrolment (AE) earnings thresholds to be used in the next tax year. The proposed figures for 2014/15 are as follows: • £10,000 for the automatic enrolment earnings trigger • £5,772 for the … Continue reading →

Posted by at 5:43 AM in Articles and technical, Pensions, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
16 December 13

HWS, DWP & a Christmas edition of Call My Bluff

Much of the content of this blog arises directly, or otherwise, from Government initiatives and interventions in the world of employee benefits. I would be the first to admit that the topics covered are hardly Rock n’ Roll, but I … Continue reading →

Posted by at 7:34 AM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
13 December 13

Consultation Response: Tax exemption on health related interventions

HMRC published the formal response to the above consultation this week. So what new light does this provide on this particular topic, and the wider progress of the Sickness Absence Review (SAR)? Before proceeding further, it’s probably worth clarifying that reference below … Continue reading →

Posted by at 7:27 AM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Seminars and events, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
5 December 13

Autumn Statement (2): Tax Free Childcare & State Pension Age

Following on from my earlier post re the Autumn Statement today, a couple of other nuggets of information to those interested in the impact on the employee benefits landscape: 1) Tax Free Childcare: Although no new announcements on this … Continue reading →

Posted by at 3:58 PM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Pensions, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
5 December 13

Autumn Statement: £500 tax-break proposal

Just been digging my way through the Autumn Statement document that supports George Osborne’s speech today. And the first item that leaps out at me may well be some unexpectedly good news around the Sickness Absence Review proposals. Those who … Continue reading →

Posted by at 1:04 PM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
5 December 13

The Charges Cap: Think Again

As many followers of this blog will be aware, the recent consultation document issued by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) “Better workplace pensions: a consultation on charging” closed last week. We are now in the waiting period for … Continue reading →

Posted by at 9:35 AM in Articles and technical, Jelf in the news, Pensions, Seminars and events, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
27 November 13

Hard Times: A seasonal tip for employers…

One of this morning’s headline news stories was about personal debt levels in the UK. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25108891 According to The Money Advice Service, some 9 million Britons (18% of the population) consider that they have serious debt problems. And hand-in-hand with … Continue reading →

Posted by at 4:02 PM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
19 November 13

4 weeks or 6 weeks?

Some will recall that a number of technical changes were recently introduced for Pensions Auto Enrolment. The full list of the changes, many of which came into force in November 2013, can be found in my earlier post http://goo.gl/BsTUjc Most of these changes … Continue reading →

Posted by at 2:53 PM in Articles and technical, Pensions, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment
12 November 13

Officially unofficial

Last week I commented on a news story about the new Independent Assessment Service (IAS). For those that missed that post, it can be viewed here http://goo.gl/6GBa9l Following that post, I spent some time trying to find any formal confirmation of … Continue reading →

Posted by at 12:27 PM in Articles and technical, Group risk, Healthcare, Steve Herbert | Permalink | Leave a comment