Rocksteady
Registered User
- Messages
- 12
I worked in the Public service from 2008 to mid 2011 and contributed to the Pension scheme. Then of course the Pension Related Deduction was introduced when the economy hit the skids and I paid that as well.
In mid 2011 I moved jobs. Technically the job is still under the umbrella of the Public service but enjoys little of its benefits. In particular, I am not entitled to the Pension scheme. I was aware of this before moving. However, I was not aware that although I could no longer contribute to the scheme I would still have to pay the PRD. For the last two years I have been paying around 260 euro every month for the PRD. I have queried this with the Pension Department for my umbrella institute, the Dept of Education (who ignored me for a year) and the Dept of Finance.
It was explained to me that anybody working for the Public service (which technically I am) and who stands to benefit from a public service pension (technically I am) pays the levy. I understand this even though I think it is unfair. My main problem is two-fold.
1 - My 'benefit' under the pension scheme is very small. It is based on about 3 years service. Frankly, it will be dwarfed by paying €260 every month for potentially the rest of my career. In other words, being a 'member' of this scheme is going to cost me infinitely more than I'll ever get from it.
2 - If I wasn't working under the umbrella of the public service, i.e. if I was working in the Private sector, I'd be able to 'enjoy' this paltry benefit without paying the levy. It seems rather discriminatory this way.
I explained all this to the Dept. of Finance to no avail. As I am on a five year contract, they say that upon completion of the contract (3 years from now) I will return to my pensionable post and be able to contribute to the scheme again and build up the benefit. Even if this is true, it still seems unfair. As it is, it's an unlikely scenario. At the end of the five years I will have to reinterview for my post and frankly there would be little chance of me not getting it. If I didn't get it, I don't see myself returning to my old Public service job anyway.
Basically, I'm in a situation where I'm paying a very high levy for something I don't get and is of no practical 'benefit' to me at all. As it stands, the legislation is being applied correctly to me but seems grossly unfair. What I'd like to do is actually challenge the legislation in some way rather than just have these offices explain to me that it being applied correctly. But I have no idea how to do that. Can anyone suggest anything to me or comment otherwise on the situation?
I am of course happy to have a job in these difficult times but this doesn't seem right. Many thanks.
In mid 2011 I moved jobs. Technically the job is still under the umbrella of the Public service but enjoys little of its benefits. In particular, I am not entitled to the Pension scheme. I was aware of this before moving. However, I was not aware that although I could no longer contribute to the scheme I would still have to pay the PRD. For the last two years I have been paying around 260 euro every month for the PRD. I have queried this with the Pension Department for my umbrella institute, the Dept of Education (who ignored me for a year) and the Dept of Finance.
It was explained to me that anybody working for the Public service (which technically I am) and who stands to benefit from a public service pension (technically I am) pays the levy. I understand this even though I think it is unfair. My main problem is two-fold.
1 - My 'benefit' under the pension scheme is very small. It is based on about 3 years service. Frankly, it will be dwarfed by paying €260 every month for potentially the rest of my career. In other words, being a 'member' of this scheme is going to cost me infinitely more than I'll ever get from it.
2 - If I wasn't working under the umbrella of the public service, i.e. if I was working in the Private sector, I'd be able to 'enjoy' this paltry benefit without paying the levy. It seems rather discriminatory this way.
I explained all this to the Dept. of Finance to no avail. As I am on a five year contract, they say that upon completion of the contract (3 years from now) I will return to my pensionable post and be able to contribute to the scheme again and build up the benefit. Even if this is true, it still seems unfair. As it is, it's an unlikely scenario. At the end of the five years I will have to reinterview for my post and frankly there would be little chance of me not getting it. If I didn't get it, I don't see myself returning to my old Public service job anyway.
Basically, I'm in a situation where I'm paying a very high levy for something I don't get and is of no practical 'benefit' to me at all. As it stands, the legislation is being applied correctly to me but seems grossly unfair. What I'd like to do is actually challenge the legislation in some way rather than just have these offices explain to me that it being applied correctly. But I have no idea how to do that. Can anyone suggest anything to me or comment otherwise on the situation?
I am of course happy to have a job in these difficult times but this doesn't seem right. Many thanks.