LGPS National Insurance Database

We wish to advise you that the Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund has entered into an Information Sharing Agreement which enables 101 'administering authorities' in England, Wales and Scotland to share specific information held on the Local Government Pension Scheme National Insurance Database with one another.

What data is shared?

For each member of the LGPS, the Database contains a short entry containing:

• The individual’s National Insurance Number,

• A number to denote the individual’s membership status,

• The last calendar year that the membership status changed, and

• A four digit number confirming the LGPS pension fund where that member’s record is held.

Who hosts the Database?

The Database is hosted at the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, an LGPS pension fund.

How is the data held on the Database processed?

The data held on the Database is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and other relevant legislation.

Are there any other purposes that the Database will be used for?

An extract of the membership information contained in the Database will periodically be shared with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) so that the LGPS can join the Tell Us Once service. Tell Us Once is a service offered in most parts of the country when an individual registers a death. When the LGPS joins Tell Us Once and the death of an LGPS member is registered, the DWP systems will ensure that the LGPS pension fund is informed of the death, meaning that the member’s records can be processed more quickly and simply than would otherwise be the case.

Who is the data shared with?

Other LGPS pension funds. These are all public bodies named in legislation as administering authorities of the LGPS.

For the Tell Us Once service, an extract of the Database containing individuals’ NI Numbers is securely shared with DWP every month so that they may maintain an up-to-date record of the LGPS’s membership.

How long will this data sharing be undertaken for?

For as long as

a) the relevant regulatory requirements remain, and

b) the LGPS participates in the Tell Us Once service.

In the event that neither of the above apply, the data sharing will cease to be undertaken.

Can I opt out of this data sharing?

No. As this data sharing is partly being undertaken to comply with a legal requirement, it is not possible for scheme members to opt out of the data sharing.

What do I do if I have any queries?

To find out more about this data sharing or if you have any questions, please contact us:

Telephone: 01628 796 668

e-mail: info@berkshirepensions.org.uk