‘Collective’ defined contribution pension have been widely touted as a potential saviour of more secure income at a time when final salary pensions are in decline.
Under the CDC model, contributions are not retained in an individual fund for each member but are pooled.
When a member retires the income is paid from the asset pool rather than through the selection of an individual retirement income product.
Ministers believe that pooling money in this way will help increase the retirement incomes of some workers up to 30 per cent.
Legislation will now be brought forward to enable “new, internationally-renowned” models of pension scheme to be brought to the UK market, after responses “showed a broad consensus of backing from business, trades unions and individuals”.
The purpose of the new legislation will be to enable employers to develop shared risk – or defined ambition – schemes which offer more certain outcomes for their workers, while still keeping costs under control, the government said.
In November the government published its consultation paper on so-called ‘defined ambition’ pension schemes that it believes can rescue the ‘defined benefit’ model by sharing risk between employers and savers, and offering greater flexibility.
In its official response published today (26 June), the Department for Work and Pensions outlined the feedback received for the proposals.
New research has shown 28 per cent of employers may be interested in greater risk sharing with their employees, the DWP said.
It also demonstrated a “clear preference” among individuals for greater certainty over their finances.
As such, the response document commits to enable these ‘defined ambition’ schemes to be developed, and a Bill will go before Parliament today.
The DWP said “many employers” have expressed an interest in taking forward these new models of pension schemes, “once it becomes legally possible”.
However, CDC pensions have been widely criticised by industry experts with pensions expert Ros Altmann stating while there is a place for such pensions in the market, the government should not “over-hype” the benefits of the plans.
She said the advantages are employers pay fixed levels of contributions, typically around 10 to 12 per cent of the employee’s salary, and are in return offered a ‘target’ level of pension related to average salary, as well as the chance to to protect against inflation.
Ms Altmann added there is no balance sheet risk to employers, there is less risk for employers and members than pure DC, and pooling investments allows lower management costs and higher pension fund.
