Number 71 - 23 February 2004

Deposit your PCA Allowance into the scheme as a ‘Voluntary contribution’

The Trustees have been advised by the New Zealand Fire Service that it is their intention to pay the PCA (Physical Competency Assessment) Annual Allowance to those who are entitled to it in the pay they will receive on 17 March for those who are paid fortnightly or on 20 March 2004 for those who are paid monthly.

The Fire Service has asked the Trustees of the scheme if they would be prepared to assist in encouraging scheme members to deposit this allowance into the scheme as a voluntary contribution.
The Trustees have agreed to take an active role in encouraging members to deposit their net PCA Allowance into the scheme as a voluntary contribution.

Enclosed with this Supernews is:

• A copy of an authority to be signed by the member if the PCA Allowance is to be deposited into the scheme
• A reply paid envelope to return the signed authority to the scheme Trustees.

Members are asked to consider depositing their net PCA Allowance into the scheme direct from the New Zealand Fire Service payroll system.
The Fire Service has advised the net amounts of the PCA Allowance that would be paid to the scheme and they are set out in the enclosed ‘Adjustment to Pay Deductions’ form.

Should it be your wish that the allowance is deposited to the New Zealand Fire Service Superannuation Scheme as a voluntary contribution you are required to complete and sign the enclosed ‘Adjustment to Pay Deductions’ form and return it in the enclosed reply paid envelope to reach the Trustees of the scheme no later than Friday 05 March 2004.

The time frame for the completion of the necessary administration pertaining to this matter is tight. Any ‘Adjustment to Pay Deductions’ forms received after 05 March 2004 will be destroyed.

Members are advised that any authority given to the Trustees of the scheme will apply to the payment of the Allowance in March 2004 only and will not apply to subsequent years.

Members are also advised that any authority given to Trustees of the scheme for the 2003 PCA payment to be deposited into the scheme cannot be utilised this year. A new pay deduction authority needs to be completed and sent to the Trustees.

Members are also advised that Fire Service Payroll are not permitted to deal with scheme members direct related to this matter as all changes to contributions to the scheme require written Trustee approval.

Members are further advised that voluntary contributions made to the scheme are not able to be withdrawn until the member becomes entitled to a benefit from the scheme.

Members who require further information are asked to contact the Secretary to the Trustees at any of the addresses set out below.

Transfers from other schemes

Members or potential members of this scheme who are also members of National Provident Funds are reminded that this scheme accepts transfers from any National Provident Fund scheme.

To finalise a transfer you are required to complete the necessary NPF ‘Election to Transfer to another Registered Scheme’ form and submit it to this scheme.

Once the transfer has been approved by the Trustees of this scheme and the National Provident Fund Board the funds will be forwarded to this scheme and added to your retirement accumulation as a voluntary contribution able to be accessed from the time you cease employment with the New Zealand Fire Service.

Any current or prospective member who wishes to know more about this should contact the Secretary to the Trustees at any of the addresses set out on the front page of this Supernews.

Transfers are also accepted from other registered Superannuation schemes by this scheme. Any member wishing to know more about this should also contact the Secretary to the Trustees.

Lost soul

If any member knows the present whereabouts of Peter Shaw, formerly of the Christchurch Brigade, could you please ask him to contact the scheme at any of the addresses set out on the front page of this Supernews. Thank you !

Unhappy ?

If you are unhappy with any aspect of the administration of your scheme the Trustees invite you to contact them in the first instance to ascertain if the matter can be resolved to your satisfaction. Obviously if the matter is still not resolved to your satisfaction you can take further action to finalise the matter.

Members are advised that the Trustees adopted a ‘Disputes Handling’ policy in December 1998 which sets out best practice in relation to disputes or complaints raised by members.

Any member requiring a copy of the policy should contact the Secretary to the Trustees, in the first instance, at any of the addresses set out on the front page of this Supernews.

Interim interest rate

Members are advised that subsequent to Supernews 70, dated 27 January 2004, the Trustees reviewed the interim interest rate and increased it from + 8.78 to + 11.30%.

The new interim interest rate applied from 21 January 2004.

Members are reminded that the interim interest rate is the interest rate that is paid to members who are closing their membership of the scheme during the financial year.

Members are further reminded that the interim interest rate is also included in member account balances provided on the scheme’s web viewer.

Get your Supernews quicker

If you wish to have your Supernews delivered to you individually by e-mail please supply your e-mail address to the Secretary to the Trustees at any of the addresses set out on the front page of this Supernews.
Given the pace of developing technology and the need to be able to keep in touch with members on a personal level as quickly as possible the Trustees wish to continue to offer this service to more members.
Members are reminded that Supernews is available on the scheme’s web site at:

www.firesuper.co.nz

within a few days of publication and posting to members.

A hard copy of Supernews will continue to be posted to all members and Stations irrespective of whether you request an electronic version of Supernews or not.
_________________________

BARRY DENT
SCHEME SECRETARY