The NEU is aware that some schools in the independent sector use non-pensionable allowances (NPAs) to remunerate staff for areas such as boarding, sporting and library duties. The NEU view has always been that these allowances should be pensionable and has raised the matter with Teachers’ Pensions following a motion passed at NEU conference 2019.
Teachers’ Pensions has now clarified that if a school pays allowances to members of the scheme for additional responsibilities that are an integral part of their teaching role, the allowance is pensionable.
Examples of pensionable allowances include:
- pastoral care
- boarding or library duties
- various sports allowances.
One test to identify whether an allowance is pensionable is to ask whether the member of staff can refuse the work as part of their employment role. If the answer is ‘no’ it is likely to be pensionable. More information is available from the Teachers’ Pensions website.
