Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) pensions increase: FOI release

Information requested

1. Whether the Scottish Public Pensions Agency has fulfilled its commitment to uprating benefits by 10.1% this financial year through uprating the occupational pension by 5% and uprating the state pension by an addition 5% (on top of the already promised 10.1% uprating of the state pension from the UK Government).
2. If so, how many pensioners are affected by this formula for uprating pensions by 5% for occupational and an additional 5% for the state pension in this financial year.
3. The total cost to the Scottish Public Pensions Agency of uprating benefits in this way if it is the formula that has been used for increasing pensions this financial year.
4. How much the Scottish Public Pensions Agency spent on all pensions in 2022-23 (not including staff costs and other costs not associated with the direct pensions payments) and what the mean annual pay-out was to each pensioner.

Response

SPPA fulfilled its obligations to implement the Annual Pension Increase (API) of 10.1% in accordance with directions from HM Treasury and published on our website.

SPPA has no obligation with regard to State Pension or other occupational pension increases. Total pensions paid out in 22-23 equal £2,467m (this excludes lump sum payments). 10.1% API is forecast to be an increase of c. £249m in 2023-24.

Total value and volume of pensions paid in 2022-23 is shown by scheme in the below table.

	Number of Payments ('000)	Payments Value (£m)	Mean Annual (£'000)
NHS	1,547	1,083.61	8.40
Teachers	1,049	925.70	10.59
Police	233	362.82	18.66
Fire	78	94.97	14.53
	2,908	2,467.10	10.18

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