National N.I. Database

The Dyfed Pension Fund participates in a data sharing arrangement with other LGPS Pension Funds in England, Wales and Scotland. This is undertaken in order to comply with legal requirements contained in the LGPS’s governing regulations.

Provisions contained in the LGPS Regulations 2013 mean that if a member of the LGPS dies, it is necessary for the Fund to know if the individual has other LGPS benefits elsewhere in the UK, so that the right death benefits can be calculated and paid to the deceased member’s dependants.

As the LGPS is locally administered, each Pension Fund has its own benefit records, therefore it can be difficult to identify if an individual has other LGPS records elsewhere. In order to comply with the requirements set out above, the National Database will enable Funds to check if their members have LGPS pensions records with other Pension Funds.

• What data is being shared?

  For each member of the LGPS (whether active, deferred or a pensioner), the Database contains an individual’s N.I. number, membership status, the last calendar year in which the membership status changed and a 4 digit number specific to the appropriate Pension Fund.

• Who is hosting the Database?

  The Database is hosted at the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, an LGPS Pension Fund.

• How will the data be processed?

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

• Is there another purpose to the Database?

  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 (TUO) service. TUO is a service offered in most parts of the UK when an individual registers a death.

  When the LGPS joins TUO 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 record(s) can be updated quicker.

• 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 TUO service, an extract of the Database containing individuals’ N.I. numbers will be securely shared with the DWP every month to maintain an up-to-date record of LGPS membership.

• How long will this exercise continue for?

  For as long as a) the relevant regulatory requirements remain, and b) the LGPS participates in the TUO 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 being undertaken to comply with a legal requirement, it is NOT possible for you to opt out of the data sharing.