Related provisions for ICOBS 6.4.6
When a firm compares the benefits likely to be paid under a defined benefits pension scheme or other pension scheme with safeguarded benefits5with the benefits afforded by a personal pension scheme, 5stakeholder pension scheme or other pension scheme with flexible benefits5 (COBS 19.1.2R (1)), it must:
5- (1)
assume that:
(a) the annuity interest rate is the intermediate rate of return appropriate for a level or fixed rate of increase annuity in 2COBS 13 Annex 2 3.1R(6)2 unless COBS 19.1.4B R applies3 or the rate for annuities in payment (if less);3
444 2.5%
(c) the average earnings index and the rate for section 21 orders is
4.0%
(d) for benefits linked to the RPI,4 the pre-retirement limited price indexation revaluation is
2.5%
(e) the annuity interest4 rate for3 post-retirement limited price indexation based on the RPI4 with maximum pension4 increases less than or equal to 3.5% or with minimum pension4 increases more than or equal to 3.5% is the rate in (a) above allowing for increases at the maximum rate of pension increase4; otherwise it is the rate in (f) below;3
433 (f) the index linked annuity interest4 rate for pension benefits linked to the RPI4 is the intermediate rate of return in 2COBS 13 Annex 2 3.1 R (6)2 for annuities linked to the RPI4 unless COBS 19.1.4B R applies;3
44(g) the mortality rate used to determine the annuity is based on the year of birth rate derived from each of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Continuous Mortality Investigation tables PMA086 and PFA086 and including mortality improvements derived from each of the male and female annual mortality projections models, in equal parts;3
4(h) for benefits linked to the CPI, the pre-retirement limited price indexation revaluation is
2.0%
4(i) the index linked annuity interest rate for pension benefits linked to the CPI is the intermediate rate of return in COBS 13 Annex 2 3.1R(6) for annuities linked to the RPI plus 0.5% unless COBS 19.1.4B R applies in which case it is the annuity rate in COBS 19.1.4B R plus 0.5%;
4(j) the annuity interest rate for post-retirement limited price indexation based on the CPI with maximum pension increases less than or equal to 3.0% or with minimum pension increases more than or equal to 3.5% is the rate in (a) above allowing for increases at the maximum rate of pension increase; where minimum pension increases are more than or equal to 3% but less than 3.5% the annuity rate is the rate in (a) above allowing for increases at the minimum rate of pension increase otherwise it is the rate in (i) above;
or use more cautious assumptions;
- (2)
calculate the interest rate in deferment; and
- (3)
have regard to benefits which commence at difference times.