SPRING 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of Pension Update, the newsletter of the TotalEnergies UK Pension Plan (the Plan).
In this edition, we have lots of updates to share with you about the Plan and the broader pensions landscape.
You can also read about how to make the most of your benefit statement and we explain what it means to consolidate your pensions.
We also offer help if you need it and encourage you to respond to our details checks campaign.
This newsletter also includes articles on:
You can also test your pension knowledge with our five-minute quiz.
I encourage you to use our online services to manage your TotalEnergies pension. Don't forget to check out the Gallagher Guide app too. Access details are at the end of the newsletter.
Rob White
Chair of TotalEnergies Pension Trustee UK Limited
In the coming weeks, we will be reaching out to confirm your personal details.
By confirming that our records are accurate, you can:
Your benefit statement is an annual summary of your Pension Account within the Plan. It is a good opportunity to see whether you are on track for retirement, and take any action if needed.
Check that your home address and personal email address details are up-to-date by contacting Gallagher, the Plan Administrator, using the details at the end of the newsletter.
Remember, your pension statement is a summary of one specific year. Pensions are long-term investments, which change in value on a regular basis. Make sure you consider any investment decisions carefully, and try not to let short-term market changes influence your long-term plans.
Your benefit statement includes:
Your next benefit statement will be ready for you to view this summer, so look out for further communications.
Having an up-to-date Will is just one of the ways that you can be sure that people and causes you care about are looked after in the future.
A Will lets you choose where your money, assets and property should go to when you die.
The Free Wills month campaign works with a group of charities to give people aged 55 and over the chance to have their Wills drafted or updated at no cost by solicitors across the UK. Visit the Free Wills month website for more information.
The Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) is the earliest age most people can start withdrawing from their personal and workplace pensions.
It is currently age 55 but will increase to 57 from 6 April 2028.
Have you ever thought about how you and your family would manage your financial and medical affairs if you could not carry out everyday tasks for yourself? It is a good idea to plan ahead for a time when you might not be physically or mentally able to manage your own finances, including your pension.
A power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone to make decisions for you, or to act on your behalf if you are no longer able to manage your own affairs.
There are two different types of power of attorney:
You can only set up a power of attorney while you still have mental capacity to delegate, and they only come into effect if you are ever unable to carry out these tasks, so it’s good to plan ahead.
For more information about power of attorney, visit the Age UK website.
This is a broad term referring to legal documents that grant someone the authority to act on your behalf. There are different types of power of attorney, including the 'general' power of attorney, which is typically used for a specific period and can come into effect before you lose mental capacity.
When setting up an LPA, you can specify that someone can help you straight away or that the power will only come into force if you lose capacity, for example if you are diagnosed with dementia. In that case, you would continue to operate your financial affairs as usual, and the power of attorney would only come into effect if you received a diagnosis.
An LPA can cover decisions about your financial affairs. Find out more about how to set up an LPA or seek advice from a solicitor.
Consolidating your pensions means that you are combining together pension pots from elsewhere.
To consolidate your pensions, you need to complete a ‘transfer’ to move money from one provider to another.
It is important to consider any consolidation carefully, to avoid charges or scams, and make sure you are choosing a provider which is right for you.
The benefits |
What to watch out for |
It might be easier to manage all of your savings in once place, including monitoring your investments, budgeting and documents. |
If you receive contributions from your employer, you would miss out on valuable money being paid into your pot by transferring your savings elsewhere. |
You might be able to reduce the amount you pay in charges, such as the Annual Management Charge (AMC), which can change depending on your scheme. |
Some companies use marketing to encourage you to consolidate, when it might not be the best option for you. These are sometimes scams. |
To explore your options, start by listing the pensions you have got.
Providers will usually send you a pension statement each year. However, if you have moved home a few times, you may have lost track of a couple of pots. To help locate your ‘old’ pension pots, you can use the Government’s Pension Tracing Service.
Remember, you can only transfer another pot into the Plan if you’re an active member.
Here’s an example of what you might compare between two pension providers:
Pension provider A |
Pension provider B |
Bear in mind |
|
Contributions |
You might receive extra contributions if provider A is linked to your employer. |
You will not receive contributions from a different provider if they are not your employer. |
You might miss out on valuable money going into your pot if you transfer to a different provider. |
Charges and fees |
Annual Management Charge between 0.50%-0.95%. |
Annual account fee of 0.30% (or a minimum of £5 per month) plus ongoing investment charges up to 0.24%. |
Check the detail – not all providers charge in the same way. Remember that you might also face a ‘transaction charge’ for transferring your pot, which could outweigh any gains you predict. |
Investment options |
Offers a range of plans tailored to different saving needs, including socially responsible options like Climate and Shariah plans. |
A selection of investment funds designed to match various risk appetites and retirement goals. |
Although worded differently, unless you check the detail of each investment fund, you don’t know how different these providers are. |
Flexibility and access |
Allows free and flexible contributions and hassle-free withdrawals from age 55 with no forms to fill out. You can manage your pension online 24/7 through the app or website. |
Offers flexible access options, including drawdown and lump-sum withdrawals, with the first 25% being tax-free. There are no charges for pension transfers, top-ups, or drawdowns. |
Check what each provider must give you – sometimes, it isn’t a unique selling point. In this example, all pension providers have to allow you to access your pension from age 55 (rising to 57 in April 2028), and offer a 25% tax-free lump sum by law. |
Whatever you decide, make sure you keep your retirement goals in mind. It is important to get financial advice if you can. Remember, the Plan Trustee and Administrator cannot give you financial advice.
We all need a helping hand from time to time. Gallagher, the Plan Administrator, is available to answer your questions and give you more information about the Plan.
You can also find additional support outside of the Plan to help you with your pension and finances.
Find out more about pension scams, including how to avoid them and which firms are regulated.
TPR may intervene in the running of pension schemes where trustees, managers, employers or professional advisers have failed in their duties.
Find out how much State Pension you could receive, when you could get it and how to increase it, if you can
The DWP is responsible for the UK's welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policies. It is the largest public service department in the UK.
This is to help with financial planning, health guidance, and to assess what your skills mean for your career and future.
TPO deals with complaints and disputes that concern the administration and management of occupational and personal pension schemes.
Now it’s time to grab a hot drink and test your pensions knowledge with our five-minute quiz:
a. Direct Contribution
b. Defined Contribution
c. Dynamic Contribution
d. Deferred Contribution
a. 26
b. 42
c. 55
d. 57
a. 37
b. 57
c. 48
d. 55
a. Summary statement
b. Annual benefit statement
c. Total pension statement
d. Rewards summary
a. The Pension Tracing Service
b. The Pensions Regulator
c. The Financial Conduct Authority
d. The Pensions Ombudsman
If you’d like to speak to someone about your Plan benefits, you should contact Gallagher, the Plan Administrator.
Gallagher (Bristol)
PO Box 319
Mitcheldean
GL14 9BF
TEpensionsadmin@ajg.com – please use this new email address going forward. If you have used totalenergies@buck.com to contact Gallagher recently, your query will still be picked up. The old email address will stay open this year to make sure nothing is missed.
To read general information about the Plan, go to our website.
Visit the Member Portal to view or update your specific information.
Remember our app, ‘Gallagher Guide’, where you can also view your personal details. Go to your app store and search for ‘Gallagher Guide’ to get started. Your registration details will be the same as the Member Portal.
MoneyHelper is a free service from the Government. Its website has information and guidance about a range of money matters, including pensions and retirement.
If you’ve lost touch with a pension you had in the past, the Pension Tracing Service may be able to help.