Leaving Service and Fund Membership

These provisions apply when you're leaving the industry entirely. To continue paying into TBF, you would need to pay by Standing Order. 

1. If you already contribute via Standing Order, please let us know of your employment change so we can update your record. 
2. If you currently pay through your wages, you will need to contact us to inform us of your employment change and we will send you details to set up your Standing Order to pay monthly. 

If you are simply transferring to another company, please let us know and we will get you signed back up for your contributions to continue, unless TUPE’d they will not automatically carry over to a new employer. If contributions stop in such cases, your membership will cease. In most cases, we would hope to be able to get your deductions set back up through your wages, if not, we will send you Standing Order details. 

Important Notes

• We are unable to contact every member individually when they leave employment, but we’re happy to respond quickly to any queries.
• Contributions cannot usually be restarted more than six months after leaving, unless you re-enter the Public transport industry.

At the discretion of the Trustees, you may retain beneficiary rights for 12 weeks after leaving service — regardless of your age or length of membership.

A fund member will be considered for free fund membership regardless of whether they contributed personally or an employer paid on their behalf.

Free Fund Membership is a valuable concession offered to eligible members under specific circumstances. It may be awarded to:

• Members who have contributed to the fund for a considerable period, or
• Members with a shorter membership period who are permanently unable to work due to incapacity.

When granted, free fund membership replaces regular fund membership, allowing the individual to retain access to benefits without needing to continue contributions 

 Check https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age/y/ageto confirm your State retirement age.

1. With at least 5 years' membership: may be awarded free fund membership.
2. With less than 5 years' membership: membership ceases.

• With at least 25 years’ membership: may be awarded free fund membership on verification that they are not remuneratively engaged and do not intend to resume remunerative work.
• With less than 25 years’ membership: Does not automatically Qualify – must continue contributing until State retirement age (or until they have paid 25 years’ contributions if this      would be achieved earlier) and on verification that they are not remuneratively engaged and do not intend to resume remunerative work.
• If a member is otherwise eligible for free fund membership but is currently working or intends to return to work, the award may be deferred. In these cases, free fund membership can be granted at a later date, once the individual declares that they are:
  • Not currently in paid (remunerative) work, and
  • Do not intend to return to paid employment.
  • Where they do not have sufficient membership to meet 2a, 2b or 2c and do not continue contributing in order to qualify under these: membership ceases.

This ensures that the benefit is reserved for those who are fully retired or permanently unable to resume work.

Free Fund Membership may be awarded to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• They were a contributing fund member for at least five years, and
• Their employment was within the public transport services, and
• The Trustees are satisfied — following any necessary enquiries — that they are (or have been) eligible for a State benefit that, in the Trustees' opinion, indicates inability to undertake any paid work.

Additional Conditions

• Continuous Benefit Receipt
  The relevant State benefit must have been received continuously since the member’s service ended on medical grounds. This is subject to any official waiting periods required by law or the benefit authority.

• Beyond State Retirement Age
  If the individual is beyond State Pension age, they must show that the above condition (continuous receipt of benefit) was met up to retirement age

The dependants of a fund member who passes away may remain eligible for continued support, in accordance with the provisions of the TBF Constitution, provided they meet certain criteria.

Who Qualifies?

A dependant may continue to receive consideration if they were dependent on:

• A person who had been awarded Free Fund Membership under Sections 1, 2, or 3 (including where that membership had been suspended under Section 2), or
• A contributing fund member who was still actively contributing at the time of death and had contributed for at least five years.

Short-Term Support

Even if a dependant does not meet the above criteria, the Trustees may still choose to offer short-term relief, such as:

• Convalescence
• Other forms of temporary assistance
• 
  

This is at the discretion of the Trustees and intended to offer support during difficult times.