2. You will get tax relief on your contributions if you pay tax.

3. In most cases, you will pay less National Insurance contributions.

4. If you were a member of the pension scheme before 1^st April 2008, when you retire, you will receive an automatic tax free lump sum which will be a portion of your final pay. The longer you’ve been a member, the bigger the portion.

5. If you joined the Scheme on or after 1^st April 2008, when you retire, you can convert some of your annual pension to make a tax free lump sum.

6. The Scheme offers the scope to retire and draw your benefits as young as 55 (or for members of the Scheme before 1^st April 2008, as young as age 50 if you reach your 50^th birthday by 31^st March 2010) with your employers consent. When you reach the age of 60 you can retire when you choose. If you retire before the age of 65, there may be a reduction in your benefits. In cases of ill health, there is no age limit at all and no reduction. See the "When Can I Retire?" section for more details.

7. If you die we will pay a lump sum:

• If you die before you retire, we will pay out a lump sum equal to three years' final pay, and you have this cover from the moment you join.
• If you die before you have drawn ten years' pension and are under age 75 at date of death, we will pay what's left as a lump sum. We will base the ten years' pension on your pension before any reductions.
• If you leave the scheme and leave deferred benefits with us, we will pay five times the annual pension as a death grant.

8. If you leave your employer and become a deferred member, we will increase your deferred benefits each year in line with inflation.

9. If you want to provide your family with more protection and secure yourself a more comfortable retirement, you can pay extra to top up your benefits. See the "Buying Extra Benefits" section for more details.

10. You can transfer previous pension benefits, for example from a company or personal pension scheme as long as it satisfies our scheme rules.

Becoming a member is easy, complete the "opt-in form" and return to YOUR EMPLOYER.