---
title: "Pensions Insights: Key legal highlights & new guidance"
---

Read the latest from the legal experts at DWF. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser DWF Pensions Insights - March 2026   In our monthly e-alert, Pensions Insights, we give you our take on the latest highlights in the world of pensions law and policy.   If you have any queries about any of the issues covered, or you require advice on a pensions related matter, please do not hesitate to contact your usual contact or refer to our key contacts below. Sign up now to receive the next edition direct to your inbox Case Law   Vedius Pension Trust Determination Notice – vesting assets in Independent Trustee     TPR’s Determinations Panel has issued an order under section 9 of the Pensions Act 1995 to vest all assets of the Vedius Pension Trust in Vidett Governance Services Limited, the Independent Trustee appointed by TPR in April 2024.   The decision follows significant challenges encountered by the Independent Trustee in identifying and securing control of Scheme assets due to incomplete documentation, inconsistencies in investment records, and a lack of cooperation from the former trustee. With the Scheme’s remaining liquid assets reduced to around £40,000, the Panel concluded that obtaining a High Court vesting order would be disproportionately costly and that TPR’s intervention was necessary to protect members’ interests.   The Panel determined that vesting all Scheme property in the Independent Trustee was essential to enable effective administration and ensure clear legal ownership of assets, particularly where dealings with third parties such as custodians or the Land Registry are required.   TPR noted that, had the Determinations Panel made the original trustee appointment, a vesting order would typically have been issued at that time; issuing one now was therefore both appropriate and consistent with TPR’s statutory objectives.   New Law   National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill   It was announced in the Budget that the NICs exemption for salary-sacrificed pension contributions would be capped at £2,000 per annum from 6 April 2029. The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill implementing these changes is currently progressing through Parliament. As part of the consideration of the Bill in Parliament the House of Lords had voted to raise the proposed cap on salary sacrifice pension contributions to £5,000 and an amended version of the Bill has been published to reflect that change. However, the House of Commons overturned this amendment and an amendment to exclude basic rate tax payers from the cap. The Bill will now return to the House of Lords for further consideration.   Finance Act 2026   The Finance Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 18 March. The provisions of the Act mean that certain pensions and death benefits payable from pension schemes will be subject to Inheritance Tax with effect from 6 April 2027.   Pension Schemes Bill 2025   The Bill's third reading in the House of Lords took place on 26 March 2026.   News   PPF Levy Rules for 2026/27   The PPF has published the final levy rules for 2026/27 and accompanying policy statement which confirms the decision to set a zero levy for conventional DB schemes while maintaining a proportionate risk-based charge for Alternative Covenant Schemes for 2026/27.   NMPA Increase and Protected Pension Ages   HMRC has published Newsletter 178 which provides an update on the increase in normal minimum pension age from age 55 to age 57 from 6 April 2028 flagging that work on transitional regulations that will support the implementation of increase is ongoing.   This also includes a reminder of the rules governing when members may retain a protected pension age following a transfer to another pension scheme, and the circumstances in which this protection may be lost including on a transfer.   HMRC note that while the sharing of information between schemes, including information on protected pension age, remains the responsibility of individual schemes, it is helpful for members to be informed of any potential considerations associated with transferring their benefits.   It is also noted that where protected pension age details attached to previous transfers have not been shared with receiving schemes, consideration should also be given to sharing this information retrospectively to support schemes and members in holding accurate protected pension age information ahead of 6 April 2028.   Colin Greig   Partner   Get in touch June Crombie   Partner   Get in touch Marcus Fink   Partner   Get in touch Liz Ramsaran   Partner   Get in touch Update preferences Unsubscribe Only access by the addressee is authorised. Any liability (in negligence, contract or otherwise) arising from any third party taking any action, or refraining from taking any action on the basis of any of the information contained in this e-mail is hereby excluded. In the event that you are not the addressee, please notify the sender immediately. Do not discuss, disclose the contents to any person, or store or copy the information in any medium or use it for any purpose whatsoever. Copyright in this e-mail (and any attachments created by DWF Law LLP, belongs to DWF Law LLP which asserts the right to be identified as such and hereby objects to any misuse thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, DWF Law LLP does not accept service of documents by e-mail, and the use of e-mail does not imply that it is willing to do so, unless otherwise expressly agreed. DWF Law LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number OC423384) with its registered office at 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA. DWF Law LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as an Alternative Business Structure. Our professional code of conduct can be accessed at https://www.sra.org.uk DWF Law LLP is listed on the Financial Services Register as an Exempt Professional Firm, able to carry out certain insurance mediation activities (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). The term 'Partner' is used to refer to a Member of DWF Law LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification. A list of the Members of DWF Law LLP and of the Non-Members who are designated as Partners is open to inspection at our registered office, DWF Law LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester,Greater Manchester,M3 3AA,England. The recipient of this e-mail will, at all times, be dealing with DWF Law LLP unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to another DWF group entity unless it is clear from the context or specifically attributed to DWF in Ireland. |
| --- |