Pensions - Gowling Wlg

Key points Most defined benefit pension schemes are funded through a combination of employer contributions and investment returns, although the requirement for member contributions is increasing Rules exist that seek to ensure that pension schemes will be able to afford to pay member benefits when they fall due Pension schemes have an ongoing "statutory funding objective" to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover their technical provisions (i.e. the actuarially-assessed value of each scheme's liabilities) Pension schemes must undergo an actuarial valuation every three years in accordance with section 224 of the Pensions Act 2004 Trustees must put in place various documents as part of an actuarial valuation, including a statement of funding principles (section 223 of the Pensions Act 2004), a recovery plan (section 226 of the Pensions Act 2004) and a schedule of contributions (section 227 of the Pensions Act 2004)