Inherited staff liabilities
Inherited staff liabilities are certain staff-related commitments of previously local authority maintained universities and colleges of higher education. These liabilities were transferred from the local authority to higher education institutions (HEIs) on incorporation. Consequently, acts of parliament in 1988 and 1992 empowered first the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC), and then HEFCE, to reimburse certain institutions and local education authorities for staff-related liabilities.
The liabilities for which we may provide reimbursement fall into three main categories:
- early retirement or redundancy compensation payments
- protection of salary
- pension increases under local government superannuation schemes for former non-teaching staff in institutions formerly funded by the PCFC.
Annual outturn statement 2011-12
The annual outturn statement for 2011-12 is due for completion online by Friday 29 June 2012.
Guidance for completion is available below.
Guidance for completion of 2011-12 Staff Related Inherited Liabilities return
[ Download Guidance for completion of 2011-12 Staff Related Inherited Liabilities return as Adobe PDF 583K | Download Guidance for completion of 2011-12 Staff Related Inherited Liabilities return as MS Word 763K ]
Access keys for the system will be sent out by Friday 24 February 2012. For further information, contact Donna Iafrati at HEFCE, e-mail d.iafrati@hefce.ac.uk, tel 0117 931 7357.
2009 outcome of the review and consultation
The review and consultation of the Staff Related Inherited Liabilities was carried out between 2007 and 2009. HEFCE wished to address all parties needs without over burdening those involved in the claiming and reimbursement process. It was decided that the focus would be on reducing the administration process whilst ensuring that we have adequate assurance over the scheme. To meet these requirements an online system has been developed for the submission of annual outturn statements.
2008 Consultation
Following a review of our staff-related inherited liabilities scheme in 2007, we consulted those local authorities, pension authorities, and HEIs that are in receipt of these funds on possible changes to HEFCE's policy of reimbursing inherited staff liabilities. The consultation publication was 'Reimbursement of inherited staff liabilities: Consultation on possible changes to HEFCE policy' (HEFCE 2008/23).
In January 2009 we published a summary of consultation responses together with next steps.
Next steps and summary of consultation responses
[ Download Next steps and summary of consultation responses as Adobe PDF 70K | Download Next steps and summary of consultation responses as as MS Word 113K ]
Questionnaire for completion by HEIs
[ Download Questionnaire for completion by HEIs as Adobe PDF 48K | Download Questionnaire for completion by HEIs as MS Word 88K ]
Questionnaire for completion by local authorities and pension authorities
[Download Questionnaire for completion by local authorities and pension authorities as Adobe PDF 53K | Download Questionnaire for completion by local authorities and pension authorities as MS Word 93K ]
Further information and claims
For further information and claims for inherited staff liability, contact Donna Iafrati at HEFCE, e-mail d.iafrati@hefce.ac.uk, tel 0117 931 7357.
Last updated 18 January 2012