Member administration forms a critical part of the Pensions module. It is the process of maintaining member records.

Where Pensions is integrated with the other modules of ResourceLink, many of the administrative functions are automatically updated with information from the Payroll and HR modules. For example, attendance details are likely to be brought in from the HR module as HR departments are generally responsible for absence recording. Similarly, pay elements and details of National Insurance contributions are likely to be maintained by the Payroll Department.

However, where Pensions is run as a stand-alone system, these administrative functions are likely to be maintained from within the Pensions Department. Where a third-party Payroll and HR system is used, member information can be imported through standard interfaces.

Whether or not Pensions is run as part of an integrated or a stand-alone system, an important feature to bear in mind is that your system can be set up so that certain elements of your member records can be altered automatically. This occurs through the ‘benefits taken update’ process, ran when a member elects to take a set of benefits detailed in a benefit quotation. For example, a membership period may be closed, pay elements may be updated, the pension status may change and DWP notification forms may be automatically produced.

The changes that are made through running the ‘benefits taken update’ are controlled by your system administrator through setting valid changes in pension status codes and attaching actions to these - see Pension Status.

However, manual adjustment to member records is always available via Membership Period Details.

Every member of a pension scheme has at least one membership period. A membership period is the duration of time for which a pension scheme has a liability towards a member. It starts when the person joins the scheme and ends when the liability of the scheme ends. Liability ends if a member leaves the scheme with a full refund of contributions, leaves with a transfer to another scheme or dies.

A member may have more than one membership period for the same scheme, each with different start dates. This occurs where a person leaves a scheme and rejoins your organisation and pension scheme at a later date.

The following topics are covered in Member Administration: