When does the Royal Mail SPS illustrator update?

[Andy.T]

Hi all,

I had it in my head that the illustrator on the Royal Mail SPS website updated the projected figures for my section C benefits each January or April. It looks like it's still showing the same values as it was last year, though.

Does anyone know when it should update the projections to account for this year's increase?

Thanks,

Andy. T

[RobertT]

I'm not sure when the RMSPS website is updated, but increases apply from April, so it's unlikely to be any earlier.

It's the inflation figures for the previous September that's used, so while you're waiting for an official update, you could come up with your own numbers.

Bearing in mind it'll be either RPI or CPI depending on your circumstances, and the RMSPS site doesn't separate your benefits into Age60 and Age65.

[Andy.T]

Thanks Robert, that's helpful. I'm Section C so I think that's CPI?

The 12 month to September 2025 CPI figure looks to be 3.8% from the ONS, I'll do some sums.

Do you know if CPI is applied to all the figures? Or is, for example, the Pension Supplement increased in a different way?

I'm wondering now if the website might update on one's birthday (mine's July), I'll keep an eye.

[RobertT]

How much your pension increases by will depend on your membership status:

Section A/B:
Employee – RPI
Deferred & pensioner – CPI

Section C:
Employee & pensioner – RPI
Deferred – CPI

The supplement increases along with the pension.

I assume everyone's figures will update at more or less the same time.
I think that's most likely when they start the process of issuing the annual statements, but to be honest I'm not sure.

[Andy.T]

Thanks Robert, I'm wondering if it did update in Sept/Oct. I'll make a note next time I see the figures change.

[Andy.T]

Strangely it looks like the figures in the illustrator seem to have had their annual increase applied sometime between when I last looked (18th May) and today (14th June).

My guess would therefore be that the September CPI figure should be applied from April, it just takes them a couple of months to actually do it.

Just thought I'd report back in case anyone was interested. :)

[tractorboy2]

You mean the RMPP illustrator ? I can't find one on RMSPS.
Mine hasn't updated , but I'm due my age65 in 5 months time.

[Andy.T]

The one at members.royalmailsps.co.uk (Hartlink).

I'm section C and see a Retirement Illustrator there (under Retirement Options).

[RobertT]

You mean the RMPP illustrator ? I can't find one on RMSPS.
Mine hasn't updated , but I'm due my age65 in 5 months time.

According to the RMSPS website FAQ's, their illustrator is only available to people who haven't already started taking their benefits.

Some on here seem to have problems registering and logging into it, but personally I've never had any issues. Although as it doesn't separate Age60 and Age65, it'll only provide a very rough guide anyway.

The RMPP calculator clearly relies on the user inputting their most up to date figures, and we won't know those until we get our next annual statements.
But you can obviously update last years figures yourself by using the relevant rate of inflation.