The Good Benefits Guide

Transcription

1 The Good Benefits Guide

2 The Good Benefits Guide Welcome to The Good Benefits Guide for 2011/12 where you can find out all about The Benefits Bar what it is, how it works and the range of benefits you can choose from. Click on the page you want to go to from the list. You can return to the list from each page by clicking on the button from the menu at the top of the page. Or you can navigate forwards and backwards. Enjoy exploring the different flavours at The Benefits Bar. About The Benefits Bar What it is Special features How it works Who pays? Pulling a pint at The Benefits Bar Making your choices When can I change my benefits? What if I don t select any benefits? What if I leave the Company? Choose your brew Floating Butterfly Crafty Fox Happy Hedgehog Secret Squirrel Wise Owl The small print Tax and National Insurance Important information Explaining the words we use Where to go for help The Benefits Your Wellbeing Bikes Dental Insurance Gym Membership Health Assessment Healthcare Cash Plan Private Medical Cover Your Protection Critical Illness Insurance Life Assurance Travel Insurance Your Future Pension Share Incentive Plan (SIP) Your Lifestyle Childcare Vouchers Computers Holiday My Shopping Gateway Retail Vouchers

3 The Good Benefits Guide About The Benefits Bar The Benefits Bar is the flexible benefits plan for Spirit Pub Company. It s all about you deciding on the mix of pay and benefits that you want. It gives you: more choice over what you can have, more control to decide what you want and when, and more flexibility to change your benefits as your life progresses.d or have children you ll want different things from someone who s footloose and fancy free! It fits with your life. If you re married or have children you ll want different things from someone who s footloose and fancy free! It allows you to spend your money how you want to. We recognise that everyone has different priorities in life so The Benefits Bar allows you to decide how you want to spend your money. Special Features To get the most out of the benefits available at The Benefits Bar you need to know what is special about them. You can save money on your tax and/or National Insurance with some benefits. You get deals you wouldn t be able to get on your own, because of the greater buying power of Spirit Pub Company. You have access to a wide range of different benefits that wouldn t otherwise be available. You can choose what s right for you and your family. You can make sure that you receive benefits that your partner doesn t get, and vice versa. You can get money off lots of things from high street shopping to holidays and from furniture to days out through My Shopping Gateway - the Voluntary Benefits Scheme run by Vectis. How it works You receive a Core Benefits Package that goes with your job. Through The Benefits Bar you can now increase or decrease some of the benefits included in your Core Benefits Package and you can choose to buy different benefits. For instance, if you currently have Private Medical Cover for your family as part of your package, and you only need it for you and your partner, you could change your level of cover through The Benefits Bar. You would receive the difference in cost between family cover and partner cover which you could use to buy other benefits, or receive it as cash in your salary. Please note that if you flex below single cover, you will benefit from not paying tax on the cost of Private Medical Cover but you will not receive any cash back in your salary. Whether you can change your Core Benefits and by how much will depend on your own individual circumstances and be based on your entitlement. You will be able to model the different choices you have on the Selection Form on The Benefits Bar website. 1

4 The Good Benefits Guide About The Benefits Bar Additional benefits Outside of your Core Benefits Package, you can choose to buy additional benefits which can be anything from a bike to dental insurance, from travel insurance to discounted shopping vouchers. These benefits do not form part of your Core Package. You are entirely free to choose whichever of these you want or can afford and you can change them each year depending on your circumstances. You also have access to a wide range of other discounts through My Shopping Gateway - the Vectis Voluntary Benefits Scheme - that you can access on The Benefits Bar webiste at any time during the year. Who pays? The cost of the benefits you choose is taken from your Basic Salary through the Salary Exchange arrangement. It works like this: The cost of most of the benefits you can choose from is automatically taken from your Basic Salary before you pay any tax or National Insurance. Any salary that is not used to pay for benefits is paid to you through payroll in the usual way and it is this, lower amount that you pay income tax and National Insurance on. This is called your Post Flex Salary. Reducing your salary in this way does not affect any other salary-related payments or Company benefits you receive. Your Basic Salary before you take part in the flexible benefits scheme is the amount that is used for mortgage applications, loans or other earnings related financial arrangements you have. Depending on your individual circumstances, Salary Exchange may affect some State Benefits, such as Working Tax Credit, Maternity Pay and State Second Pension because you are paying lower National Insurance contributions. You can find out more about the impact of Salary Exchange on these benefits through The Benefits Bar website. By paying for your benefits through Salary Exchange you generally pay less National Insurance. You do pay tax on some of the benefits, although some do have favourable tax treatment; any benefits which are taxable are taxed through your P11d. You can find out more about this on the Benefits Bar website. There are two exceptions to this method of paying for benefits: Any products or services bought through My Shopping Gateway - the Vectis Voluntary Benefits Scheme, and Retail Vouchers. You pay for both of these out of your net salary (after tax and National Insurance). The Company pays for your Core Benefits. If you choose to increase the cover level of any of your Core Benefits, then the additional cost of this will be taken out of your Basic Salary through the Salary Exchange arrangement. Remember that for some of the benefits from your Core Benefits Package, if you decrease your level of cover the difference in the cost from the level you are entitled to and the level of cover that you choose through The Benefits Bar, may be paid to you as non-pensionable cash in addition to your salary, or you could use it to buy another benefit. This only applies to certain situations and benefits. You can model how this applies to your Core Benefits on The Benefits Bar website. 2

5 The Good Benefits Guide Pulling a pint at The Benefits Bar Choosing your benefits is as easy as pulling a pint behind the bar. Step 1 Read about the different benefits in this guide. You can also take the Character Quiz (on The Benefits Bar website) to see which of our characters you are most like, and which benefits they would choose. Step 2 Log on to: You will receive your username and password separately in a letter which will give you access to the website with all your benefit information. Once you enter the site and click on My Benefits you will see a list of all the benefits available. You can also see which ones are your Core Benefits by going to My Reward to see your Total Reward Statement. All the information you need about each benefit is on the site, along with links to the providers and to policy documents. You will only be able to make selections that are relevant to you and it will be clear what level you currently have for any of your Core Benefits. Step 3 Make your benefit selection online and click on Submit to make sure your benefit choices go through. Print off your Confirmation Statement which sets out the benefits you have selected for the year. You can click on Save to save your benefit choices if you want to go back and review your selection at a later time. You can then logout of the website and return at another time to complete your selection. You must however Submit your final selection by the end of the Selection Period. Step 4 The Company will review the mix of pay and benefits you have chosen. Your new benefit selection will normally be agreed (unless there are exceptional circumstances) and your new pay and benefits package will start from 1st January or from the next available period if you are joining part way through the year. If your benefit selections mean that your take home pay becomes less than the National Minimum Wage, then the Company will be in touch with you to review the choices you ve made. 3

6 The Good Benefits Guide Pulling a pint at The Benefits Bar When can I change my benefits? You would normally only change your benefits once a year during Annual Selection. However, there are certain circumstances that may happen in your life which mean you can change some of the benefits during the year. These are called lifestyle changes and include getting married, returning from maternity leave and a significant change in working hours. Full details about what lifestyle changes are allowed and what benefits can be changed can be found on the website. What if I decide not to select any benefits? If you are a Happy Hedgehog and decide that you don t want to change any of your Core Benefits or choose any new ones, you will simply receive your current benefits package. If you chose some benefits last year, such as a computer, you will continue to pay for this for a further two years as the contract is for three years in total. You will still need to log in to The Benefits Bar website and click on the Submit button to confirm that you wish to receive your current benefits package. Even if you don t want to change your Benefits Package, it is always worth having a look at what s available on The Benefits Bar as it may change from year to year. You may also find that if you experience a lifestyle change during the year, such as getting married, you may wish to change your default package. What if I leave the Company? Your Core Benefits will stop as soon as you leave the Company. Other benefits you may have chosen will generally end on the last day of the pay period in which you leave. The cost of the benefits for your final pay period will be taken from your salary through the Salary Exchange arrangement. Any outstanding payments for the full cost of Bikes, Computers, GymFlex and Health Assessment will be made from your final net pay. 4

7 The Good Benefits Guide Choose your brew FLOATING BUTTERFLY Floating Butterfly lives for the moment and loves having a good time. I love The Benefits Bar. I never notice the money as it goes out of my salary before I see it and I get lovely things like the imac. I would never have been able to afford that if I d bought it outright and I wouldn t have had all the extras that come with it. SECRET SQUIRREL Secret Squirrel is a bit of a worrier especially when it comes to money. I sold some of my holiday last year and used the money to pay towards my pension. It was a great way to get me started on pension saving without seeing my salary change dramatically. We have five special ales for you to choose from. Each has a character all of its own and you ll find you relate to one more than the others. You can take our Character Quiz on The Benefits Bar website to see which one of our special ales you are most like. You can then see what type of benefits that character might choose at The Benefits Bar. You can of course choose any of our new benefits; our special ales are just a guide. CRAFTY FOX Crafty Fox is always on the lookout for a good deal and makes the most of what s available. I decided to reduce my life assurance and cash in on three days holiday last year. I usually waste the odd day here and there, and the thought of saving money encouraged me to plan my time off more effectively. The good thing is that I ve not even missed them. In total I saved over 500 so it felt like I d given myself a pay rise! WISE OWL Wise Owl is a planner and knows what s what in life. I chose Childcare Vouchers when my son was born last year which means I can make the most of the tax and NI savings. I also saved money on a holiday when I booked it through the Vectis voluntary benefits in My Shopping Gateway which all helps. HAPPY HEDGEHOG Happy Hedgehog likes life to be as easy as possible. The best thing about The Benefits Bar is the choice available. I opted for the pension scheme because of how much the Company contributes. 5

8 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Bikes Make significant savings on the cost of a bike by signing up to Cycle2work through The Benefits Bar. It s a tax efficient and cost effective way of enjoying the use of a new bike as long as you use the bike for your journey to and from work. What if offers The choice of any make or model of bike (and cycling safety equipment) from any Halfords store across the UK with total values ranging from 100 to 1,000. As long as you use the bike mainly to travel to and from work (or for work purposes) this benefit is tax free. An additional 10% of the value of your Letter of Collection free to spend on accessories (Terms and Conditions apply). You hire the bike for 12 months and at the end of the hire agreement Spirit will be in touch with you about whether you have the option to transfer ownership of the bike to you. Your choices All you need to do is: Visit your local Halfords store or website at co.uk to decide what bike you would like to have, or to decide how much you want to spend. Choose one of the values listed on The Benefits Bar website between 100 and 1,000. The amount you choose must be the same as, or more than, the actual cost of the bike and equipment you want, as you cannot make up the difference or receive a refund. This is part of the rules for the tax break for this benefit. Print off the Hire Agreement from The Benefits Bar website, fill it in and return it to the address shown on the Agreement. You will then be sent a Letter of Collection via or post showing the value you have chosen. Take this into your nearest Halfords where you can redeem the letter for your bike and equipment. How much does it cost? The cost will depend on the value of the bike you have chosen and will be spread over the 12 months of the Hire Agreement. Please note that the bike belongs to the Company until all the periodic payments have been made. At the end of the hire term, if transfer of ownership is applicable, Spirit will be in touch with you about the process. Your tax & National Insurance You do not pay Income Tax or NI on this benefit. FLOATING BUTTERFLY might like this. 6

9 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Bikes Questions & Answers I would not need to use the bike to get to work. Can I still choose this benefit? No. You can only take advantage of this benefit if you use it mainly for travel to and from work. What if I change my mind about the bike I want after I ve chosen this benefit? You can choose a less expensive bike than the value of the Letter of Collection you have selected, but you will not be reimbursed the difference in cost. You could use the difference to buy extra safety equipment. You cannot pay extra towards your bike if you want a more expensive one. The bike you choose must be the same value or less than the Letter of Collection. Can I select more than one bike? Yes you can, as long as both bikes are used mainly for travel to and from work for yourself. You should only select one value option for your Letter of Collection which would cover the cost of both bicycles. However, the cost cannot be more than 1,000 for both. Can I give my bike as a gift? No. During the hire term, the bike remains the property of Spirit Pub Company and must be used mainly for travelling to and from work. At the end of the hire period, Spirit will let you know about your options for transferring ownership. Is the bike covered by a warranty? Each bike comes with a minimum 12 month warranty. You should, however, get your own insurance for the bike to cover loss, theft or damage. Even if your bike is lost or stolen, you continue to make the payments each period until the end of the hire term. Who is responsible for any repairs on the bike? You will be eligible for a free bike service after six weeks and a free one year bike care plan which gives you an annual service, free maintenance and repairs and free labour charges for parts and accessory fittings. When can I collect my bike? You can collect your bike within four months of receiving your Letter of Collection. What if I leave the Company? The remaining periodic costs for the hire agreement will be taken from your final pay period s net pay. We will be in touch about what options you may have to transfer the ownership of the bike to you. When can I choose this benefit? You can only choose this benefit at Annual Selection. You cannot change it during the year, even if you have a lifestyle change. 7

10 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Dental Insurance Dental Insurance is a way of spreading the cost of your routine dental treatment and restorative treatment like crowns, bridges and fillings. It s not just for emergencies but enables you to keep your teeth as healthy as possible to prevent any future problems. You can also save National Insurance. What if offers You can claim back the cost of any National Health Service or private dental treatment that you receive up to certain limits. Access to a 24 hour worldwide dental emergency helpline wherever you are. No initial oral health check is needed. You can claim for all pre-existing dental conditions - except for mouth cancer, pre-planned treatment or treatment for injuries that took place before the start date of the Flex Year (1 January). Your choices There are three levels of cover you can choose from. All the cover levels below are for routine or restorative treatment. They all include cover up to 10,800 for treatment needed as a result of a dental injury or dental emergency and for treatment of mouth cancer (cover for mouth cancer is excluded when diagnosed before or within 90 days after you join Denplan). Essential - up to 350 cover Essential Plus - up to 1,150 cover Extensive - up to 700 cover Within each of these levels you can choose to include one of the following options: You You and your partner You and your children You and your family Everyone who is covered must be on the same plan. How much does it cost? The cost will depend on which options you choose and how old you are. Full details on the costs are on The Benefits Bar website. Your tax and National Insurance You do pay tax on this benefit and the amount is based on the premium paid to the insurers. HM Revenue & Customs will adjust your tax code accordingly. You do not pay National Insurance contributions on this benefit. CRAFTY FOX might like this. 8

11 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Dental Insurance Questions & Answers Are there any restrictions on the treatment I can claim for? Full details on the benefits and exclusions can be found in the Denplan Policy Handbook on The Benefits Bar website. Must I use a specific dentist? No, you can use the UK dentist of your choice for routine, restorative and emergency treatment. Do I have to wait before I can make my first claim? No (except for mouth cancer). You can claim for your dental from day one of your cover starting as long as the treatment happens on or after the start of the Flex Year (1 January). How do I make a claim? When you have visited your dentist and paid for the dental treatment given just fill out the claim form and with an itemised receipt attached send it to Denplan. Reimbursement for eligible dental treatment will normally be sent within five working days from when Denplan receives your claim (provided that the correct information is enclosed). All claims should be submitted within 60 days of the completion of treatment (whenever possible) unless you are undergoing a course of treatment that may involved several trips to your dentist over a period of time. You must include proof of payment and state if you have seen an NHS dentist. What if I leave the Company? Your cover stops at the end of the pay period in which you leave the Company and no further payments will be made once you have left. The cost for your last pay period will be made from your final pay. When can I choose this benefit? You can choose this at Annual Renewal and when you first join the Company mid-year. You can change who is covered through your dental insurance at some lifestyle changes but not the level of cover you have. 9

12 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Gym Membership Take advantage of discounted gym membership through The Benefits Bar. You can choose your health club from thousands around the UK. CRAFTY FOX & FLOATING BUTTERFLY might like this. What if offers You can save up to 55% off the cost of standard membership of a gym. You spread the annual membership cost over the year and pay no NI on your membership. Choice of gyms and clubs around the country including DW Fitness, FitnessFirst, Living Well and Nuffield Health, amongst others. Your choices You choose membership for yourself (and your partner, if you want to) at a gym of your choice. You can find the nearest gym to you and select your membership on the GymFlex website which you can access through The Benefits Bar website using Spirit as the Company login and follow the instructions online. You then enter the full amount of the annual gym membership cost you have chosen on The Benefits Bar website. How much does it cost? The cost will depend on which membership and which gym you choose. Your tax and National Insurance You will pay tax on this benefit via P11d based on the premium paid to GymFlex. HM Revenue & Customs will adjust your code accordingly. You do not pay National Insurance on this benefit. Questions & Answers Can I get gym membership for anyone else in my family? Yes, you can select a separate membership for your partner on the GymFlex website. You then enter the total amount for both you and your partner on The Benefits Bar website. What if I am already a member at the gym and see that the periodic cost through GymFlex is better? Even if you are an existing member at a participating health club part way through a fixed contract, it should be possible to switch you over immediately to the GymFlex rate (provided you are currently paying by direct debit). Please check the GymFlex website for more details or speak to the membership department at your club before registering your selection. What if I move away from the area? You will continue to pay your membership for the rest of the Flex Year (1 January 31 December). It may be possible to transfer your membership to another gym within the same group of gyms that is nearer your new home but this is entirely at the club s discretion. What if I leave the Company? If you leave the Company before the end of the Flex Year, the remaining cost for your annual membership will be taken from your final net pay. When can I choose this benefit? You can only choose GymFlex at Annual Selection. 10

13 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Health Assessment A Health Assessment gives you the opportunity to review your overall physical condition and lifestyle. Through The Benefits Bar you can save tax and National Insurance on your payments every period. What if offers A choice of four Health Assessments; a basic all round lifestyle check, an extensive review of your health, a check just for women and a detailed check that includes a cardiovascular assessment. A confidential questionnaire about your health for you to complete which you take with you on the day of your assessment. You get the majority of the results on the day and time to discuss any concerns with the Doctor. A personal medical report within two weeks of the assessment sent to your home. A choice of location and appointment time to suit you from over 30 different Nuffield Health centres. Your choices You can select from one of the following health assessments: Lifestyle aimed at people under 39 years of age Female aimed at women under 39 years of age 360 aimed at people aged aimed at people aged 45+ More details about what is included in each assessment can be found in the Q&A section on The Benefits Bar website. How much does it cost? The cost varies depending on which option you choose but starts at per pay period for the Lifestyle assessment and goes up to per pay period for the Your tax and National Insurance You do not pay tax or National Insurance on your Health Assessment. WISE OWL might like this. 11

14 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Health Assessment How do I arrange an assessment? Questions & Answers All you have to do is to call the Nuffield helpline on to arrange your assessment. What if I need to change or cancel my assessment? You need to call the Nuffield Health call centre on If you change or cancel your appointment with less than 24 hours notice, or fail to attend, the full fee will be charged. If you cancel your appointment with less than three full working days notice, you will be charged a fee of 75. What if I am promoted to a grade that is entitled to a Health Assessment? If you have selected a Health Assessment and you are then promoted during the year to a grade that is entitled to a Health Assessment paid for by the Company, then your payments through The Benefits Bar will stop. Depending on the timing of your promotion, you may be refunded any or all of the costs you have already paid towards the Health Assessment. What if I leave the Company? When you leave, the balance of the full cost for the assessment will be made from your final net pay. If you have not already had your Health Assessment you would be able to take it after you have left the Company. When can I choose this benefit? You can choose the Health Assessment at Annual Selection and when you first join the Company. If you join part way through the Flex Year, the annual cost for the Health Assessment will be spread over the remaining periods until the next Annual Selection. 12

15 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Healthcare Cash Plan An easy to use plan that refunds you the cost of a range of health treatments and services. A Healthcare Cash Plan is different from Private Medical Cover as it does not pay for treatment; rather refunds to you the cost of covered treatments up to certain limits. SECRET SQUIRREL might like this. What if offers You can claim back the cost (up to certain limits) of various healthcare services such as eye tests, new glasses, dental treatment, physiotherapy, consultations, chiropody and other therapy treatments. The Plan also offers a refund on some of the out of pocket expenses you might have if you have to stay in hospital as an in-patient, have day surgery or have a baby. You have access to scanning facilities, a 24 hour counselling and advice helpline and Personal Accident cover. Your choices You can choose from three different levels. Each of them covers the same treatments but up to different limits. So, for instance, at Level 1 you could claim up to 60 for your eye treatments and at Level 3 up to 160. Full details are available on The Benefits Bar website. Within each of these levels you can choose to include one of the following options: You You and your partner You and your children You and your family How much does it cost? This will depend on the options you choose. Full details of the different costs for each option can be found on The Benefits Bar website. Your tax and National Insurance You do pay tax on this benefit via P11d based on the premium paid to the Healthcare Cash Plan provider but no NI on this benefit. Questions & Answers Can I claim straightaway? You would be able to make claims for most benefits from the date the Flex Year starts (1 January). If you have any pre-existing conditions, these will also be covered (except for Personal Accident cover). How do I make a claim? You complete a claim form and submit it to Healthshield along with your original receipts. Once the claim is approved, they will then make a payment directly to you. How many claims can I make? There is no limit to the number of claims you can make, up to the maximum allowance for each benefit. What if I leave the Company? Your cover will stop at the end of your last pay period. The cost for the last pay period will be made from your final pay. When can I choose this benefit? You can choose the Healthcare Cash Plan at Annual Selection, when you first join the Company and at certain lifestyle changes. 13

16 Your Wellbeing - Keeping you fit and healthy Private Medical Cover This benefit covers the cost of private medical treatment either as an in-patient or as an out-patient in a private hospital or in the private wing of an NHS hospital. Through The Benefits Bar you can choose who you want to be covered. CRAFTY FOX & WISE OWL might like this. What if offers A refund of eligible hospital charges, surgeon s and anaesthetists fees and in-patient charges. Full refund of eligible out-patient charges. Prompt access to specialist treatment. You will need to be referred for treatment by your GP and then receive authorisation for treatment from Healix, the provider of this benefit. Please note: This scheme now has a 200 excess included for each person covered in the policy. This 200 is only paid once in the policy year (1st January - 31st December) for each person covered if a claim is made. If you don t want to pay an excess then your premium cost may increase. Your choices You can choose from the following levels of cover: You You and your partner You and your children You and your family* *Family includes you and your partner and any number of unmarried children under the age of 18 (or 21 if in full-time education) at the start of the Flex Year (1 January). How much does it cost? The cost will depend on which option you choose and what you are currently entitled to in your Core Benefits Package. When you go to The Benefits Bar website it will show you the costs that are relevant to you. Your tax and National Insurance You do pay tax on this benefit via P11d based on the amount paid for your Private Medical Cover but no NI on this benefit. Questions & Answers What am I covered for with Private Medical Cover? You can find full details of the rules and benefits on the website. I am covered for Private Medical Cover through my contract of employment. What are my choices? You have the opportunity to either increase the level of cover that you have through your contract of employment or to decrease it depending on your own personal circumstances. Can I start claiming immediately? If you are choosing Private Medical Cover for the first time for you and/or your family through The Benefits Bar, cover will start from the beginning of the Flex Year (1 January) which is when you can start claiming. If you are already a member of the scheme you can of course make a claim immediately but should note that the current benefit limits will apply until 31st December What if I leave the Company? Your cover will stop on the day you leave the Company. If you pay for cover, the charge for your last pay period at Spirit Pub Company will be made from your final pay. Continued... 14

17 Private Medical Cover When can I choose this benefit? Questions & Answers You can choose Private Medical Cover at Annual Selection and when you first join the Company. You can also change your level of cover or start or stop this benefit after some lifestyle changes. Do I have to pay an excess? Yes, your scheme has a 200 excess which applies to each person covered by the policy in each policy year. This means that in each policy year (from 1st January to 31st December) each person who makes a claim (e.g. employee, spouse/ partner and children) will have to pay the first 200 of eligible treatment. The 200 is paid only once per person and will not be applied again until the following policy year. Please call the Claims Helpline on to preauthorise treatment and then ensure that bills are submitted to Healix in the normal way. Healix will process the claim, less any excess due. The hospital/specialist will be advised why full payment is not being made by Healix and a claims statement will be sent to you showing the amount you need to pay. If you pay the full amount of a bill yourself it is important that you still submit the claim to Healix so that they can record the excess amount you have paid. Why is there an excess on the scheme this year? The premiums which we pay for the private medical insurance policy were going to increase significantly at renewal, by almost 24%. This is largely due to the high value of claims being made by our employees and their family members. In order to be able to continue to offer this valued benefit we needed to look at ways to reduce the cost and one solution was introducing an excess. By applying the 200 excess we can continue to offer you and your family members a comprehensive private medical scheme and enabled us to reduce the premium increase to 13%. This means that your P11d (Benefit in Kind) tax liability is also minimised. How can I avoid paying the excess? You can choose to remove the 200 excess from your policy, including any family members you have covered on your policy. To do this please select the no excess option on your Selection Form. Depending on your level of company funded entitlement and the level of cover you select, you may have to pay an increased premium amount. The additional premium which you pay will be deducted from your salary each period. 15

18 Your PROTECTION - Insurance cover for you and your family Critical Illness Insurance This benefit will help you cope financially if you and/or your partner are diagnosed with a serious illness. It provides immediate financial support in the form of a tax-free sum to help you at a time when you most need it. What if offers A tax-free lump sum if you survive for 14 days after being diagnosed with a specified critical illness (such as cancer or a heart attack) or after one of the operations covered, subject to the policy terms (six months for Total Permanent Disability claims). An option to cover your partner as well. You can choose the amount you want to be covered for from 25,000 up to a maximum amount of 5 x your salary with a top limit of 250,000. As the amounts of cover go up in 25,000 units, your maximum will be the unit level just below 5 x your salary. You will only see the amounts you can choose from when you visit The Benefits Bar website. At an additional cost, you can choose to cover your partner up to 125,000, and their cover may not be more than yours. Eligible children are automatically covered for 25% of the amount of cover you have chosen (up to a maximum of 20,000) without any additional cost to you. You should be aware that you will not be covered for any illness or condition you already have. Full details of the conditions covered and the full policy document can be found on The Benefits Bar website, and you should read these carefully if you are considering selecting this benefit. You cannot choose a higher level of cover for your partner than you have for yourself. How much does it cost? The annual cost of this benefit is fixed for each 25,000 of cover you select. The amount depends on your age and/or the age of your partner if you choose to take out that cover. When you go to The Benefits Bar website you will see the cost that applies to you if you select this option. The cost will change at the next Annual Selection if you and/or your partner change age bands during the year. Your tax and National Insurance You do pay tax on this benefit via P11d based on the premium paid to the Critical Illness Insurance provider but no NI on this benefit. SECRET SQUIRREL & WISE OWL might like this. Your choices You can choose to receive a tax free lump sum which is a multiple of 25,000. You will be shown the maximum amount you can choose on The Benefits Bar website as it will depend on your Basic Salary. For your partner you can choose to receive upon diagnosis and meeting the policy criteria a tax-free lump sum of a multiple of 25,000 up to 125,

19 Your PROTECTION - Insurance cover for you and your family Critical Illness Insurance Questions & Answers Is the cash sum still payable if I or my partner dies? The cash sum will only be payable if you or partner has survived for 14 days after the agreed diagnosis of any critical illness in the policy before you die (or six months for Total Permanent Disability). My partner also works at Spirit. Should I include my partner on my Critical Illness Insurance? If your partner is eligible to make selections through The Benefits Bar they will need to take out their own Critical Illness Insurance cover through The Benefits Bar. How can I get my children covered? Children between the ages of 6 months and 17 years are covered through your own benefit at no additional cost. You would receive a cash sum which is 25% of the cover you have selected for yourself up to a maximum of 20,000 per child if one of your children became seriously ill with a condition covered by the policy. What if I leave the Company? Your cover will stop at the end of the pay period in which you leave the Company. The cost for your final pay period at Spirit will be made from your final pay. When can I choose this benefit? You can choose Critical Illness Insurance at Annual Selection and when you first join the Company. You can also choose it, change your level or stop this benefit as a result of certain lifestyle changes. However, if you decide not to select this benefit or you don t choose the maximum benefit during the first Selection Period, the rules of the policy state that you will only be able to increase your cover by one unit ( 25,000) in each future Selection Period. You can increase your cover by more than one unit as a result of a relevant lifestyle change. 17

20 Your PROTECTION - Insurance cover for you and your family Life Assurance This benefit pays out a tax-free lump sum if you were to die whilst still an employee at Spirit Pub Company. Through The Benefits Bar you can choose the level of cover you feel would be right for you. SECRET SQUIRREL & WISE OWL might like this. What if offers The opportunity to increase your life cover to up to 10 x your pensionable salary. If you choose not to change your life cover, you will continue to receive the same level of cover you have now. You indicate who you would like the money to be paid to in the event of your death through your Nomination Form which you need to keep up to date. Your choices You can choose to increase your current entitlement up to a maximum of 10 x your pensionable salary. The minimum level of cover available to you is determined by the type of pension scheme you are a member of. The Selection Form on The Benefits Bar website will show the choices available to you. If you decide not to choose the maximum benefit available during the first Selection Period, the rules of the policy state that you will only be able to increase your current cover by one level more in each future Selection Period. You can decrease your Life Assurance by any number of units at a lifestyle change or during Annual Selection. Please note that if you want to change your level of Life Assurance you will need to tick the box on the website to confirm that you are actively at work. How much does it cost? The cost will depend on the Life Assurance you currently have in your Core Benefits Package and what you wish to change it to. You will see the relevant costs for you on The Benefits Bar website. Your tax and National Insurance You do not pay tax or NI on this benefit. Questions & Answers Who gets the money from the Life Assurance if I die? You indicate who you would like the money to be paid to in the event of your death through your Nomination Form which you can print off from The Benefits Bar website. This is not a legally binding document and discretion will be applied as to who receives the benefits. Please Note: If you are a member of the Occupational Pension Scheme you will need to contact the administrator of your scheme if you want to change your Nomination Form. If my salary changes during the year, what is my Life Assurance benefit based on? Your benefit will always be based on your most current salary. The cost of your Life Assurance will be re-priced if your salary changes mid-year. I am not a member of one of the Spirit pension schemes. Can I choose Life Assurance? Yes. The options available to you are shown on your Selection Form on The Benefits Bar website. What if I leave the Company? Your cover will stop on the day that you leave the Company. The cost for your final pay period will be made from your final pay. When can I choose this benefit? You can choose Life Assurance at Annual Selection and when you first join the Company. You can also change your level as a result of some lifestyle changes. If you don t choose the maximum benefit when you first make selections through The Benefits Bar, you will only be able to increase your cover by one multiple of salary in future Selection Periods. You can increase your cover by more than one unit as a result of a relevant lifestyle change. 18

21 Your PROTECTION - Insurance cover for you and your family Travel Insurance You can be covered throughout the year for all your travel needs through The Benefits Bar. This would cover you for when you re abroad and on holiday in the UK when you ve pre-booked your accommodation. You save National Insurance and benefit from the competitive buying power of the Company. FLOATING BUTTERFLY might like this. What if offers You can be covered for: Worldwide cover with or without winter sports European cover with or without winter sports You are covered for any number of trips throughout the year and also for disruption to travel caused by natural disasters, such as the ash cloud of Full details of what s included in the policy can be found on The Benefits Bar website. Your choices You can choose from: Worldwide - without winter sports Worldwide - with winter sports European - with winter sports European - without winter sports You can select cover for: You You and your partner You and your children You and your family* *Family cover includes you and your partner and any number of children aged 18 or under (or 23 or under if in full-time education) at the start of the Flex Year (1 January). Everyone insured can travel separately. How much does it cost? The cost depends on what level of cover you choose and this is shown on The Benefits Bar website. Your tax & National Insurance You will pay tax on this benefit via P11d based on the premium paid to the insurer. HM Revenue & Customs will adjust your tax code accordingly. You do not pay National Insurance on this benefit. Questions & Answers I already have a travel insurance policy that expires after December Can I take up this benefit after my existing insurance has expired? You can only choose this benefit at Annual Selection or if you are a new employee joining The Benefits Bar for the first time, and therefore you would need to end your existing policy on 31 December. You should contact your existing provider about this and you may receive a refund of part of the premium from them. What happens if I need to make a claim? In the event of a claim, please telephone, or the Claims Handler ONE Claims on: Tel: +44 (0) mail@oneclaims.com In no event should a claim be notified later than 31 days after completion of the relevant trip.you can view or download the policy document on The Benefits Bar website. If you have any questions or need any further information please call the Travel Helpline on: When can I choose this benefit? You can choose Travel Insurance at the Annual Selection and when you first join the Company. You can also change your level of cover or start or stop this benefit after some lifestyle changes. What if I leave the Company? Your cover stops at the end of the pay period in which you leave the Company. The cost for your final pay period will be taken out of your final pay. 19

22 Your FUTURE - Securing your financial future Pension Through The Benefits Bar you can decide how much you want to pay towards your pension. CRAFTY FOX & SECRET SQUIRREL might like this. What if offers You can choose to join the Spirit Pub Company Pension Plan if you are not already a member. If you are already a member you can change how much you pay into your pension. If you do not choose to change your contribution, you will continue with your current contribution level. If you are a member of the Occupational Pension Scheme, you can change your AVC (Additional Voluntary Contribution) payments. Your choices When you go online you will see the choices that you have, depending on your pension membership. How much does it cost? This depends on the contribution levels that you decide to make. Remember, the Company pays into your pension as well. The amount depends on how much you decide to pay in. Full details can be found on The Benefits Bar website. Your tax and National Insurance Taking part in the Spirit Pub Company Pension Plan through The Benefits Bar means that you pay no tax or NI on your pension contributions. Questions & Answers I am not a member of a Company pension scheme. Can I join through The Benefits Bar? Yes. Simply click on the Pension change button on your Selection Form on the Benefits Bar website. You will then be taken through the process for joining. Can I change my investments through The Benefits Bar? No. You can do this though the Standard Life portal. You can only change your contribution level through The Benefits Bar. Where can I find out more information? You can contact the Reward Team at: smb_reward@spiritpubcompany.com. 20

23 Your FUTURE - Securing your financial future Share Incentive Plan (SIP) This is your opportunity to own shares in Spirit Pub Company plc and to receive a free one for every one that you buy. What if offers A long term (five year) investment which is tax efficient and gives you a stake in the Company. A choice of how much you d like to pay in each month from as little as 10 and as much as 125 or 10% of your gross salary (whichever is lower). Partnership Shares in the Company. These are shares bought with the money you have paid into the Plan at the market price at the time your shares are purchased. Matching Shares in the Company. For every share you buy, the Company gives you one free. Dividend Shares. Each year the Company can choose to pay part of its profits out as dividends to shareholders. When this happens, your dividends will be used to buy more shares for you. The opportunity to sell your shares after you have held them for five years without having to pay any Income Tax or National Insurance but subject to a dealing fee. Important: Before you make a decision you need to remember that, as with any investment, there is an element of risk and that Spirit Pub Company plc shares can go down as well as up. The value of the shares you hold in the Plan is based on the Spirit Pub Company plc share price as quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Your choices As long as you have three months service you can join the SIP at any time. You can either use the link through The Benefits Bar website or go to com/spiritpubcompanyshareplans. You will not be able to make any choices for the SIP through The Benefits Bar but you can be redirected to the Computershare website. You can then make your choices for the SIP in the usual way. How much does it cost? You decide how much you would like to pay into the Plan from 10 per pay period up to 125 per pay period (or 10% of your gross salary, whichever is lower). You only make 12 payments per year. Your tax and National Insurance You do not pay tax or National Insurance on the purchase of your Partnership Shares. If you keep your shares for the full five year term from the date of purchase, you pay no Income Tax or National Insurance on them. CRAFTY FOX & WISE OWL might like this. 21

24 Your FUTURE - Securing your financial future Share Incentive Plan (SIP) What happens to the shares? Questions & Answers The shares are held in a Trust for you so that you can take advantage of the tax benefits. You don t have to pay Capital Gains Tax on any increase in the value of your shares while they are held in Trust. Is there a fee for buying the shares? No. You don t pay for the cost of buying the shares. The Company does. Will I get a share certificate? No. You will not automatically receive a certificate as they are held electronically in the Trust. Why does Spirit offer shares to employees? This is one of the ways the Company can reward you by helping you benefit financially from the Company s success. You can buy shares more favourably through the Plan than on the open market and receive more shares for your money with our matching Plan. When does the five year period start? The five year period starts from when each batch of shares is bought rather than from when you join the Plan. What if I leave the Company before the five years is up? If you leave the Company you will have to take your shares out of Trust. What happens to these shares when they are taken out of Trust depends on your reason for leaving the Company, the type of shares and how long they have been in the Plan. You can find out more in the SIP booklet which can be found on The Benefits Bar website. When can I choose this benefit? You will need to pass your probation period to be eligible to join if you are new to the Company but as long as you ve passed your probation you can join at any time 22