Do I need to repay VES if re-employed in the public sector?

[Jasminey]

I may be offered VES at work, and will feel pressured to take it as if I decline and get made redundant the payout will be less.
Does anyone know about repayment if reemployed be public sector. I am in an ALB at the moment, if I join another public sector employer with a different pension, ie novus to alpha, do I still need to repay the VES payment? I have heard conflicting info. Thank you. I am scared, I am nearing 50 and need a job :(

Yes, if you are re employed within a certain time you will. Are you currently on a career average pension? Don’t apply if you don’t want to leave. If you aren’t in a union join one now.

I think it’s 6 months for my dept, in that you can’t rejoin, but call HR and ask.

You should have access to full details of the VES including FAQs that will set out the period you need to wait until you can return. Make sure you keep a copy of them.

OP isn’t talking about returning to the same ALB though. If employed by a different dept (eg took VS from the Environment Agency then got a job with DWP) why would she have to repay?

It’s not the specific department that matters but whether or not it is from a Public Sector / Civil
Service scheme and joining somewhere else under a Public Sector / Civil Service scheme

The actual answer is “it depends” based on what scheme pays out and what scheme is rejoined

Arms Length Bodies range widely from being part of a department and being independant other than being funded by government

If a payback does apply then typically it would be a 100% payback if within 28 days, no payback if over 6 months, and a proportion if between 28 days and 6 months

I couldn’t rejoin any org that used the CS pension scheme for 2 years when I took VES.