Deciding whether to contract in or out of the State Second Pension (S2P) between now and 2012, when it is expected contracting-out under defined contribution schemes will be abolished, remains a complex issue.

Supporting the Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) outcomes, we want to make sure that you are clear of our view on contracting-out.

We will therefore be writing to you in January 2010, and asking you again to review your customers’ circumstances to ensure that it still remains in their interest to be contracted out of S2P for the 2009/10 tax year.

We will also mail all contracted out customers (including intermediary customers) during January and February 2010, enclosing a copy of the factsheet produced by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) – Should you be contracted out?

In addition, customers for whom regular contracted out rebate payments have not been received for at least the last 2 years, will be contracted back in for the 2009/2010 tax year unless they contact us to advise otherwise.

What information will we send?

• FSA Factsheet
• Customer Letter and reply slip to enable customers to contract back in
• Non payment Customer letter and reply slip

You can find a PDF version of these documents opposite.

Visit the www.standardlife.co.uk website for customer information about contracting-out.