Pension Administration System to be Implemented April 2017

The Government’s Public Employees Pension Administration System (PEPAS) is expected to be implemented by April 1, 2017.

State Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 29.

He noted that the system, which will automate the public-sector pension reform business process, was originally scheduled to come on stream on April 1 this year.

However, the timeline was rescheduled to allow for passage of the supporting legislation and regulations that define the reformed pension rules.

The software application will support the implementation of a fully automated and efficient pension benefit claim and payout system.

It will provide for timely processing of pension applications and disbursement of benefits; enable the Government to better prepare forecasts and budgets and control the use of public funds; reduce manual operations throughout the administration process; and enable public servants to view their records.

Mr. Spencer said PricewaterhouseCoopers was contracted to develop the application, which will be hosted at the Government’s Data Centre, located at eGov Jamaica Limited.

He informed that to date, the firm has delivered the first two modules for testing by the Pensions Administration Unit. It is anticipated that the final module will be installed and commissioned by the end of December this year.

Mr. Spencer said an extensive period of testing and user training will follow, prior to the system coming on stream next April. He pointed out, however, that the timeline is contingent on the “expeditious passage of the pension reform legislation and regulations”.

The State Minister told the House that PricewaterhouseCoopers will maintain PEPAS for one year and, thereafter, eGov Jamaica Limited will assume that role, in addition to its hosting responsibilities.

In preparation for PEPAS’s implementation, Mr. Spencer said more than 350 officers in over 60 Ministries, Departments and Agencies falling under the Government’s pension programme benefited from sensitisation presentations over the past 12 months.