New pension equality rules could cost companies 'millions' The accrual rate for females under the guaranteed minimum pension scheme was also better than for men, under complex rules, meaning employers could be forced to top up male members" benefits to match the payments. Companies that opted out of the additional state pension and built up benefits in a final salary scheme between 1990-97 will be heavily impacted by the new rules, as by opting out they had to make sure they offered a guaranteed minimum scheme. Pensions experts were alarmed that the DWP's consultation does not clear up whether equalisation would occur for members already retired or only for future payments to those workers yet to retire. In theory, a pensioner could be told they are owed money under the rule changes - however, those thinking they are due for a windfall have little to look forward to as payments could be as little as £10, experts warned. Worse still, pensions consultancies say the industry has been happily ignoring the complex issue for decades. The EU has recently threatened to bring equalisation into practice but the UK has decided to make it compulsory regardless. Darren Philp, of the National Association of Pension Funds, said: "Pension schemes already have enough on their plate and the administrative headache this will create could not have come at a worse time." Giannis Waymouth, pensions lawyer at Allen & Overy, said: "The timing of this decision is dreadful. At a time when pension schemes are struggling to secure additional cash from employers, employers are facing all the problems of the eurozone crisis and recession, and benefits are being cut back, pension schemes are going to be faced with additional high costs. She said the cost could run into "millions."