CIRC 005: PENSIONS – UPDATE POA CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION ON CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS

As part of a NTUC joint trade unions, the POA has written to the Cabinet Office calling for urgent and effective action to address continuing failures in the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Following the transition of pension administration to Capita, which inherited a backlog of approximately 90,000 cases from the previous contractor MyCSP/Equiniti, many members are experiencing unacceptable payment delays.

These include delays to the payment of lump sums and the commencement of pension payments for newly retired and partially retired staff.

As part of the NTUC group the POA has made clear to the Cabinet Office that these failures are causing serious financial hardship and distress to members and are undermining confidence in the pension scheme. The union has set out urgent actions it expects to see implemented without delay, including: 

• A clear and firm timetable for clearing the existing backlog and resuming work on the McCloud Remedy cases.
• Assurance that Capita will prioritise work to release all delayed pension and lump sum payments.
• The introduction of a proactive and fair compensation scheme for members affected by prolonged delays.
• Immediate clarification on current and planned resourcing levels

 The POA also concur with other NTUC trade unions that a method must be put in place to prioritise cases to ensure that the following cases are given priority.

• Hardship cases: including those who have already retired, partially retired, or have left the organisation in some other way and are awaiting payment. In these cases, and where immediate full payment is not possible, scheme members should also be given the option of an immediate bridging payment.
• Those who are imminently retiring/partially-retiring
• Bereavement cases, plus any requested changes in beneficiary.

The POA is clear that members are legally entitled to their pension benefits in a timely manner. The union will continue to pursue this matter robustly and will consider all available options, including legal avenues, both on an individual and collective basis, to protect members’ interests.

As part of the NTUC, the POA has requested a detailed response from the Cabinet Office and has highlighted the significant increase in enquiries from members regarding pension delays.

The union urges POA members to raise concerns with their local MP if they are currently affected by these issues.

 

Yours sincerely

STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary