VICTORY With the compliments of British Age Pensioner Alliance

The DWP (IPC) tried to say that Mrs B was not entitled to the uprating of her GMP. It was clear from their letter that they completely misunderstood the Treasury rules on the subject. On a challenge by our resident actuary, one letter only pointing out their error, they capitulated. Unconditional surrender.

We are now trying to press them into reviewing their records on every public sector pensioner, but they are dragging their feet, claiming that they have to consult their policy colleagues.

 

Dear Mr Nelson Thank your for your e-mail dated 23rd October 2007. I am sorry for the delay in replying to you but I needed to review the advice provided by policy colleagues. The letter sent to Mrs Bxxx on my behalf on 8 October contained incorrect information about Public Sector Pension Schemes' responsibility to pay increases on Public Service Pensions and I acknowledge that your e-mail dated 23 October set out the correct approach to the uprating when a person receiving such a pension moves to a frozen rate country. I am sorry for the confusion our letter caused. I have written separately to Mrs Bxxx to apologise to her for this. I can confirm that we have reviewed our process for dealing with cases like this and we are taking steps to ensure that our staff understand how to deal correctly with customers in the same position as Mrs Bxxx. Once again I am sorry for the confusion we have caused on this matter. Your sincerely Jim Rynn Acting Pension Centre Manager International Pension Centre Room TC216 Tyneview Park Newcastle Upon Tyne   0191 21 87071 07836 352287

Unfortunately Jim Rynn retired shortly after this episode, and IPC have not done anything to tell public sector pensioners how they are affected and what they should do.

Here is the explanation given by the Civil Service Pensioners Association. It is all right so far as it goes, but in our view it should be an initiative of the DWP to search its database for cases that have been missed in the past. However, alerting pensioners to the situation and prodding them to write to the International pensions Centre is the next best thing. Besides, pensioners are probably better than computers at this kind of thing!

 

Another Victory.

 

Now here is the lesson.

 

If you have a pension from the public sector derived from employment between 1978 and 1997, you may also be affected - and you will not be aware of it.

BAPA can help you. Bureaucrats seem to be very confused about this simple procedure. See How it is done. Experiences of members suggest that it is up to the pensioner to pursue it both with DWP and the administrators of the pension scheme.

Public sector covers civil service, local government service, armed forces, police and other emergency services, National Health Service, teaching service, and of course, MPs and judges.

The Pension Increase (Review) Order 2007  I am pleased to inform you that under the above Order your Pension Paid by xxxxx Pension Services has been increased as shown below:      £   Current Annual Pension   £1000.00   LESS Total G.M.P. (if applicable)   £200.00       800.00   3.6% Pension Increase: £28.80     3% Pension Increase on       Post 88 G.M.P. (£0.00): £0.00             Total Pension Increase   £28.80   ADD Total G.M.P. (if applicable)   £200.00   New Annual Pension   £1028.80   The monthly gross amount shown on your pay advice has an adjustment, as the increase does not apply from the beginning of a calendar month.