Pensions Ombudsman Focus Spring 2022 edition

Welcome to the Pensions Ombudsman Focus for the Spring 2022 period. In this edition, we look at six recent complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman, including:

• Three decisions which provide an insight into the Ombudsman’s approach to overpayments where the complainant raises a defence of change of position.
• A decision which emphasises the importance of trustees maintaining robust processes with respect to statutory transfers, including checking a member’s entitlement to transfer.
• A decision confirming that maladministration in assessing a member’s eligibility for ill-health retirement benefits will not necessarily constitute an injustice, and reiterating that evidence adduced by a member must relate to the circumstances at the time.
• A decision which demonstrates that a member who receives and relies on incorrect information with respect to their benefits (even over a number of years) may not always be successful in their claim to be restored to the position they would have been had they received the correct information.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised in these determinations, or any other contentious issues you may have, please contact our Pensions Dispute Resolution Group.

Read the Spring 2022 edition