Cat Little says Capita is falling short
The chief operating officer for the civil service has said that the situation affecting Civil Service Pensions has caused hardship and falls short of the service that members deserve.
Cat Little, permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office and chief operating officer for the civil service, has sent a message to all civil servants today (28) saying that the situation affecting Civil Service Pensions has caused hardship and falls short of the service scheme members deserve.
A message on Capita's website says "Capita and the Cabinet Office are deeply sorry for the worry, frustration and distress this has caused - particularly for those dealing with bereavement or ill health. Both Capita and the Cabinet Office take this responsibility very seriously and are urgently working together to put this right.”
As previously reported by PCS, an unprecedented backlog at Capita has delayed payments of pension to 8,500 newly retired civil servants.
In a letter to PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote, Cat Little sets out plans to make payments to those affected who are at risk of hardship. Further information is expected on this from employers within the next 24 hours.
A swift response in cases of ill-health retirement and bereavement is promised, with full service for cases of bereavement restored by 12 February. PCS continues to press for the restoration of full information via the Online Member Hub.
It is clear that the backlog at Capita will take months to clear. We continue to respond to the questions and urgent issues raised by members and we continue to meet the scheme management weekly. PCS also wants the lessons of failed privatisation to be learned and the in-sourcing of public service contracts to be speeded up.
Sign our e-action to ask your MP to intervene and write to the minister for the Cabinet Office asking them to take urgent action to resolve the crisis.