Slow progress for pensioners

Around 1500 pensions have been put into payment in the last two weeks and it is expected that all members who received their lump sums some weeks ago will have been allocated to an automated payroll cycle by the end of May. 

Over the last week the number of pension quotes issued increased to around 2,500, from only 400 per week previously. Capita has committed to producing pension quotes at this level to clear the backlog. To set this in context, the number of new applications to partially or fully retire can easily reach more than 600 per week so it will take time to have an effect. It is reported that 2024/25 Annual Benefit Statements (ABS) have now gone live in the Scheme Portal. 

At the weekly meeting with civil service trade unions, the Cabinet Office confirmed that the issue of detriment due to payment with arrears being made in a later tax year was being discussed with HMRC and that clarification will be made as soon as possible.

In the next session of parliament, the public accounts committee and the public administration and constitutional affairs committee are expected to hold a further joint session to take evidence on the administration crisis in the Civil Service Pension Scheme, its causes and consequences. PCS will continue to work with our parliamentary group to examine the progress of the recovery and the performance of Capita against the ministerial commitment to achieve contractual service levels by the end of June. 

The seventh Taskforce Update includes an updated Q&A for those receiving pension quotes.