SPVA Pensions Division error cost us thousands

Technophobe

I am seeking advice or help with an issue involving pension sharing on divorce.
Two years ago my wife who was then 56 and I divorced and a court order awarded her 55% of my army pension.
The sharing order was agreed between us after consulting with the Pensions Division at the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SVPA).
We had delayed our divorce because under the rules prior to 2009 my wife was not able to draw her pension until she reached the age of 60. We were separated and she received half my pension by standing order from my bank. In 2009 the SVPA announced that the rules had changed and that pensions could be drawn from the age of 55 instead of 60. I contacted the SVPA and specifically asked the army pension division if there would be an actuary reduction if my wife drew her pension early. I have a communication from them which states that there would be no reduction. We then decided to start divorce proceedings. The pension sharing order was implemented 2 years ago and my wife received what was effectively 55% of my army pension. They have recently contacted her to say that they had made a mistake when interpreting the rules and she will have an actuary reduction imposed on her pension and will now receive a pension 50% less than we anticipated. They have also said that she will not be expected to repay the overpayment as it was their mistake. Had we been correctly informed of the rules in 2009 we would not have pursued a pension sharing order for the army pension; we would have made alternative financial arrangements. My ex wife now stands to loose £3000 per year from her pension. Is there any legal course of action we can take to either nullify the pension sharing order or insist that the reduction is revoked and her full pension is re-instated.

Naval_Families_Federation

Hello Technophobe,

May I suggest you contact the Forces Pension Society (http://www.forcespensionsociety.org/) as they are pension experts for the Service community, and should be able to advise.

All the best.

Kind regards,
The NFF Team