NHS Pension - ERRBO

Moonwolf

I've been paying for the early retirement buyout (ERRBO) since I joined the NHS Pension.

This should have enabled me to take my NHS Pension at 65 rather than 67 without actuarial reduction.

I have just been told that they have lost my paperwork (or rather more passively "the paperwork cannot be found" )

They are telling me that unless I can prove that they processed the paperwork correctly all they can do is refund my contributions?

Any advice for approaching this?

saucer

That is pretty shocking. Do you not have any paperwork, sent at the time? When did you take out the contract with them. If it was me I would be looking to escalate this through an appeals process https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/?s=nhs

Moonwolf

I would add. Part of my disappointment is that I am currently recovering from bowel cancer. I had major surgery and half my large bowel removed but didn't need chemotherapy. It has made me re-evaluate things. I mention this as I was expecting to draw down but given that my partner is 15 years older than me and I expect to live a long time despite the cancer (my risk if I'm wrong about this) I wondered if an impaired annuity might be possible, might beat drawdown, and make up some of the loss.

peter3hg

Your organisation’s payroll will have received a notification from NHS Business Services at the time so it might be worth seeing if they have a copy in your personnel file.

Moonwolf

Thanks Peter, I have raised a case with HR. I'll wait and see.

xylophone

They are telling me that unless I can prove that they processed the paperwork correctly all they can do is refund my contributions?

And how exactly would you be supposed to do this?

Try TPAS for help.

https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/pension-problems

crv1963

Are increased deductions via payroll not evident on your payslips? If so that is the evidence that someone somewhere sent the notification to payroll for these. Payroll cannot unilaterally decide to increase your deductions without instruction from an authorised agency/ person.

I'd also contact your Trust Pension Officer they may help track down the paperwork or at least a copy of it.

If as seems likely someone has made an error, if the Trust or NHS Pension Agency will not rectify the error then there is also the Grievance Procedure available to you.

You should use the organisations own procedures to prove your case- they have the paperwork somewhere if it has not been processed then that is not your fault and you should be returned to a point where harm (in this case financial) has not been harmed to you. Refunding deductions as offered indicates an organisational or procedural weakness or error, so you can also ask your union for support.