LGPS - how long for retirement documentation to be issued?

norfolkandnorwich

I handed in my notice five weeks ago, I'm 60 and the pension fund administrator is aware I wish to draw my pension based on salary from a number of years ago. Prior to deciding to leave, I received a pension quote, subject to actual salary details being confirmed by my payroll administrators. I've received no documentation whatsoever from the pension fund administrators which is beginning to cause me concern. My last day at work is three weeks away. Can anyone comment whether it's usual to not be given any confirmation of previous figures quoted and no documentation about the pension at this stage of the retirement procedure, please?

xylophone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/profile/Silvertabby
This poster is a retired LGPS administrator - try a PP?

wjr4

Call them tomorrow to chase & ask for a turnaround time. 

Silvertabby

Under normal circumstances, I expect that you would have received your options figures by now - but we are living in difficult times.

A friend who still works as a LGPS administrator tells me that they are all working from home, with the exception of the admin staff who sort the paper post and then scan the images so that the pensions officers can transfer copies of documents to individual member records.  Add to this the complication of needing a major input of data from your HR/payroll, who are also likely to be working from home/with reduced staff, and things are taking a lot longer than normal.  Plus, of course, the 'best year' calculation is an extra (big) step.

They are doing the best they can as, I'm sure, are your own LGPS staff members - but that includes prioritising their workload ( a sort of triage) in that records such as deaths or members who have already reached their retirement dates, are dealt with before future retirees.

The first thing I would check is that your line manager has officially told the LGPS of your confirmed date of retirement.  Without this, nothing can/will happen.  After that, try ringing your LGPS for an update.

I hate to say this, but the best practical advice I can offer you now is to ensure that you have enough money to tide you over from your date of retirement until your lump sum/first pension payment is made.  Based on your retirement date of 30 June (?) this will be the end of July at the very earliest - but is more likely to  be the end of August or even later if things don''t ease up before then.  

norfolkandnorwich

Thanks for the comments, all!
I fully acknowledge the difficult circumstances we're all living in and have myself been working full time from home since the second week in March so I can empathise with the challenges that is presenting. My forum post today is largely due to a very vague response to my request for an update on progress on Friday.
I also took the trouble to contact both pension and payroll administrators in April explaining my intentions prior to handing in my notice and to gauge whether delays would be likely and was reassured that the current working circumstances were not impacting unduly.