Teachers pension - missing!

vettecarl

I did badger them at the time, but the onus was on me to prove I had paid the contributions.
without proof, they had no way of finding out how much I had contributed. 

Like I say, I will contact the TPAS and see what they say. Very messy!

greatkingrat

If it happened ten years ago, then I don't think there is anything you could do. It is long past the deadline for the Pensions Ombudsman to look at the case.

Brynsam

greatkingrat said:

If it happened ten years ago, then I don't think there is anything you could do. It is long past the deadline for the Pensions Ombudsman to look at the case.

It's still worth contacting TPAS and asking what they think. The PO has jurisdiction to take cases outside the three year time limit, which runs from when a complainant 'knows or ought reasonably to have known...'. In OP's shoes, I would try the argument that it is only now they have posted on this thread that they became aware that a deferred pension was an option. Has to be worth a go - something has gone badly amiss here.

zagubov

Have you also posted this on The Times Ed forum where there may be more people familiar with this situation?
And what does your union make of this?

xylophone

If you were a member of TPS at the time you realised that your contribution record was missing and you were able to show that you had made those contributions, why was your record not adjusted to show the contributions instead of making the refund?

vettecarl

xylophone said:

If you were a member of TPS at the time you realised that your contribution record was missing and you were able to show that you had made those contributions, why was your record not adjusted to show the contributions instead of making the refund?

I wasn’t a member at the time, that’s the point. I had opted out years earlier without realising I had to opt back in when I moved employer. 

When it came to my attention and after speaking to TP direct, I was informed that refunding my contributions was the only option. But only if I could prove that contributions had been made. 

zagubov

I'd wonder if your employers (The Local Education Authority) may have been mishandling this and I would wonder if your union would have the legal team to make them fix this.
I'd be on to your rep toot-sweet. That's why they exist; this isn't something for you to face on your own.

xylophone

I’ve worked full time since I started teaching. Just in different schools over the past 20 years. 

You started in 1999 and opted out of TPS.

You moved schools (around 2001(?) and  pension  contributions started to be taken from your salary.

You paid your contributions until around 2011 (?) and at around that time started wondering why you were not receiving pension statements.

You were told by TPS that they had no record of you as a member of the scheme - you scraped together such evidence as you had and they paid back your contributions.

You then formally rejoined the scheme at some point after 2011?

Does your state pension forecast show a COPE?

Marcon

zagubov said:

I'd wonder if your employers (The Local Education Authority) may have been mishandling this and I would wonder if your union would have the legal team to make them fix this.
I'd be on to your rep toot-sweet. That's why they exist; this isn't something for you to face on your own.

TPAS is probably a better starting point, not least because they are better placed to advise on the likelihood of the PO accepting the complaint, if it gets that far (i.e. isn't settled earlier). Looking at the PO's website, there are some determinations (e.g. https://www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/decision/2017/po-14500/teachers-pension-scheme-po-14500) where the PO has gone back nearly 20 years, so fingers crossed for OP...

[Deleted User]

I don't know about the teachers pension, whether it was contracted out or not. But if it was contracted out you can write a letter to the NISPI and they will give you the exact dates you were contracted out and into which scheme. Sample letter here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77156419#Comment_77156419