'Inefficiencies with the TeachersPension Scheme' - T-13 days!

Nolly_2

I have recently finished teaching after (give or take) thirty years in the classroom. I have been planning this for a while, but especially after having a heart attack in 2018 and a triple heart bypass the following year.

I applied for early retirement and my pension on November 2nd 2023 (giving the full maximum six months' notice to TPS), with a view to drawing my Teachers' Pension on May1st 2024, a few days after I turn 55.

I am still awaiting meaningful figures and action from TPS.

 When I rang regularly over the last few months I was told it was in progress and lately, after sending a secure message, I have received a standard message stating that a 'data cleanse' is being done and I will then be sent my Remediable Service Statement.

After receiving the last message on April 2nd I rang and was told that there was a query regarding the start date for one of my schools during my career (in 2006). I told the operator I knew about this and was willing to take the hit, as it were, as it was only three days and the school in question hasn't got its HR records any more from that year. He said he was sending a note through to the team, and told me that I should receive my RSS on Friday 5th, or Monday 8th at the latest.

On Monday 8th I rang again and the operator said she would send a note through for an interim payment, but that there was still a chance that I would get my RSS by the end of the day.

On April 9th I rang as it had still not arrived. The operator told me he could not do anything as the request was only sent the day before. I asked to speak to a manager as this is becoming extremely urgent to say the least, and was flatly told that there was no facility for him to pass on my call to chase up my case.

I have done absolutely everything that TPS has required to do at little or no notice, and have given TPS the maximum amount of time allowable to process my pension application (6 months). As it is, there has been no contact from TPS to me about the logjam with my employer from 18 years ago, and I am in serious risk in 9 working days' time, when I am due to receive my lump sum, of me having no money whatsoever and it not being down to me, but being solely down to TPS.

I have submitted a formal complaint to TPS (this takes at least 15 days and, from the day I submitted the complaint, 15 days is May 1st!), and have also sent emails to the Department for Education and the Trust Board that oversees the TPS. My union has said it cannot do anything to rush them along. I have written to my MP, who is looking into it. I have contacted the pensions advice service, who were of little help and eventually gave me the phone number for the ombudsman, but am I right in saying I can only go to the ombudsman when the complaint to TPS has been dealt with?

I have rung TPS regularly in the meantime, of course. On Monday I spoke to the lady I spoke to the previous Monday. She was apologetic and said she would send another message. Today I rang and was told the same I was told on 2nd April.

The situation is becoming desperate, to say the least. I have set up a Facebook group for teachers encountering problems with TPS and in 48 hours it had 150 members.

Can anyone offer any advice?

JoeCrystal

To confirm, exactly when did you stop working for your last school? I am just wondering if the delay is because the TPS is waiting for the final information regarding to your pay and so on. I mean, have you retired yet? Maybe they need the final payslip before deciding what is your pension is going to be beforehand.

I assume that your final day of work is 30th April. I understand you may receive your lump sum on the day following your last pensionable employment. As for your monthly pension, I also understand that this gets paid on the day before your birth date.

By the way, have you registered on My Pension Online? Maybe there is something on the TPS portal that might help.

I have to say this, and I am sorry if I am very blunt about it; you really should not have retired if you were so short on savings that you were wholly reliant on a tax-free lump sum for money. 

Marcon

Nolly_2 said:

am I right in saying I can only go to the ombudsman when the complaint to TPS has been dealt with?

Yes. You normally have to exhaust a scheme's Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure before the Pensions Ombudsman will accept the case.

tacpot12

You might consider applying for a credit card, and using any overdraft you have on your bank account. 

You might also consider asking family and friends for a loan, given that you will be able to pay them back when your lump sum arrives.

You could try claiming interest of TPS, but I doubt they will pay unless they don't pay your monthly pension on time.

Your story is pretty shocking, so I'm glad you have got your MP involved. 

You can only go to the Ombudsman when either the TPS has confirmed you are in deadlock or 8 weeks have elapsed. 

I would definitely be looking to the TPS for compensation, i.e. any interest you have to pay because they haven't paid your pension on time. 

Nolly_2

JoeCrystal said:

To confirm, exactly when did you stop working for your last school? I am just wondering if the delay is because the TPS is waiting for the final information regarding to your pay and so on. I mean, have you retired yet? Maybe they need the final payslip before deciding what is your pension is going to be beforehand.

I assume that your final day of work is 30th April. I understand you may receive your lump sum on the day following your last pensionable employment. As for your monthly pension, I also understand that this gets paid on the day before your birth date.

By the way, have you registered on My Pension Online? Maybe there is something on the TPS portal that might help.

I have to say this, and I am sorry if I am very blunt about it; you really should not have retired if you were so short on savings that you were wholly reliant on a tax-free lump sum for money. 

I officially stopped at my school on 14th April. I will be okay for the month of May, as I have taken on employment of a much less stressful kind. I always knew I would and that, along with my monthly pension when it starts next month, it will be enough to cover me financially. 

My Pension Online on the TPS portal have been acquainted for years - I have seen my benefit statement and have calculated the figures in my head (I took the figures from the benefit statement for my final salary and career average pension and applied the available actuarial reduction factors).

No worries about appearing blunt with your final statement- my lump sum will sort out a few things and give me an investment for the future. I am just utterly fed up with delays from TPS. I am not alone in being angry with their lack of effort, as it appears. Maybe it's because the government has taken the contract away from Capita and given it to Tata.

Other problems encountered by teachers include being charged thousands of pounds by TPS for producing a CETV upon divorce (I am glad that my ex-wife and I came to an agreement over it without going through the court about my pension)

Nolly_2

Thank you to those of you who have commented. 

I fully appreciate that, in the scheme of things, it's much less than others have to deal with. I am just aghast as it feels that Capita thinks it is doing teachers a favour by releasing their deferred salary to them when they retire

Marcon

Nolly_2 said:

Other problems encountered by teachers include being charged thousands of pounds by TPS for producing a CETV upon divorce (I am glad that my ex-wife and I came to an agreement over it without going through the court about my pension)

That's one of the most complex calculations going - and teachers aren't alone in having to fork out for it. The charge for supplying such a CETV is £242, not 'thousands of pounds' (that only applies if a court order is granted and has to be implemented). Full schedule here for anyone who needs it: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/-/media/documents/member/factsheets/family-and-dependents/pod-admin-factsheet-charges-march-2024.ashx?rev=c78742790d9e464a8ee4a90905932be4&hash=CB4FEE47B17F0D38ECD9C353F3E1D801 

Nolly_2

Marcon said:

Nolly_2 said:

Other problems encountered by teachers include being charged thousands of pounds by TPS for producing a CETV upon divorce (I am glad that my ex-wife and I came to an agreement over it without going through the court about my pension)

That's one of the most complex calculations going - and teachers aren't alone in having to fork out for it. The charge for supplying such a CETV is £242, not 'thousands of pounds' (that only applies if a court order is granted and has to be implemented). Full schedule here for anyone who needs it: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/-/media/documents/member/factsheets/family-and-dependents/pod-admin-factsheet-charges-march-2024.ashx?rev=c78742790d9e464a8ee4a90905932be4&hash=CB4FEE47B17F0D38ECD9C353F3E1D801 

I realise that if it all goes smoothly the charge is only £242, but as it says it can charge over £3000 and the information can take months to come through

Marcon

Nolly_2 said:

Marcon said:

Nolly_2 said:

Other problems encountered by teachers include being charged thousands of pounds by TPS for producing a CETV upon divorce (I am glad that my ex-wife and I came to an agreement over it without going through the court about my pension)

That's one of the most complex calculations going - and teachers aren't alone in having to fork out for it. The charge for supplying such a CETV is £242, not 'thousands of pounds' (that only applies if a court order is granted and has to be implemented). Full schedule here for anyone who needs it: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/-/media/documents/member/factsheets/family-and-dependents/pod-admin-factsheet-charges-march-2024.ashx?rev=c78742790d9e464a8ee4a90905932be4&hash=CB4FEE47B17F0D38ECD9C353F3E1D801 

I realise that if it all goes smoothly the charge is only £242, but as it says it can charge over £3000 and the information can take months to come through

That's not the fault of TPS - and they are only covering the costs of providing this service (which quite rightly shouldn't fall on other members or their employers). The costs are much in line with other DB schemes.

xylophone

I understand you may receive your lump sum on the day following your last pensionable employment. As for your monthly pension, 

Well.......

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6477540/delay-with-pension-lump-sum-payment

My husband took early retirement starting 1st Sept this year. The information he was given from his pension provider (teachers Pensions) prior to this was that he would receive his lump sum on the first day of his retirement. 

The lump sum didn't arrive and since then he has called several times to ask why it's delayed, and when it's likely to arrive. Each time been given contradicting information and empty promises.

Throughout this time he has not been contacted at all by his pension provider by letter/email to offer an explanation, apology or expected payment date.