LGPS Strathclyde Pension Fund - should I expect communication?

BridgetTheCat

I have a deferred final salary pension with the above which I want to start taking on 31st January 2026.

I filled in the deferred options pack and emailed it to them on 18/10/25 (because they said they need 3 months notice). I asked them to acknowledge receipt, which they didn’t do, but it’s showing in the online portal as ‘with us’ dated 21/10/25. I’ve had no other communication from them. They are very slow and take weeks to respond to queries.

Can I assume everything is ok and they’ll pay my lump sum and monthly pension amount in January? Should I expect some sort of confirmation before then?

Brie

Never assume. 

I had to ring pension administrators repeatedly to get things progressed on my pensions.  They kept saying that forms had been sent to me by post and email but hadn't.  They said they'd get back to me on needed documentation and they didn't.  I'd likely still be waiting a couple of years down the line if I hadn't been pushy.

Marcon

BridgetTheCat said:

I have a deferred final salary pension with the above which I want to start taking on 31st January 2026.

I filled in the deferred options pack and emailed it to them on 18/10/25 (because they said they need 3 months notice). I asked them to acknowledge receipt, which they didn’t do, but it’s showing in the online portal as ‘with us’ dated 21/10/25. I’ve had no other communication from them. They are very slow and take weeks to respond to queries.

Can I assume everything is ok and they’ll pay my lump sum and monthly pension amount in January? Should I expect some sort of confirmation before then?

I'm sure one of the LGPS experts will be along soon to confirm. Where's @Silvertabby when you need her...

Silvertabby

As long as you have sent everything they asked for (copies of birth/marriage certificates) and you have clearly indicated your choices, then you should just be on an electronic jobs list waiting for your payment day.

But it wouldn't hurt to ring them to check that they have everything, and that your instructions are clear.

Most common reasons for people being pulled off the pay run at the last minute were unclear bank details.  The claim form we used set had printed boxes for bank codes and bank accounts, but  couldn't begin to guess the number of people who drew in extra boxes and gave us the long numbers from the front of their bank cards.  Or the times a squiggle could have been a 0 or a 6.....

BridgetTheCat

Silvertabby said:

As long as you have sent everything they asked for (copies of birth/marriage certificates) and you have clearly indicated your choices, then you should just be on an electronic jobs list waiting for your payment day.

That’s what worries me @Silvertabby, the pack didn’t ask for any proof of ID, just my NI number and bank details.

Silvertabby

BridgetTheCat said:

Silvertabby said:

As long as you have sent everything they asked for (copies of birth/marriage certificates) and you have clearly indicated your choices, then you should just be on an electronic jobs list waiting for your payment day.

That’s what worries me @Silvertabby, the pack didn’t ask for any proof of ID, just my NI number and bank details.

What about your options?  ie, your choice of standard pension and lump sum or commute some of your pension for a bigger lump sum?  If you haven't done that then you certainly need to get in touch with them.  And ask why they haven't asked for a copy of your birth certificate.  They may say that they already have a copy on their records, but it's SOP to ask for some form of proof of id when paying from deferred status.

BridgetTheCat

Yes there was:
* a deferred benefits election form 
* a previous pension benefits declaration (n/a for me)
* a commutation election form and
* a form for bank details 

all correctly filled in and copies retained.

I was surprised there was no ID check but then I wondered if they were doing it via online sources like the banks now.

Silvertabby

BridgetTheCat said:

Yes there was:
* a deferred benefits election form 
* a previous pension benefits declaration (n/a for me)
* a commutation election form and
* a form for bank details 

all correctly filled in and copies retained.

I was surprised there was no ID check but then I wondered if they were doing it via online sources like the banks now.

Possibly.  But I'd still check, especially if speed of payment will be an issue.

Lemon_dr1zzle

You might not need to provide ID if your date of birth was previously confirmed when you were working 

Silvertabby

Lemon_dr1zzle said:

You might not need to provide ID if your date of birth was previously confirmed when you were working 

Possibly, but if the record has been deferred for some time then I would expect that Strathclyde would/should want some form of current id.  We certainly did, even when a copy birth certificate was already on the record.     

chalkybar

just out of interest, if they delay/miss pay dates through none of your fault are they liable for interest to be paid to you?