Unhappy with your pension benefits?
From your first day of employment both your employer and the Pensions Office make decisions under the Scheme rules that affect your Local Government Pension Scheme benefits. If you think a decision is incorrect or you are unhappy with it, then we have an Internal Disputes Resolution Procedure to resolve any problems.
The process for members of both Tyne and Wear Pension Fund, and Northumberland County Council Pension Fund has three steps to follow:
Step 1
At first, please contact the organisation that made the decision with which you are unhappy.
It may be possible to explain the details of your case and resolve any misunderstanding or query at this stage.
If it is not resolved you will need to write to the specified person of the organisation that made the decision, either your employer or the Pension Fund.
You have six months from the date of the decision to do this. You will receive a response within two months.
If you are unhappy with the response, you can begin Step 2.
Step 2
Write to the Panel of Appointed Persons. You will receive a response within two months of receiving your letter.
If you are unhappy with the appointed person's decision, you can begin Step 3.
Step 3
Write to the Pensions Ombudsman, who is an independent person who settles disputes between pension scheme members and pension schemes.
You will not pay any charges for following this procedure.
It is important that you follow these steps.
If you want further information on these steps, please read our leaflet Unhappy with your Pension Rights[pdf - 263kb]
