Your Personal Information and Data Protection
South Tyneside Council (as the administrator for the Tyne and Wear Pension Fund) is responsible for protecting the public funds it manages. To do this we may use the information you give us or the information we hold about you to detect and prevent crime or fraud. We may also share this information with other organisations that inspect and manage public funds.
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, South Tyneside Council (as the administrator for the Tyne and Wear Pension Fund) is the Data Controller. We will ensure we keep all information safe and secure.
If you would like to know more about what information we hold about you, or the way we use your information please either, view the Council’s website at www.southtyneside.info, contact The Pensions Helpline on 0191 424 4141 or please write to the Records Management Team, Town Hall & Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 2RL.
Changing and Sharing it
Changing your name, address, bank or building society account or want some information? Please contact us.
To safeguard all our members and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 we will ask for certain information about you. Once we know who you are, we will amend your details accordingly or provide the information you require. We will only accept changes personally from you and we will only disclose information directly to you, we will not take changes from or disclose any personal information to a third party.
National Fraud Initiative
What is the National Fraud Initiative?
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is the Audit Commission’s data exercise that is designed to help detect fraud from the public purse. The Fund participates in the National Fraud Initiative exercise by passing your pension information on to the Audit Commission.
How does it affect you?
If you are paid a pension from South Tyneside Council, which is the administering authority of the Tyne and Wear Pension Fund, your pension information will be matched nationally to housing benefit and rent information to help to detect and prevent fraud. The Council’s participation in the NFI exercise is mandatory and the Council is legally obliged to provide the relevant data.