UPDATE - 5/9/24 Pensions Remedial Service Statements / Annual Benefit Statements

5 September 2024

Dear members,

The majority of members will not be affected by the remedy of legacy pensions, if you are not affected by remedy then no need to read on.

On Saturday 31^st August the pension administrators for the force XPS were due to provide all members either an Annual Benefits Statement [ABS] or a Remedial Service Statement [RSS] via their Members Self Service portal. 

As we now know, and this is putting it lightly, it’s not worked out as well as we had hoped. I have been informed that over 70% of members have received a statement in some ways, however the accuracy and indeed lack of information on what members are required, or not, to do is lacking.  On Tuesday morning I attended a meeting with the National Federation Secretary and received an update as to the emerging picture across all forces in England and Wales.  XPS provide the administrative services to more than half of forces and we are not alone in this situation.  I was also informed that the National Federation will be speaking with the national lead for pensions CC Jeremy Vaughan later this week to discuss the concerns. That same day I also sent an email to the Chief Constable, the finance officer and the pensions remedy manager for D&C and Dorset on the amount of concern and anger at the situation. [the CC is the scheme manager for D&C]

On Wednesday 4^th Sept I spoke with the D&C finance officer Robin Wheeler, who informed me that the force was trying to establish from XPS the situation and I pressed on him the need for the force [who manage your pensions] to communicate quickly with the membership on the situation. 

Please be assured as an officer hugely affected by remedy myself [ I have not received my RSS] that I am trying to get as much information from the force as possible on the situation for the members and push for further comms to come out, especially what it means for members posed with questions on what they need to do next. As explained in the previous news article. 

Today [Thursday 5^th Sept]  I will be attending the regional pension Board where I will be asking further questions on behalf of federation members across the region to force representatives and the administrators. I will endeavour to update  as soon as possible.

Regards

Jim Purkiss Branch Secretary