Pension discrimination

26 March 2020

Members of public service pension schemes with relevant service will be automatically entitled to the remedy to the unlawful age discrimination within the transitional arrangements identified by the Court of Appeal, it has been confirmed.

Economic secretary to the Treasury John Glen announced in a Written Ministerial Statement all relevant members will benefit from the remedy to the discrimination, regardless of whether they have made a claim.

This means the remedy will apply to every Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) member subject to the discrimination and they will not have to bring a claim to ensure that their pension receives the same treatment as those who have already brought claims.

Mr Glen said: “I would like to reassure members that their pension entitlements are safe.”

After ‘constructive engagement with trade unions, staff associations, public service employers and other stakeholders’, the Government is continuing to work through the details of the technical design elements of the proposals.

Detailed proposals will be published later this year and will be subject to public consultation.

The announcement follows the Government’s decision in July 2019 to take steps to remove the discrimination retrospectively.

The Court of Appeal previously ruled the Government’s transitional protections introduced for judges and firefighters were discriminatory on the grounds of age.

The announcement confirms PFEW’s previous communications and belief that members who had been discriminated against by the transitional arrangements would be entitled to the remedy without the need to make a claim.

This statement does not cover compensation for claims involving hurt feelings or for any other financial loss.

Further information about the remedy can be obtained from the update and FAQs issued by PFEW.