Pensions working group launches survey

14 August 2020

A survey is going to be carried out by the West Midlands Police Federation Pensions Working Group.

At the latest meeting of the working group earlier this week, members discussed the need to establish what officers know about the current situation around pensions.

“Therefore it was proposed to initiate a survey to help us fully understand the position of members and to provide information as to the Government’s proposed remedy to the discrimination found in the transitional arrangements put in place when the 2015 pension scheme was launched and how it could affect individuals. This will then help us going forward with further discussions and proposals,” says Jon Nott, West Midlands Police Federation chair, who is a member of the working group.

“The majority of this week’s meeting was spent collating the group’s responses to the Government consultation around the remedy proposals. We were also informed that we are in discussions with ARC, which was our Group Insurance Scheme provider at the relevant time, and the Financial Ombudsman as to whether they will cover the cost of the legal challenge under the terms of the insurance. When we have more information around this subject we will share it with members.”

In addition to the Federation branch chair, the West Midlands Police Federation Pensions Working Group is made up of:

• Chris (Sid) James – chair
• Aaron Bell
• Richard Cooke
• Trudy Gittins
• Steve Grange
• Darren Neville
• Rod Rose
• Steve Temperton

The working group has scheduled another meeting for 8 September to try to further progress its response to the Government consultation and the other issues raised in relation to pensions.