Manage pension disputes
Informal process
A member may disagree with a decision you’ve made about their pension. For example, on flexible retirement, or the contribution band you’ve put them on. If the member is unhappy with a decision, you should try to resolve it informally. You should explain why you made the decision or correct any errors or misunderstandings.
Every time you make a pension decision you should include the ‘Disputing an employers decision’ form with your communication. You should also keep detailed records of the decisions you’ve made.
Formal process
If the member isn’t happy with your response, they have a right to raise their dispute through a formal process. Within the LGPS, this is called an Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP). For the first stage of the IDRP, the member should contact their employer in writing. This appeal must be given to the person that you’ve chosen to be the ‘adjudicator’. You must let us know who this is for your organisation.
If the member is still unhappy, they can raise their dispute with the administering authority (stage 2). This would be:
- Cambridgeshire County Council for Cambridgeshire Pension Fund
- West Northamptonshire Council for Northamptonshire Pension Fund
A member should also raise their dispute directly with the administering authority for all disputes relating to administering authority decisions.
If the member was unable to resolve their dispute using the IDRP, they can refer it to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO).
You can find out more about the IDRP on our forms and guides page.
