This week’s update covers the Pensions Regulator’s interim response to its consultation on its combined code of practice and the Regulator’s decision to prosecute the former owner of Norton Motorcycles over the breach of the employer-related investment restrictions.
PASA announces Benefit Statements working group
On 16 August 2021, PASA (the Pensions Administration Standards Association) announced that it is to form part of a DWP led working group to consider development of 'an approach to a statements season', the changes needed to help implement delivery and guidance.
The announcement follows the May 2021 DWP consultation on new 'simpler annual benefits statements' including draft regulations and draft statutory guidance (see our insight update).
DWP factsheet published on impact on GMP indexation of switch to single-tier state pension
In 2019, following complaints by two individuals, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (the PHSO) found the Government guilty of maladministration over unclear, inaccurate and incomplete communication of the negative effect that the change to the single-tier state pension might have on increases to certain individuals' GMP benefits where they had contracted out of the state pension.
The PHSO recommended that the Government provide clearer information about the impact that the GMP indexation changes might have and that it invites other individuals who believe that they might have suffered in a similar way to come forward.
The DWP proposed that it publish a factsheet on GOV.UK by way of response to the Ombudsman's findings, a draft of which was with the PHSO for comments. This factsheet is now available. Trustees of formerly contracted-out defined benefit schemes may wish to let members know so that they can obtain further details of the issue and, where relevant, take steps to obtain redress.