The Thales UK Pension Scheme (PO-17674)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Mr S’ complaint and no further action is required by the Trustee.

My reasons for reaching this decision are explained in more detail below.

Complaint summary

Mr S disagrees with the decision of the Trustee to rely on legal advice as to the interpretation of the Scheme rules in relation to the index linking of pensions in payment. The Trustee has decided that pensioners’ benefits ought to have had increases applied using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI) since 2011.  As a result, Mr S’ pension is being “frozen” until it reaches the level it should have been if CPI had been correctly applied from 2011.