Universities Superannuation Scheme (PO-7946)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Complaint Summary

Mrs E says that she was made redundant by SCONUL on 16 November 2012. She alleges that SCONUL subsequently incorrectly informed USS Ltd that she had left by mutual agreement and was therefore not entitled to an unreduced immediate early retirement pension from the USS.

She also complains that USS Ltd provided her with insufficient and misleading information about her USS pension rights available on redundancy which resulted in her failure to apply for an unreduced pension from the USS in November 2012.

In order to put matters right, Mrs E would like:

USS Ltd to pay her an unreduced early retirement pension from 17 November 2012; and

SCONUL and USS Ltd to award her suitable compensation in recognition of the considerable distress and inconvenience which she has suffered in dealing with this matter.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s Determination and reasons

The complaint should not be upheld against SCONUL and USS Ltd because having carefully considered all the available evidence, I consider that Mrs E was not made redundant by SCONUL and she was therefore not entitled to an unreduced early retirement pension from the USS.