Honeywell UK Pension Scheme (PO-26272)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

Mr S’ complaint against the Respondents is partly upheld. To put matters right the Trustee and WTW shall pay Mr S £1,000 in recognition of the serious distress and inconvenience which he has experienced whilst dealing with this matter.

Complaint summary

Mr S considers that he is entitled to take all his retirement benefits from the Scheme, without actuarial reduction from age 60. He has complained that the Trustee, Honeywell and his former employer, Novar, wrongly decided that only the middle tier benefits available to him from the Scheme can be taken unreduced from age 60 and that he will have to wait until age 62.5 if he also wants to take his lower tier benefits without reduction. Honeywell and Novar are the principal employer and a participating employer of the Scheme respectively.

He has also complained that WTW, the administrator of the Scheme (and the previous administrator, Paymaster) both incorrectly informed him that he could take his Scheme benefits unreduced from age 57.5 and that these mistakes have caused him considerable distress and inconvenience.