HBOS Final Salary Pension Scheme (CAS-37810-V2L4)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

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

Complaint summary

Mrs S has complained that the Trustee and WTW have used an incorrect Normal Retirement Date (NRD) of her 62nd birthday to calculate the retirement benefits available to her from the Scheme.

In her opinion, she has met the criteria stipulated in the Trust Deed and Rules of the Scheme (the Scheme Rules) to have an NRD of her 60th birthday. She therefore considers that she should be able to retire from age 60 with no actuarial reduction being applied to her benefits or take early retirement where the actuarial reduction is calculated with reference to age 60 rather than 62.

She has also complained that WTW failed to provide her in a timely manner with a copy of the Scheme Rules and adequate information about the ill health early retirement (IHER) benefits available from the Scheme to make an informed decision.