Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (CAS-71331-S0R8)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Mr L’s complaint as although there has been maladministration in making the overpayments, Mr L has not sustained injustice. This is because the injustice (which otherwise would have been sustained) has been sufficiently addressed by the Manager making an unconditional offer before the matter was referred to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO).

The Manager was correct to reduce the pension to the correct level provided for in the regulations governing the Scheme on discovery of the overpayments. The overpayments amounting to £53,125.38 are recoverable.

Complaint summary

Mr L’s complaint concerns the overpayment of his benefits. After receiving his pension for around 2.5 years, when he reached age 55, rather than his pension just being increased to account for inflation since he retired, it was also doubled. Mr L telephoned the Scheme’s administrator at the time to query the substantial increase in his pension. He says that he was told him that his pension was correct, but the error was subsequently identified by the Administrator three years later. His overpayments amount to £53,125.38.