The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (CAS-36051-K6P2)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

1. Ms G’s complaint against the DoH is upheld because:-

   1. Ms G has suffered a financial loss as a result of the pay award that was implemented in February 2018; and

   2. This situation has caused Ms G serious distress and inconvenience.

Complaint summary

1. Ms G’s complaint is two-fold. Her first complaint is that her pensionable pay for the 2017/18 tax year was not adjusted for her salary sacrifice election of £200 (the Salary Sacrifice), and this resulted in her being charged an incorrect pension contribution rate.

2. The second part of Ms G’s complaint concerns the failure of HSC Pensions, HSC Board (HSC), (her employer at the time, now dissolved) and the DoH to take remedial action with pensions to avoid the unintended consequences she suffered when she received a 1% pay award in the 2017/18 Scheme year, although they had resolved the same issue for staff at a different pay grade in the 2014/15 tax year. She asserts that their failure has resulted in her being in a worse financial position permanently.