Teachers’ Pension Scheme (PO-19086)
Complainant: Mr R
Complaint Topic: Equal treatment
Ref: PO-19086
Outcome: Not upheld
Respondent: Teachers' Pensions
Type: Pension complaint or dispute
Date:
Ombudsman’s Determination
Outcome
I do not uphold Mr R’s complaint and no further action is required by TP.
My reasons for reaching this decision are explained in more detail below.
Complaint summary
Mr R’s dispute with TP is about the amount of his pension to which he is entitled under the Scheme. Mr R says that he has been treated unfairly by TP because it awarded him only a nominated partner’s pension instead of a full widower’s pension on the basis that he was not married to his late partner. Mr R says the judgment of the Supreme Court in Brewster [2017] UKSC 8 means that such discrimination between married and unmarried couples is now prohibited.