Local Government Pension Scheme (PO-20719)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

Mrs Y’s complaint against the Council is partly upheld. To put matters right, for the part that is upheld, the Council shall pay Mrs Y £500, for the significant distress and inconvenience she has experienced.  

Complaint summary

Mrs Y’s complaint is two-fold. First, she has complained about the way her survivor’s benefits have been calculated (her benefits), as she believes her benefits should be calculated as if her husband had been an active member rather than a deferred member of the Scheme, at the time of his death. 

Second, she has complained about the delays she experienced when going through the Scheme’s Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP), and the delays she experienced following her request for a breakdown of how her survivor’s benefits were calculated.