Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

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

Complaint summary

Mrs Y’s complaint against the Trustee is that:

• the calculation and payment of benefits following the death of her cousin, Mr S, was incorrect; and
• the payment made did not accord with the formula provided on the Fund’s website.

Mrs Y would like Mr S’ estate to receive a lump sum of five times Mr S’ pension.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Mrs N’s complaint and no further action is required by Teachers’ Pensions or DfE.

Complaint summary

Mrs N is complaining that she is not receiving the full widow’s pension following the death of her husband, Mr N. Instead she is only receiving a partial benefit based on service from 1972 to 1982, rather than for all of her husband’s teaching service.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Complaint Summary

The Estate has complained because the late Mr H was not awarded full commutation of his Scheme benefits on grounds of serious ill-health. The complaint is brought by Mrs H, sister-in-law of the deceased and an executor of the Estate.

Summary of the Ombudsman’s Determination and reasons

The Trustee

In summary, the complaint should not be upheld against the Trustee because:-

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

The complaint should not be upheld because Mrs Y did not fulfil the scheme criteria for payment of a spouse’s pension and the Trustee’s decision making process regarding Mrs Y’s request for payment of a discretionary benefit was reasonable.

Complaint Summary

Mrs Y’s complaint concerns the Trustee’s decision not to award her a spouse’s pension, even though her late husband, Mr Y nominated her in an Expression of Wish Form (the Form).

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I agree that part, but not all, of this complaint should be upheld. To put matters right for the part that should be upheld, BW shall pay £500 to Mr E in recognition of the significant distress and inconvenience caused to him.

Complaint Summary

Mr E complains that his late partner, Ms P, was not told prior to her death that if she died before drawing her Plan entitlement then it would be forfeited.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

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

Complaint summary

Mrs S’ complaint concerns the Trustees’ decision not to pay her a proportion of the death benefits following her husband’s death. She believes the Trustees’ decision is flawed because they did not adhere to the directions contained within a previous determination from the Ombudsman’s office.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Mrs F’s complaint and no further action is required by Phoenix Life.

Complaint summary

Mrs F, daughter of the late Mr T and a co-executrix of his estate, believes that his pension policy owes a payment to his estate, equal to approximately ten months of arrears in pension payments. However, Phoenix Life has said that the policy was set up in arrears without proportion, so no payment is due.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Mrs S’ complaint, and no further action is required by Zurich.

Complaint summary

In summary, Mrs S’ complaint is that Zurich has refused to award her any of the lump sum death benefit payable under the Plan in respect of her late husband, Mr S.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

The complaint is upheld and to put matters right, Link shall reconsider its decision on the distribution of the lump sum death benefit.

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

I do not uphold Dr G’s complaint and no further action is required by AJ Bell.

Complaint summary

Dr G has complained about AJ Bell’s decision not to award her any benefits under its discretionary power to distribute death benefits from her late partner’s pension plan.