Union urges DfE to act over ‘unacceptable’ delays at TPS
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Headteachers’ union NAHT has written to the Department for Education asking it to “take immediate steps” to address delays in pension payments and cash-equivalent transfer values by Teachers’ Pension around McCloud, divorce-related cash equivalent transfer values and more.
The letter, seen by mallowstreet, points out that while administration is provided by Capita, “the accountability for TPS’ performance remains with the Department”, noting that the issues affect thousands of teachers, many of whom are reliant on receiving their pension or see their divorce held up by delayed CETVs.
NAHT national secretary Kate Atkinson called the delays “simply unacceptable” and said they are causing hardship for educators.
“We are calling on the Department for Education and the scheme’s administrators to take urgent, transparent action to clear the backlog, restore trust, and ensure that no teacher is left waiting for what is rightfully theirs,” she said.
NAHT said its members have reported delays in issuing remediable service statements and in the payment of pensions following the submission of deferred choice underpin elections relating to the McCloud age-discrimination judgment, saying a recent freedom of information request suggests that despite 15,000 members having made their choice, “only two have received the money owed”. There are also “extensive delays” around CETVs for divorce proceedings.
Further issues cited by NAHT include excessive waiting times when attempting to contact the TPS by telephone, unanswered queries, and unresolved complaints being closed.
“Confidence in the TPS is being undermined, and this has the potential to damage recruitment, retention, and trust in public service pensions more broadly,” the union warned.
NAHT believes Capita has had to absorb an increase in workload caused by the McCloud remedy without additional resources, but it added that “while this may partly explain the deterioration in service levels, it does not excuse it”.
The letter, seen by mallowstreet, points out that while administration is provided by Capita, “the accountability for TPS’ performance remains with the Department”, noting that the issues affect thousands of teachers, many of whom are reliant on receiving their pension or see their divorce held up by delayed CETVs.
NAHT national secretary Kate Atkinson called the delays “simply unacceptable” and said they are causing hardship for educators.
“We are calling on the Department for Education and the scheme’s administrators to take urgent, transparent action to clear the backlog, restore trust, and ensure that no teacher is left waiting for what is rightfully theirs,” she said.
NAHT said its members have reported delays in issuing remediable service statements and in the payment of pensions following the submission of deferred choice underpin elections relating to the McCloud age-discrimination judgment, saying a recent freedom of information request suggests that despite 15,000 members having made their choice, “only two have received the money owed”. There are also “extensive delays” around CETVs for divorce proceedings.
Further issues cited by NAHT include excessive waiting times when attempting to contact the TPS by telephone, unanswered queries, and unresolved complaints being closed.
“Confidence in the TPS is being undermined, and this has the potential to damage recruitment, retention, and trust in public service pensions more broadly,” the union warned.
NAHT believes Capita has had to absorb an increase in workload caused by the McCloud remedy without additional resources, but it added that “while this may partly explain the deterioration in service levels, it does not excuse it”.
The DfE and Capita have been contacted for comment.
