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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to require pension trusts to give reasons for refusal (a) to reward a disability pension and (b) of arbitration following such refusal; [159054] (2) if he will make a statement on pension trusts' refusal to divulge the reason for rejecting ill-health pension applications; [159052] Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (3) what plans he has to compel pension trusts to divulge the reason for refusal of ill-health pension applications. [159051] Mr. Rooker: Occupational schemes are not required to pay pension benefits before the normal pension age for the scheme. Some scheme rules do provide for pension benefits to be paid earlier for reasons such as ill-health. This is usually at the discretion of the scheme trustees and there is no legal requirement for them to provide reasons where they reject an ill-health pension application, although many schemes regard it as good administrative practice to do so. Where an ill-health pension application has been rejected, the member can ask for the matter to be reconsidered under the scheme's internal dispute resolution procedure, and can seek assistance from the Office for Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS). If he remains dissatisfied he can make a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

367 c318-9W; 159054;159052;159051

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Complaints Disability Disclosure of information Workplace pensions Pensions Trusts

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk