The update from 16 May confirms that the ombudsman have decided to take a ‘lead case’ approach in respect of this dispute, due to the number of members potentially affected by the issue.
The lead case of Mr F is being supported by the PDA, and the parties agree that it covers core issues identified in the many unresolved complaints. The details of Mr F’s complaint and any underlying documents (including anything produced by Boots and/or the Trustee) are confidential, although the existence of the complaint is a matter of public record as well as the way in which the Pensions Ombudsman is investigating it.
Individuals can now follow progress with the complaint by accessing this page that has been set up by TPO to contain the latest updates on the complaint, as well as information about the process being followed and what happens next. This is to allow all interested members and other parties to track the progress of these cases.
Now that the complaint is accepted by the TPO it is next for Boots plc (the employer) and Boots Pension Trustees Limited (the Trustee) to respond.
Those affected by this issue and who may want to progress a complaint to TPO about this in the future, should still make a complaint to the Trustee under the scheme’s internal dispute resolution procedure (IDRP). Once the lead complaints are determined, our expectation is that these Determinations will inform how the Trustee responds to all IDRP complaints about this issue. At that stage, any member who has a specific situation not covered by the lead complaint Determinations may then apply to TPO.
Those with a complaint about the Boots Pension Scheme which does not relate to the removal of the option to retire on an unreduced pension at age 60, can also still raise this through the scheme’s Internal Disputes Resolution Process (IDRP) in the usual way (making it clear the complaint is different to the lead case), and then with TPO if you are not satisfied with the outcome of the IDRP.
The PDA is the largest pharmacist membership organisation and the only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK, with 40,000+ members. Many PDA members will have relevant service in the Boots Pension Scheme impacted by the decision, which is subject to the above complaint. However, the outcome of a lead case should also apply to non-pharmacists with the same complaints.
Since the changes were proposed, the PDA has supported its members to submit and escalate IDRP complaints, and having exhausted that internal procedure to lodge complaints with the TPO. The PDA then proposed that a lead case was the appropriate way to progress towards resolution.
Learn more
- Management of cases affected by the Boots Pension Scheme dispute regarding the removal of an option to retire at 60 on an unreduced pension
- What is the dispute about?
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