Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme · CAS-49707-Q5P1

CAS-49707-Q5P1

Ombudsman’s Determination Applicant Mr W

Scheme Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS)

Respondents Cabinet Office, MyCSP, PA Consulting Group (PAC)

Outcome

Complaint summary

1 CAS-49707-Q5P1 Background information, including submissions from the parties

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“If you still have some preserved benefit in the Classic section you have a choice: you can either leave your earlier pension preserved or you can aggregate (join up) your earlier period of service with your current service for a single pension based on your final pensionable earnings when you next leave the scheme. If you leave your previous benefits preserved, they will continue to increase in line with increases in the Consumer Price Index.

3 CAS-49707-Q5P1 We have until 30/09/2016 to implement a decision to join/aggregate your benefits in the Classic section together. If you would like to take up the option to aggregate, you should notify me in writing before 01/09/2016.”

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Mr W’s position

Cabinet Office’s position

5 CAS-49707-Q5P1 Adjudicator’s Opinion

Misinformation

“If you still have some preserved benefit in the Classic section you have a choice: you can either leave your earlier pension preserved or you can aggregate (join up) your earlier period of service with your current service for a single pension based on your final pensionable earnings when you next leave the scheme.”

Aggregation

“Rule 3.31 will not apply if:

(i) the aggregate pension calculated under that rule is less than his existing pension; 6 CAS-49707-Q5P1 (ii) at earlier retirement he was not a civil servant; or

(iii) he is re-employed on a designated appointment and the pensionable earnings at his final retirement is higher than the pensionable earnings at his earlier retirement (increased by the proportion by which a pension of that amount beginning on the following day would have been increased under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971).”

Detriment to pension

Rejoining the Partnership Pension

Missing contributions

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Ombudsman’s decision PCSPS Rules

Misinformation and aggregation

1 https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/media/jislzspl/pcsps-section-ii-1972-section.pdf

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Detriment to pension

10 CAS-49707-Q5P1 Rejoining the Partnership Pension

Missing contributions

TUPE

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I do not uphold Mr W’s complaint.

Camilla Barry Deputy Pensions Ombudsman 10 July 2025

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