Last Christmas - Applying for my pension in good time- Question please

david3595 · Post by **david3595** » 06 Jan 2020, 17:43

Quick update, Birthday been and gone and no Options Letter but I received an email today from Jon Lewis CEO at Capita. He has passed my email highlighting my concerns to his MD of their Pensions Services and asked that person to urgently look into delay and contact me directly with an update.

david3595 · Post by **david3595** » 13 Jan 2020, 18:02

Received a phone call and email from Capita on 10th January, a copy of my “retirement pack” was attached to the email along with a note to say a paper has been sent by 1st class post today , it didn’t arrive . I’m not retiring, just taking my NRA60 at 55 but maybe that’s what they call it. It has a “retirement date” of 31st January although my birthday is early January. I’m just a simple person when it comes to computers so I’d rather wait to get the paper by post, fill in the forms and return in envelope provided than try and print off pages and pages. Maybe through out this process I missed something, I presumed that your pension if you take it early is due to be paid on or as near to your birthday . When I phoned Capita and spoke to the office that emailed me on Friday and explained nothing arrived by 1st class post today they replied “ oh we don’t send that out from here, it comes from Darlington “. I was hopeful of receiving my options letter by post last month but that didn’t happen.

Post by **Steve_claret** » 13 Jan 2020, 20:02

I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum. We are 2 months away and I have still not received anything from the pension people in writing. I believe that as I am a Section B dual member of RMSPS and RMPP then Capita are dealing with my case now. I have rung them twice now in the last few weeks and been told that "it is going through" whatever that means. I think Mr Lewis will be getting an email this week.

david3595 · Post by **david3595** » 13 Jan 2020, 20:25

I believe as section c pension member that RMPP are dealing with part of my payment and Capita the RMSPS. It’s just the lack of “sympathy or understanding “ from either PSC or Capita. Various emails and phone calls to both and all I get is “ it’s in the post” or “we have raised this to a higher level of enquiry” but as I say if we are not due to receive a lump sum until the month ending of your birthday rather than on your birthday then I’m hopefully still on course for a lump sum payment albeit 27 days after my birthday, of course that’s being optimistic. If the options letter hasn’t arrived by Thursday I’m going to have to email yet again to Jon Lewis CEO at Capita. Will keep updating lol. To answer any AVC queries I note on my file copy on the email I received on 10th January that my AVC’s will be paid approximately 6 weeks after my lump sum.

ripples · Post by **ripples** » 16 Jan 2020, 10:49

Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum....

This is my recent experience, like you I am section B I rang them in November because I knew I would be 60 in January '20 and had heard nothing. They said they had sent me paperwork out in July 19 with reference to my NRA60 options and since I had not received the paperwork they resent it signed for, this arrived through the door and I spent about three days going over everything before returning it. I had a letter last week then my PCLS was paid in on my birthday.. Now I am going to treat myself to a newer car

david3595 · Post by **david3595** » 16 Jan 2020, 12:18

No paper work arrived 6 days after Capita assured me they had posted it 1st class on 10th January. I have had to contact them today and asked for it to be sent again.

Post by **Steve_claret** » 16 Jan 2020, 12:24

ripples wrote:
Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum....
This is my recent experience, like you I am section B I rang them in November because I knew I would be 60 in January '20 and had heard nothing. They said they had sent me paperwork out in July 19 with reference to my NRA60 options and since I had not received the paperwork they resent it signed for, this arrived through the door and I spent about three days going over everything before returning it. I had a letter last week then my PCLS was paid in on my birthday.. Now I am going to treat myself to a newer car

Its worrying that they said they sent your paperwork out in July 19 for your NRA60 due in Jan 20 and you didn't receive it. More likely they told you a pack of lies to cover themselves and they hadn't actually sent it out at all. Perhaps if I ring them again they may say to me that they sent mine out in September and that mine has been lost in the post as well.

Glad you got it sorted eventually but it is all added stress that we didn't sign up for. The government are to blame in giving this pension scheme over to an organisation who have a history in screwing things up.

Post by **stephen500** » 16 Jan 2020, 16:46

Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum. We are 2 months away and I have still not received anything from the pension people in writing. I believe that as I am a Section B dual member of RMSPS and RMPP then Capita are dealing with my case now. I have rung them twice now in the last few weeks and been told that "it is going through" whatever that means. I think Mr Lewis will be getting an email this week.

As far as I am aware from speaking to RMPP, that if you are still working you need to contact RMPP, or they will contact you about your final salary pension and they then contact Capita on your behalf. Ring RMPP and have a chat with them.

Post by **stephen500** » 16 Jan 2020, 16:47

david3595 wrote:I believe as section c pension member that RMPP are dealing with part of my payment and Capita the RMSPS. It’s just the lack of “sympathy or understanding “ from either PSC or Capita. Various emails and phone calls to both and all I get is “ it’s in the post” or “we have raised this to a higher level of enquiry” but as I say if we are not due to receive a lump sum until the month ending of your birthday rather than on your birthday then I’m hopefully still on course for a lump sum payment albeit 27 days after my birthday, of course that’s being optimistic. If the options letter hasn’t arrived by Thursday I’m going to have to email yet again to Jon Lewis CEO at Capita. Will keep updating lol. To answer any AVC queries I note on my file copy on the email I received on 10th January that my AVC’s will be paid approximately 6 weeks after my lump sum.

As far as I am aware, your NRA 60 lump sum is due on your birthday and the rest of the regular payment at the end of that month.

Post by **stephen500** » 16 Jan 2020, 16:51

ripples wrote:
Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum....
This is my recent experience, like you I am section B I rang them in November because I knew I would be 60 in January '20 and had heard nothing. They said they had sent me paperwork out in July 19 with reference to my NRA60 options and since I had not received the paperwork they resent it signed for, this arrived through the door and I spent about three days going over everything before returning it. I had a letter last week then my PCLS was paid in on my birthday.. Now I am going to treat myself to a newer car

So how long did it take you to get your lump sum and pension from asking to receiving? This would help me with planning. I plan to leave on Dec 1st and want to organise things like a trip away and don't want to be forced to work on, because they haven't got their act together! Thanks in advance. At present I thing I will apply in July for Dec 1st 2020 for all my pensions.

ripples · Post by **ripples** » 17 Jan 2020, 03:21

stephen500 wrote:
ripples wrote:
Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum....
This is my recent experience, like you I am section B I rang them in November because I knew I would be 60 in January '20 and had heard nothing. They said they had sent me paperwork out in July 19 with reference to my NRA60 options and since I had not received the paperwork they resent it signed for, this arrived through the door and I spent about three days going over everything before returning it. I had a letter last week then my PCLS was paid in on my birthday.. Now I am going to treat myself to a newer car
So how long did it take you to get your lump sum and pension from asking to receiving? This would help me with planning. I plan to leave on Dec 1st and want to organise things like a trip away and don't want to be forced to work on, because they haven't got their act together! Thanks in advance. At present I thing I will apply in July for Dec 1st 2020 for all my pensions.

I returned my forms about the second week in November, I received a letter at the beginning of the new year acknowledging receipt and that my lump sum would be paid shortly after my birthday and the pension I believe is paid in arrears at the end of every month ( or quarter if you choose that method). So about 8 weeks i suppose. I didn't have any trouble with this process although previous to this since Capita took on RM pensions I found their response times to queries slow

ripples · Post by **ripples** » 17 Jan 2020, 03:28

david3595 wrote:No paper work arrived 6 days after Capita assured me they had posted it 1st class on 10th January. I have had to contact them today and asked for it to be sent again.

This doesn't surprise me.

Post by **stephen500** » 17 Jan 2020, 08:56

ripples wrote:
stephen500 wrote:
ripples wrote:
Steve_claret wrote:I am 60 in March and haven't taken any of my pension yet so am due my NRA60 as a minimum....
This is my recent experience, like you I am section B I rang them in November because I knew I would be 60 in January '20 and had heard nothing. They said they had sent me paperwork out in July 19 with reference to my NRA60 options and since I had not received the paperwork they resent it signed for, this arrived through the door and I spent about three days going over everything before returning it. I had a letter last week then my PCLS was paid in on my birthday.. Now I am going to treat myself to a newer car
So how long did it take you to get your lump sum and pension from asking to receiving? This would help me with planning. I plan to leave on Dec 1st and want to organise things like a trip away and don't want to be forced to work on, because they haven't got their act together! Thanks in advance. At present I thing I will apply in July for Dec 1st 2020 for all my pensions.
I returned my forms about the second week in November, I received a letter at the beginning of the new year acknowledging receipt and that my lump sum would be paid shortly after my birthday and the pension I believe is paid in arrears at the end of every month ( or quarter if you choose that method). So about 8 weeks i suppose. I didn't have any trouble with this process although previous to this since Capita took on RM pensions I found their response times to queries slow

Thank you for your reply. I am not sure of the date Capital took on ALL the final salary pensions, but it was recently and I am not sure if after Novemeber. So you may just have missed being dealt with my them? I am hoping to get my lump sum on Dec 1st and the pensions at the end of that month. I have a feeling I will need to apply in July and am hoping it will be straightforward and certainly paid 5 months later in Dec. Once again, thanks for your reply.

Post by **Steve_claret** » 17 Jan 2020, 12:39

From the LTB.

To Summarise, from Monday 11th November 2019:
Capita will administer all of the RMSPS pension benefits
Royal Mail PSC will continue to administer the RMPP pension benefits
Branches and members should therefore be aware that our members in the RMSPS will now need to contact Capita for all queries regarding their pension.

FWIW I am a dual member with benefits in both schemes and I was told we now had to contact Capita in the first instance. When I spoke with them the call handler who was obviously reading from a script promptly put the blame on the RM PSC not supplying them with the RMPP figures. When I spoke with the PSC they said they had sent their RMPP figures to Capita so the delay was down to them and they would send another email chasing them. This is a complete farce and is absolutely not acceptable.

david3595 · Post by **david3595** » 17 Jan 2020, 17:00

It’s almost laughable but finally not 1 but 3

“retirement packs” arrived by 1st class post today. Each one with 3 different franking dates. Will fill the form in and post over the weekend , I had emailed Jon Lewis the CEO at Capita on 23rd December as RMPP advised me that Capita had not replied to an email they sent them on 27th November and it has taken a further 25 days for Jon Lewis to get his staff to send me a “retirement pack” or options letter as I prefer to call it.