Message for Robert T. Please or anyone else with the relevant knowledge

[Fishtoft4]

I left RM on the 15th October 2021 under a settlement agreement. I was a section C member already drawing in my age 60 benefits as I was 63 on this date. I turned 64 in February this year and decided on leaving to take my aged 65 benefits also on the 15/10/2021.

I have heard recently that I should have received payment of £750.00 For financial advice payment. Having questioned this with HR Sheffield I have just had this response:-

“Clive has called as he believes he should have been paid the £750 Financial advice payment.

He has left under settlement agreement and unsure if that would stop the payment being processed.

We’ve had a reply from our Leaver’s Team and it’s most likely not what you were wanting to hear:

The Financial Advice allowance is only paid out when a strict criteria is met. This is that Pension Benefits and Date of leaving our Employment are within 16 weeks of each other,
Mr Haylett did not meet this criteria for this payment. “

So I’m sorry but you are not eligible.”

My response back will be:-
“Thank you for your reply.
I am trying to understand the criteria to receive this payment. I did receive both within 16 weeks also the payment of pension was certainty not up to me whatsoever.

So I believe I have met the criteria.

Kind regards”

If anyone has knowledge on the criteria of this payment I would be most grateful.

Thanking you in advance

[RobertT]

Sorry, what you say is a little confusing to me!

'I turned 64 in February this year and decided on leaving to take my aged 65 benefits also on the 15/10/2021'.

So did you leave in February this year or 15/10/21?
When did you actually start getting your NRA65 pension?

What exactly do you mean by 'settlement agreement'?

This is the LTB concerning the £750 payment: https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-533-18-750- ... -payments/

[BenacreNick]

Robert.

Mr Haylett left RM on the 15th October 2021 as stated in the first paragraph.

He was already drawing his aged 60 section C pension and decided to take his aged 65 pension on the same date, 15th October 2021.

[RobertT]

But when did he actually start receiving his NRA65 pension?

[Fishtoft4]

Hi Robert my age 65 benefits were finally paid at the end of February 2022

[RobertT]

So that's 19 weeks between leaving and getting your NRA65?

[Fishtoft4]

Yes but this was not my doing timescales we’re totally down to RM.

[RobertT]

It does take time to get all the paperwork done and they don't give guarantees to timescales, particularly if you're taking your pension before NRA.

These things are actually down to the Pensions Service Centre and Capita, rather than RM!

Some might see it as a deliberate ploy to get out of paying the £750 and some might say you've been unlucky. Either way, on the face of it, you don't qualify!

Sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe you could appeal?

[Fishtoft4]

Thank you all & Robert