When I applied to take my pension, I was confronted with difficulties in contacting the administrators of my pension scheme. There were numerous instances of not being contacted when I was promised, indifference at the other end of the telephone line, and I did not receive any confirmation until a few days before I was due to receive anything.

At a time in my life when I needed support and reliable communication, I found myself entangled in red tape and dealing with customer service representatives who lacked detailed knowledge of my specific plan and who, apparently, did not have the facility to talk to anyone else to seek clarification.

When my MP took on my case the basic answer she eventually got from the Pension Administrators was, ‘well, he has it now’.

This is not just my story; it is a growing problem faced by many retirees and soon-to-be retirees who have worked tirelessly in the public sector- Teachers, NHS Staff, Firefighters, Police, Local Government Staff- pension schemes have been farmed out to be run by private companies who make profits on the administration of such schemes and don’t do a very good job to say the least.

it isn’t just retirement, though- employees who are undergoing a relationship breakdown are having lives put on hold having to wait for Cash Equivalent Transfer Values (CETVs); retired members of these schemes are being contacted and asked to prove that they are still alive in order to continue receiving their pension; bereaved partners are asked if they are in a new relationship- it’s utterly unacceptable.

Public sector pension schemes are a vital source of financial security for millions of workers who dedicate themselves to serving our communities. Unfortunately, the outsourcing of these crucial services has led to a myriad of issues, including miscommunication, delays in processing benefits, and a lack of personal service. The quality and efficiency of pension scheme administration are compromised when such tasks are handled by third-party companies.

It can be seen that outsourcing can lead to significant gaps in service quality, particularly concerning sensitive financial matters that require personalised attention and rapid response times.

Bringing pension management back to local control ensures accountability and more robust communication channels between retirees and administrators. It's critical that public sector employees feel secure and valued as they transition into retirement. We need to prioritise the integrity and reliability of pension schemes by keeping them within the local governance structures where they belong.

Urge lawmakers and decision-makers to put a stop to the outsourcing of public sector pension schemes. Protect the financial well-being of our public sector retirees by signing this petition.

We call upon U.K. governments and administrations to end the outsourcing of public sector pension scheme administration and to enact the termination clause in such contracts due to poor performance of private for-profit administration companies.