News

The 2009/10 Annual Report and Accounts of the Pensions Ombudsman (and Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman) was published on 26 July. 

Highlights are:

Subject Matter

• As in previous years the single matter giving rise to more complaints than any other was ill-health pensions (11% of resolved complaints). 

• There were increases over 2008/9 in the number of enquiries (3632, up 18%) and cases taken on for investigation (950, up 22% after adjustment for anomalies).  There was no obvious single reason.  The numbers, though significantly higher than the year before, are not without precedent from previous years.  It is too early to say whether this has just been a single unusual year or alternatively is the start of an upward trend.
• The office resolved 11% more than the target of 800 cases.
• There was continuing emphasis on proportionate and early resolution – with an 8% increase in the number of cases resolved without needing formal determination by an ombudsman. 

Financial

• Expenditure was £2.86m, within budget.  Target cost to case closure ratios were comfortably met.

In his introduction, commenting on the subject matter the Pensions Ombudsman, Tony King, described it as "very much business as usual".

Referring to the workload he noted that the target number of resolved cases had been exceeded:

"But an increase in workload when future resources will be tight is bound to put us under pressure.  We wait to see, sou’westers at the ready, if this is just a temporary fluctuation in the weather or a warning of long term climate change."