Useful Addresses ~ Who Could I Contact About My Pension Rights?

Last Updated 12/04/01

Useful Addresses and Information

Complaints and Enquiries
If you are not sure which benefits you are entitled to, or you have a
problem with your benefits after reading this information, please
contact the Fund.

Email Us

Other Ways Of Contacting Us

Internal Disputes Procedure
We will try to deal with the problem as quickly and efficiently as
possible. If you are not satisfied with the way we deal with your problems,
there is a two-stage internal complaints procedure. At stage 1 an
independent referee will consider your complaint. You should normally
make your complaint within six months of the day you were told of the
decision you want to appeal against. If you are not satisfied with the
decision of the independent referee, you can appeal to the Secretary of
State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions within six months
of the independent referee’s decision. You can get a leaflet explaining
the two-stage internal complaints procedure from the Pensions
Administration Division.

The Social Security Act 1990 and the Pensions Act 1995 created a
framework of national organisations to control occupational and
personal pension schemes.

Occupational Pensions Advisory Service (OPAS)
OPAS can normally deal with your problems by explaining your rights
and responsibilities. OPAS is the official organisation that you should
contact first if you have a pension dispute which you have not been
able to settle through the internal disputes procedure explained above.
As they are advisers they cannot force pension schemes to take
certain action. To contact OPAS you can write to your local adviser
or to :

                OPAS Headquarters
                11 Belgrave Road
                London
                SW1V 1RB.

Pensions Ombudsman
The Ombudsman settles disputes and investigates complaints which
OPAS has not been able to settle. He can also settle disputes of facts
or law for company and personal pension schemes. The Ombudsman’s
decision is final and binding. He cannot investigate matters where legal
proceedings have already started. You must refer your complaint to the
Ombudsman within three months of the event. The Ombudsman is at
the same address as OPAS.

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA)
OPRA started work on 6 April 1997. Its main role is to protect members’
interests and it is able to step in and run schemes where trustees,
employers or professional advisers have failed in their duties.
You can contact them at:

                  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
                  Invicta House
                  Trafalgar Place
                  Brighton
                  East Sussex
                  BN1 4DW.

How Can I Trace My Pension Records?
The Pensions Registry was set up to help people trace their pension
rights if they have lost touch with their former schemes. All occupational
and personal pension schemes have to register with the Registry if the
pension scheme has current members contributing into their scheme or
people expecting benefits from them. The Local Government Pension
Scheme is on this register.

If you need to use this service, please write to :

                  The Registrar of Pension Schemes
                  PO Box 1NN
                  Newcastle upon Tyne
                  NE99 1NN.

Can I Check Whether My Pension Records Are Accurate?
To protect any personal information held on computer, Wolverhampton
City Council is registered under the Data Protection
Act 1998

This allows you to check that any details about you that are
held on computer are accurate.

Employees Guide ~ Information For New Members Of The Scheme