Issue - meetings

Vicky Jenks (Pensions Administration Delivery Lead) introduced the report which provided details of the proposed Pensions Overpayment Policy. She advised that the Policy had been devised to minimise the risk of overpayment. However, if an overpayment did occur, it would be important to ensure that the Fund had a set procedure to deal with it properly and effectively. The Committee’s approval of the Pensions Overpayment Policy was sought.

In response to Councillor Millar, Vicky Jenks advised that various measures were in place to mitigate the risk of overpayment. Robust processes were in place when a pension was initially set up, this provided an opportunity to avoid problems occurring in future. It also ensured that pensioners had a clear idea of the starting amount. She accepted that if pensioners did not receive either a paper payslip or e-payslip then it would be more difficult to detect an overpayment. However, reconciliation of payments processes were regularly undertaken. Each year, pensions were updated in line with the pensions increase. Every April, a check was made to ensure that payments were in line with expectations.

In response to Councillor Hammersley, Vicky Jenks advised that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ‘Tell Us Once’ service provided an effective means of notification when a death had been registered. Also, the Fund was usually contacted by the next of kin following the death of a pensioner. Under the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), a check of the pensions roll was made against registered deaths every two years. The adoption of the Member Self Service (MSS) system meant that there was capacity to undertake NFI checks more regularly. If payments had been made following the death of a pensioner, efforts were made to claim the money back provided the sum was over £250. However, the ‘Tell Us Once’ service worked well so it was rare for payments to be made following the death of a pensioner.

Councillor Hammersley moved that the recommendations be accepted and was seconded by Councillor Millar. This was supported unanimously by the Committee.

Resolved:

That the Staff and Pensions Committee:

     1.          Approves Warwickshire Pension Fund’s policy on Pension Overpayments (the Pension Overpayments Policy).

     2.          Delegates to the Strategic Director for Resources the authority to update the Pension Overpayments Policy as required from time to time to reflect changes in working practice and/or the law.