Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Pensions Ombudsman definition

What does Pensions Ombudsman mean? The Pensions Ombudsman investigates and determines complaints about the administration of occupational and personal pension schemes and resolves pension scheme disputes of fact or law between members, trustees, employers and administrators. In Great Britain, this is a statutory ombudsman created by the Pension Schemes Act 1993, s 145 (as amended). It is independent and free to use, and typically requires the scheme’s internal dispute resolution procedure (IDRP) to be tried first. Jurisdiction covers complaints of maladministration causing injustice and disputes between trustees and employers, and between trustees of the same or different schemes. Complainants may include members, prospective members, beneficiaries,...

Pensions Ombudsman for Trust-Based Occupational Schemes: Jurisdiction, Processes, Exclusions, Redress and Appeals, including 2026 Overpayment Recovery Powers

Published by a LexisNexis Pensions expert

Practice notes

This guide is chiefly intended for trainees, newly qualified lawyers and anyone new to or unfamiliar with pensions law.

THIS PRACTICE NOTE APPLIES TO TRUST-BASED OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMES

This beginners’ guide reviews the pensions ombudsman’s remit to handle occupational and personal pension complaints and disputes, covering:

the ombudsman’s role
who can submit a complaint to the Ombudsman and the method for doing so
the kinds of complaints/disputes that are outside scope
the Ombudsman’s remedies
how to appeal the Ombudsman’s determinations

What is the role of the Pensions Ombudsman?

The Pensions Ombudsman investigates and determines:

specified authorised complaints about injustice resulting from maladministration by trustees, managers and employers involved in occupational and personal pension schemes
disputes of fact or law between specified authorised complainants and trustees, managers and employees connected with occupational and personal pension schemes
any question about performing trustee duties when referred by a trustee who is the sole trustee of a scheme

For further information about the nature of maladministration, see Practice Note: The Pensions...

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Wyn Derbyshire

gunnercooke LLP

Wyn is a partner at gunnercooke LLP and specialises in pensions, trust and employment law in all industry sectors, dealing with the transactional, advisory and documentation aspects.He also has wide experience of the pensions implications of heavyweight corporate transactions and flotations, the issues arising from the establishment and merger of pension schemes, and sex equalisation and other discrimination issues in respect of benefits provided by pension schemes. In addition, he provides advice to pension scheme trustees generally.Recent transactions include advising Amcor on pension matters relating to the acquisition of Alcan business and the acquisition of Northern Foods PLC by Boparan Holdings.He is a co-author (with Stephen Hardy and Stephen Maffey) of TUPE: Law and Practice, published by Spiramus Press (now in its 4th edition), and co-author (with Stephen Hardy and David Wicks) of Money & Work, published by Spiramus Press in August 2007. He has also...

Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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