Problems were experienced as the administrators undertook three significant tasks in quick succession:
- moving members onto a new administration system
- taking administration of pension payments in-house and
- supporting the introduction of the new civil service pension arrangements from April 2015.
The resulting difficulties have had serious consequences. Civil servants have not had the information required to decide whether to participate in a voluntary exit exercise, employers have had to delay restructurings and in the worst cases, retired civil servants and their dependents have experienced delays in receiving payments.
Prospect has raised the administration of the scheme at a number of levels.
As MyCSP is a flagship for the government's mutual model (it is part-owned by government, staff and a private partner) deputy general secretary Leslie Manasseh has written to Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, seeking improvements in service standards and redress for those most impacted by the problems to date.
Prospect negotiatiators have also escalated serious cases to the Cabinet Office in order to resolve members' issues.
MyCSP has assured the union that everything possible is being done to improve standards and that the backlog of cases is being reduced.
If you experience problems dealing, please contact your local rep so the union can raise them with MyCSP.