Incapacity pension - appointment of expert by Ombudsman 2

United Kingdom

Reference: F00414

A member complained that the trustee had not properly considered his application for an ill-health early retirement pension following previous directions from the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman concluded that the trustee had still not properly complied with the procedure under the scheme rules and therefore decided to treat the complaint as a dispute of fact about whether the member fulfilled the medical criteria under the rules. The Ombudsman arranged for an independent medical examination to be made. He found as a matter of fact that the member did satisfy the incapacity test and ordered an ill-health pension to be paid.