Concern over late FAS payments to ASW Sheerness pensioners


Community has written to Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP after members complained that they'd not received top-up payments more than a year after retirement.

Michael Leahy, General Secretary of the union Community, has written to Pensions Minister, Steve Webb MP, to express the union's grave concern over complaints from a number of retired members of the Allied Steel and Wire (Sheerness ) pension scheme that they have not received any of their top-up pension entitlements from the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), despite being retired for over a year.

The union is urgently making further enquiries to gauge the extent of the problem and has also been in contact with officials at the FAS to seek an explanation.  

Community union led the fight, with public and media support, to establish the Financial Assistance Scheme. Under current arrangements retired members should have their annuity payments topped up by the FAS to the equivalent of 90% of their expected pension entitlement. The failure to provide the top-up is, in many cases, causing significant hardship.

Michael Leahy, General Secretary, Community, said today;

'The situation is completely unacceptable. Community fought hard to get the Financial Assistance Scheme established in order that those who had lost their pensions through no fault of their own when their company collapsed,  could live out their lives in dignity and security. We demand an assurance from the Minister that the matter will be put right immediately and that both the Financial Assistance Scheme and the Pension Protection Fund have the necessary resources to deliver for the thousands of pensioners who depend on them .'

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For further information contact: Paul Talbot, Community, 07768 693936