Late pension leading to charges for ex-NHS worker

Therese Cardin worked for the NHS for 31 years but her pension is yet to be paid

A delayed pension payment has led to bank charges and being unable to pay bills for a woman who recently retired from the NHS after 31 years.

Therese Cardin left her administrative role at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust on 31 May and was told her NHS pension would arrive by the end of June. Her forms were filled out in April.

She is still waiting and said the delays were adding to her problems with ill health. She also said she was aware of other people, including nurses and a doctor, who were in the same position.

NHS pensions said they were sorry to hear there had been a delay and that they aimed to pay retired members within 30 days of their last day in service.

Three direct debits were declined over the weekend, Ms Cardin said.

"I hadn't wanted to take retirement, but circumstances meant I had to."

In comparison, her state pension only took four days to come through, she said.

"The pensions office at Sandwell has been very helpful and apologetic," she said.

"They gave me a number for the national office, but I was 22 in line when I rang.

"They rang me back and I told them my pension was late and that I was incurring bank charges. But the man on the phone told me they were behind and could not do anything about it."

She was told she would get an email with a complaints link in it, but that had not arrived either.

"I've met with quite a few of my friends, and at least half a dozen retired at the same time, and they have not received their pensions."

NHS pensions said it was unable to comment on individual cases, but it recommended pension award applications and relevant documentation should be submitted at least three months before their intended last day of service.

"Whilst we aim to pay retired members within 30 days of their last day in service, there can be exceptions," a spokesperson said.

"For example, more complicated cases can take longer if they require manual calculations.

"We aim to keep members informed about the status of their application throughout."