So where did 2021 go? With only a little time to reflect on our 75th anniversary of championing Armed Forces Pensions it is now time to look forward into 2022. In sharing our priorities with you it is worth noting things can change, and we need to remain flexible and responsive.
Our top priority remains the provision of accurate, timely and credible technical pension guidance and other services to our Members; our Pension Team answer over a thousand enquiries every month to help empower you to make the best pension choices.
Next, and building upon the significant progress made during 2021, is maintaining our laser-focus on holding the MoD and wider government to account for the successful implementation of the so-called McCloud remedy. The government’s decision to implement the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU) option to redress the age discrimination issue from 2015, involves significant, wider issues that will dominate the pension landscape over the next two to three years, impacting the speed at which the remedy will be applied. We are fully involved in the Public Consultation process spanning much of the year ahead and will be ready when the time comes to provide individual guidance to our Members about the implications for them. But the ‘trigger’ will be when individuals receive formal correspondence from Veterans UK – until then it is a case of ‘staying tuned’.
Our next objective is to keep raising awareness of the complexities and benefits of the Armed Forces Pension to everyone in the Armed Forces Community through our Roadshows, webinars and other outreach activities. Having comfortably adapted to presenting both physically and virtually (and often both at the same time) I would encourage you to email: roadshows@forpen.co.uk to arrange a visit or presentation to your unit / organisation – we’re here to help!
So, just as in previous years, plenty to be getting on with – if you don’t already do so, follow us on Social Media through what will be another important year for everyone involved in Armed Forces Pensions. It pays to understand your pension.
Major General Neil Marshall OBE, Chief Executive
