TPAS reports record number of queries

TPAS’s report – Advising on Pensions: A Review of Activities 07/08 – showed almost 62,000 people called its various helplines, such as the women’s pension helpline, and an additional 9000 people wrote into the service in the year to the end of March.

And it said a record half-a-million people visited TPAS’s website in the year the organisation celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Chief executive Malcolm McLean said 35pc of all enquiries concerned state pension entitlements, and especially women’s entitlements to the state pension.

Other enquiries included questions about private pensions, transfers, scheme closures, buyouts, funding arrangements, member protection and general advice on saving for retirement.

McLean said women’s pensions continued to draw in callers and attention from many people – both male and female – who were confused regarding eligibility.

TPAS said its web-based annuity calculator had been well received and was seen as an independent aid for people looking for free advice on annuities.

Pensions disputes increased by 7000 cases, or 3pc, from the year ending to March 2007.

Around 16pc of the disputes brought to TPAS’s attention were regarding poor administration in relation to occupational pension schemes, which the service called "disappointing".

Other areas of concern included disputes regarding ill-health benefits and early retirement.

From April 2007 to March 2008 TPAS presented 80 workshops to more than 2000 employees on everything pensions related.

Pensions reform minister Mike O’Brien said: "I am very conscious of the regard in which TPAS is held across the industry. The service is high quality, free, independent and represents excellent value for money."