Much to our disappointment, the transfer of the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita continues to dominate our work in support of CSPA members, as the administrators miss deadline after deadline, failing in their attempts to restore the service to contractually required levels for Scheme members. Although progress has been made in reducing the case backlogs, far too many members are still experiencing unacceptable delays and are frustrated by service issues. The volume of calls and pension cases we continue to receive remains a clear indication that the situation is far from resolved.
This remains deeply frustrating and concerning for all involved, but particularly for members waiting for payments, retirement quotations or for other long-standing issues to be resolved. We continue to meet regularly with the Cabinet Office, highlighting the most urgent cases for early resolution and pressing improvements to be made in attaining the service that our members deserve. You can read the latest Recovery Taskforce updates and a summary of the recent joint Public Accounts Committee/Public Administration & Constitutional Affairs Committee session, held on the 8th July by clicking button below.
Aside from Capita, it has been another eventful period politically. Once again, we have seen a change of Prime Minister, something that has become all too frequent in recent years, when some form of stability would come as a welcome relief. With Andy Burnham now in Number 10, we will wait to see what impact his leadership and the new Government’s renewed priorities will have.
A fond farewell
I am writing this in my last couple of weeks as your CSPA General Secretary, as I am on the cusp of retirement myself and will be stepping down at the end of July. It has been an immense privilege to serve CSPA members in this role over the past 3 years, which have been filled with both challenges and opportunities. I am pleased to announce that my replacement will be Josie Irwin, who is to take over the role towards the end of August. Josie comes to us from UNISON, where she has headed up their Equalities Unit, which includes responsibility for supporting the work of their 170,000 retired members campaigning on issues very much in line with CSPA’s priorities. I will be sorry to say good-bye and will miss CSPA, but I am sure that you will join me in wishing Josie every success in taking our work forward.
Keeping choice alive in a changing banking world
Later Life Ambitions recently attended an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting in Parliament to discuss access to cash, fair banking and the growing impact of digital exclusion. The discussion highlighted the importance of ensuring that digital progress does not come at the expense of choice or accessibility, particularly for pensioners and others who rely on cash and face barriers to using online services.
LLA has also submitted evidence to HM Treasury’s review into access to banking services and continues to campaign for fair, accessible banking for everyone. Read our full article to learn more about the issues and our ongoing work.
AGM & Executive Council Elections
Plans for October’s CSPA AGM are now well underway. Groups, Branches and individual members not part of an active Group or Branch, have been invited to nominate members to Executive Council positions and submit policy motions for discussion at the AGM.
For the first time, following a decision taken at the 2025 AGM, we will be trialling an all-member ballot to elect members to five seats on the Executive Council.
More information will be shared, along with ballot papers and candidate statements, with the September edition of The Pensioner. Votes can be cast by post or email, so make sure you don’t miss this opportunity to have your say on the organisation’s future direction.
What is the Executive Council? Have a read and find out what the EC does and who it is made up of.
In other news
Digital Switch Over: Don’t put off the switch
The UK’s analogue landline network is being upgraded to a new digital service, with the nationwide switchover completing by January 2027. Find out what the change means, when you need to take action, and how vulnerable customers can be supported to stay connected.
Independent Age: The only way is up
Independent Age’s latest research reveals that millions could benefit from improved access to pensioner benefit entitlements. The report highlights how increasing benefit take-up could help to reduce poverty, support better health outcomes and ensure older people receive the much-needed financial support that is available to them. Are you one of them?
