Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle processing delays of valuations by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that pensions are paid promptly once teachers have chosen how they wish to receive their benefits.

The scheme administrator has made significant progress to reduce the backlog of Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV) figures that had built up whilst the necessary guidance was developed, following the Transitional Protection (McCloud) remedy taking effect.

CETVs that could be automated have been prioritised, alongside the most sensitive cases, to reduce the backlog from 3,062 at the end of October 2024 to 473 as of 6 May. The current outstanding figure includes recent applications.

Addressing the remainder of the backlog remains a key priority for both the department and the scheme administrator. The scheme administrator is now working through the more complex cases for members who have not retired and who have scheme flexibilities, to take account of those which must be processed clerically as a result. Guidance to provide CETV calculations for members who have retired has recently been received and is being assessed by the scheme administrator.

Where members affected by Transitional Protection apply to retire, they are provided a Remediable Service Statement (RSS) which details their choices available for the remedy period. Once the member choice is completed and returned by the member, the scheme administrator will process the member’s retirement and put benefits into payment as soon as is practicable, or in line with the relevant retirement date.