Armed Forces Pension Overpayments: “Veterans UK and Equiniti should refund public purse says Forces Pension Society.
Hundreds of Forces Veterans are being asked to refund overpayments resulting from an error in the administration of the pension schemes. The issue came to light in 2024 following a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Defence obtained by the Forces Pension Society. For some of those affected, the sums involved are substantial, involving tens of thousands of pounds. For the many Veterans in retirement, the proposed repayments are way beyond their means.
The issue was the subject of a report in the Mail on Sunday (June 7th) which highlighted the plight of a Veteran with 35 years’ service in the Royal Navy who is facing a demand for repayment of £18,200 through no fault of his own.
Forces Pension Society CEO, Maj Gen Neil Marshall said:
“Errors in the complex calculations of hundreds of pensions were made, resulting in requests for repayments and reductions in pensions going forward.
“This is happening to many Veterans in retirement whose life plans are settled and without the wherewithal to earn money to return overpayments.
“We recognise the principle of recovering public monies that have been overpaid but we also think it wrong that the scheme administrator who made the error should attempt to recover the money from scheme members who have acted in good faith. It seems to us that the requirement to refund the monies should lie with Veterans UK and Equiniti.
“For guidance about how to respond to repayment demands, we recommend those impacted visit our website at forcespensionsociety.org”
FPS is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation providing pension guidance to its growing membership base of more than 60,000 serving personnel and veterans. The Society champions pensions on behalf of the whole military community and, this year, celebrates its 80th anniversary. For more information about our work, visit forcespensionsociety.org