United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Pensions - Joining the Scheme - About the scheme

Management and administration

Pensions Administration

The day-to-day work of keeping membership records, calculation and payment of benefits is carried out by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at the Pensions Administration Office, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7BA. Enquiries about your pension Scheme and any of the additional options available should be made either to your Local Pensions Officer or to the Pensions Administration Office, Thurso.

Management and policy

The management of the Scheme and Scheme policy is dealt with at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority by Mr Richard Stoneham, Head of Pensions, UKAEA, The Manor Court, Chilton, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RN.

Pensions forum

Representatives of the management and trade unions from the employers who participate in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension scheme take part in a Pensions Forum at least twice a year. These meetings are designed to act as a forum for discussion and exchanging ideas about pension issues affecting the scheme.

Complaints and disputes

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority schemes have an Internal Dispute Resolution procedure (IDR) which is the formal way we deal with complaints about the scheme. Virtually all occupational pension schemes must operate IDR.

Under IDR you can complain about anything to do with your United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension.

IDR has two stages. You must put your complaint in writing at both stages.

First stage the Manager Pensions Administration Office will give you a written explanation of the decision or action that has been taken.
Second stage if you feel that the first stage does not resolve things, you can complain to the Pensions Manager. He too will give you a written decision, either upholding or rejecting the decision made by the Manager Pensions Administration Office. He will also tell you of your further appeal rights to the Pensions Ombudsman.

You can ask the Manager Pensions Administration Office to give you appeal forms for both IDR stages. Both first and second stages have 8 week deadlines for the decision to be made. You can ask The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) for help at any time. Their phone number is 020 7233 8080.

To view a copy of the full procedure click here.

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS)

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) can be contacted to assist you or your beneficiaries with any pensions query you may have particularly if you have a dispute or disagreement with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension administrators, which you wish to or have raised under the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority scheme’s own Internal Disputes Resolution Procedure. For details of how to contact TPAS, please click here

The Pensions Ombudsman

If TPAS is unable to resolve any problems then you can contact the Pensions Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is able to investigate and determine any complaint or dispute of fact or law relating to pension schemes except that, in respect of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension schemes, which are statutory schemes, the Ombudsman is empowered to determine any complaint alleging injustice as a result of maladministration in connection with any act or omission of those responsible for administration of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension schemes.

For details of how to contact the Pensions Ombudsman click here

The Registrar of occupational and personal pension schemes

The Registrar provides a tracing service so that people can keep track of their former pension arrangements as they move jobs. Details of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority pension schemes have been sent to the Registrar.

If you wish to use this service, you should contact:

Registrar of Pension Schemes
Occupational Pensions Board
PO Box 1NN
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 1NN

State Pension - Department of Work and Pensions

For more information about your State pension you should enquire at your local office of the Department of Work and Pensions (formerly the Department of Social Security). Some of the information you require may be found on the Department and Works website

UKAEA Pensions