The Pensions Regulator

Dispute resolutions code laid before Parliament

The Pensions Regulator's code of practice on 'Dispute resolution - reasonable periods' has been laid before Parliament.

Under legislation, trustees or managers of occupational schemes and trust-based stakeholder schemes must ensure there is a procedure in place for those with an interest in the scheme to apply for a decision on a matter in dispute.
The code sets out the regulator's expectations that:

Disputes being considered by trustees or managers will be decided upon, and the applicant notified of the decision, within four months of them receiving the application.

Applicants should be notified of the decision usually no later than 15 working days after the decision has been made.

Trustees or managers may choose to adopt a procedure with a shorter decision and notification than four months if they wish.

The code can be viewed on the regulator's website:

http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/codesOfPractice/

There will be a period of 40 sitting days at the end of which, if no representations are made, the code will be brought into force.