I saw a brief announcement in the Globe & Laurel ( RM Magazine)concerning the Pensions Trough, of which I was not aware until I contacted the organiser of the campaign and got all the details.
He forwarded a lot of useful information as well as a notice for display, which I will attach here as it might be of interest to others who retired with a pension after 22 years service during the Pension Code years 1976 and 1977.
To those it effects, I can recommend contacting the organiser.
- thokenda
1976/77 Pension Trough Group
Over 250 ex-servicemen and their widows have formed a group to campaign against the injustice of what is commonly referred to as the "Pension Trough".
Those who retired in the period from 1st April 1976 to 31st March 1978 (Pension Code Years 1976 and 1977) were affected. At that time the government imposed pay restraint for two consecutive years when inflation was extremely high and this caused a permanent reduction in service pensions. The reductions affected all ranks and varied between 18% to 30% compared to contemporaries who retired in earlier and later years. What is more disturbing is the effect that the reduced pension has had on their widows who in many cases only receive a 1/3rd of their deceased husband's pension which, despite index-linked increases, still leaves them permanently and severely disadvantaged.
This injustice, that has resulted from the unforeseen permanent consequence of temporary pay restraint, has for many years been refused redress by government on the grounds that there can be no retrospection. However, retrospective action has been employed by MP's to enhance their own pension benefits on more than one occasion, most notably in 1996 when they voted themselves a backdated increase worth 26% to those who retired at the subsequent election. Moreover, with the recent revision of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme retrospective attributable benefits will be available to unmarried partners. The government claims that any moral justification for a remedy to this legacy issue cannot override financial constraints.
If you are one of those affected by this situation and would like to support the Pension Trough Group in their pursuit of a resolution to this longstanding discrimination please contact:
The Organiser
Pension Trough Group
5 Swaynes Lane
Guildford
Surrey GU1 2XX
Tel: 01483-504972
E-mail: pensiontrough@ntlworld.com. Website: www.pensiontrough.org.uk.
