Your Privacy and Security

Personal Data

In order to run the Pension Scheme and pay the correct benefits to members as they become due, we have to process members’ personal data.

The Pensions Board wishes to reassure all members that it takes the security of members’ data very seriously indeed, and sets security standards for the Board, staff and advisers which incorporate “privacy by design”. All reasonable steps are taken to prevent the loss or theft of data and to ensure the data we hold is correct, up-to-date and not excessive for our requirements.

We will always ask you for security information before dealing with an enquiry and will not, for example, send unencrypted personal data by email or over the internet. We will never pass your data on, or sell it to, any organisation not involved in the running of the Scheme and we will never use it for any purpose other than the management of the Scheme and the payment of benefits.

As “data subjects” within the meaning of the Data Protection Act, members are entitled to see what data we hold about you and if anything on our records about you is wrong – please tell us so we can put it right at once. In order to make sure sensitive personal data is handled securely, please use the forms on our “publications and forms” page to let us know of any changes to your information, or request a copy of the relevant form from the Scheme’s office.

If you have any questions or concerns about how we use your data, please let us know, so we can help.

Avoiding Scams

Regrettably, many pension savers in the UK have fallen victim to pension scams, where a person claiming to be a pension adviser contacts the Scheme member to persuade them to transfer their entitlement to another arrangement, either to invest it or draw it out as cash straight away.

Some of these pension arrangements return no money whatsoever from investment, or worse open up your savings to be stolen by a third party. They are not usually tax approved so members transferring their money not only lose a substantial part in charges, might face tax penalties that nearly wipe out the rest.

Please don’t fall victim to a scammer. If you are approached about a pensions opportunity that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Find out more about pension scams via the Useful Links on our homepage. Or if you want help with avoiding being caught out, please contact us.