Chuggers,
Re your #34.. this reminded me..
7.1.
The rules of The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 provide for Pension Credit Members (PCMs) to receive their pension benefits from age 55, earlier than the age prescribed in Section 101C of the Pensions Schemes Act 2003. This instrument amends the scheme rules to provide for PCMs to receive their pension benefits immediately the PCM reaches age 65 or when the pension sharing order takes effect if that is later. A further change provides for a PCM to opt for early payment of their pension benefits from age 55 on actuarially reduced terms. These changes are necessary to comply with the Pension Schemes Act 1993.
.. of another recent stellar SPVA performance.
If a pension sharing order is made against a member of '75, the ex-spouse or civil partner (pension credit member - PCM) receives benefits at 60. For PCMs of '05, benefits will now begin when they reach 65 (see above). Therefore, in essence, members may have been able to take pension benefits at 55 but the ex-spouse etc could not. However, a successful challenge by a Colonel's wife on the warpath (I think!) resulted in change that enabled a PCM to take a pension from 55, hence the hasty revisions last year (above) with a reduction. All well and good so far (possibly).
But the changes were not handled correctly. SPVA somehow forgot to make the reductions and some PCMs received documentation showing the pension payable at 55 as the full rather than an actuarially reduced rate, although the PCM was lead to believe it was the reduced rate. Hence questions in the House and a rather big spotlight on SPVA again. Apparantly, one female PCM has been receiving a pension since 2009 and was recently informed by SPVA that it will now be reduced by 50%.
Business of the House: 26 Apr 2012: House of Commons debates - TheyWorkForYou