{"id":682978,"date":"2026-07-09T20:39:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T20:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/682978\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T20:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T20:39:12","slug":"scottish-prison-staff-facing-unbelievable-stress-over-delays-to-pension-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/682978\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish prison staff facing ‘unbelievable’ stress over delays to pension payments"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has condemned the civil service pension delays, which have affected several former staff members at HMP Perth, as \u201ccompletely unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n

Recently retired prison officers and their families have been pushed into financial difficulty waiting for the pension they relied upon to fund their retirement.<\/p>\n

The SPS has joined Perth and Kinross-shire MP Pete Wishart and the UK Government in slamming the lengthy delays since civil service pension administrator Capita took over the service in December 2025.<\/p>\n

Capita has apologised for \u201cthe frustration experienced by any members affected\u201d, and the UK Cabinet Office is undertaking an urgent recovery plan.<\/p>\n

Isla Burns\u2019 husband, Barry, died aged 57, just a month after he took early retirement from the Scottish Prison Service due to ill health in October 2025. Barry was a manager at HMP Perth.<\/p>\n

Ever since, mum-of-two Isla, from Perth, has been fighting to get his pension.<\/p>\n

Over the past few months, she has submitted all the necessary paperwork \u2013 both by recorded delivery and again online \u2013 but last weekend she received a letter from Capita asking her to send the required documentation again as her \u201crecord does not include the supporting documents for the claim form\u201d.<\/p>\n

Paul McEwan retired from HMP Perth at the start of February after 27 years with the Scottish Prison Service.<\/p>\n

He moved to Cornwall, looking forward to a quieter life, but said he has gone through \u201cunbelievable\u201d stress.<\/p>\n

He lost out on a house because his pension failed to come through, and he has had to get a part-time job and borrow from his sister to get by.<\/p>\n

He said a number of his colleagues had faced similar issues with their pensions.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Prison Service has raised concerns directly with both the UK Cabinet Office, which awarded the contract to Capita, and with Capita.<\/p>\n

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: \u201cThe delays that staff, former colleagues, and their families continue to experience in receiving their Civil Service pension payments are completely unacceptable, and we have raised our concerns directly with the UK Cabinet Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise that this is a worrying time for those who have not yet received their pension, and it falls far short of the level of service that our hard-working staff deserve, particularly after a long and dedicated service with SPS.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo support colleagues experiencing financial hardship as a result of these delays, we have introduced a transitional support scheme for eligible retired and partially retired employees awaiting pension payments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transition of pension administration to Capita has led to well-publicised issues across the Civil Service. Whilst some progress has been made, we are continuing to engage robustly behind the scenes with Capita on a weekly basis to monitor and escalate individual cases that remain unresolved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, a UK\u00a0Cabinet Office spokesperson said: \u201cThe service levels following the move to Capita have been unacceptable.\u00a0\u00a0An urgent recovery plan is under way, and our immediate priority is to stabilise service levels and give current and former civil servants the service they deserve.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, set a deadline of the end of June for significant progress to have been made in this area. We are assessing the situation and will update in due course.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to use all available commercial levers to hold Capita to account and ensure they deliver for both members and taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cabinet Office is offering Transitional Help Loans to bridge the gap \u2013 interest-free temporary loans up to \u00a320,000 \u2013 which\u00a0would be expected to be repaid in full within 28 days after pension payments have been made.<\/p>\n

A Capita spokesperson said: \u201cWe regret that some members are still experiencing issues with the Civil Service Pension Scheme and we apologise for the frustration experienced by any members affected.\u201d<\/p>\n

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