Exercising Discretions: A Reminder For Pension Scheme Trustees

Trustees of pension schemes often have to exercise discretionary powers to decide who should get what benefits. Often these focus on ill health and death benefit cases, emotive matters for members and the trigger for hundreds of complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman. Here, our pensions experts remind you of the key issues.

Key action points for trustees

1 Process is key

Pension scheme trustees often have to exercise a discretionary power. When exercising a discretion, process is key.

2 Role of the Pensions Ombudsman and the Courts

The Courts and The Pensions Ombudsman are clear that they won't interfere with the outcome of trustees' decision-making, but they will examine the process by which the trustees got there.