Disclosure - your right to information

Members and trade unions have important statutory rights to information about occupational pension schemes under Regulations made under the Pensions Act 1995: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations.

Members also have rights under Trust Law. The tables on pages 23 and 24 show the main rights and time limits for providing information.

Trade union rights depend upon recognition ‘to any extent for collective bargaining purposes’. Where there is doubt about whether these rights apply in a particular workplace seek advice from Usdaw’s pensions section.

The basic scheme information that must be provided on request and within two months is:

• A copy of the Trust Deed and Rules. (The legal document governing the scheme).
• A copy of the explanatory booklet explaining the benefits and dispute procedure.
• A copy of the Actuarial Valuation Report.  The issue of when the report must be disclosed is a grey area. Ask for the earliest possible release as good practice.
• A copy of the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts (not just the summary, often published as a newsletter, but the formal document.) This report will contain valuable information about how the scheme is being run. 

Members are encouraged to find out about their own pension and keep in a safe place all documents, letters, individual statements booklets etc, given to them over the years as these may be helpful in years to come.