Request

Q1 How many outstanding NHS Pensions being investigated are currently on the database?  

Q2 How many of these cases are over 3 months old? 

Q3 On average, how long does an investigation take to resolve? 

Q4 In the last 12 months, what is the longest time period taken to resolve a pension investigation? 

Q5 In the last 12 months, how many cases have been referred to the Pensions Ombudsman? 

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 3 October 2025.

On 8 October you clarified what you mean by 'NHS Pensions investigation'? Are you referring to complaints? Would it meet your needs if we confirm the number of cases we've received that were accepted for investigation by the Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), how many we've responded to, and how many decisions we've had—including Opinions, Determinations, and whether the complaints were upheld?

Response:
Yes, but to also include Pensions that are considered to be incorrect and are being investigated by the 'resolution' team please

Could you clarify what you mean by ‘database’? Is this a specific system (such as Compendia) or all data held by NHS Pensions?

Response:
All data that includes outstanding complaints or investigations.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information and notes explaining it is attached.

Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data.

Days elapsed is the calendar days between the start of the complaint process and the end of the complaint process.

Each complaint is counted under the respective type; in the event of an escalation a complaint is counted individually under each type (i.e. an IDR1 which escalates to IDR2 is counted each time)

Completed cases – and associated elapsed days – looks at all complaints completed since 1 November 2024

Outstanding cases is given as of 4 November 2025

Further information regarding the complaints process is available from the “Complaints” section on the following website: Contact NHS Pensions - members | NHSBSA

Publishing this response

Please note that this information will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-03234

Your personal details will be removed from the published response.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

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The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.