Teachers' Pensions Reviews 

Unfortunately I can't give 0 (or -5) stars so little choice but to give 1 star. Why? Tried to change my password after a security alert. Result: unable to access my account. Waited over an hour on the phone then, after providing a myriad of information, I made an error in giving the details of my last TP payment. I was subsequently told that TP could not help me any further and that I would have to phone anew. Couldn't face over another hour on the phone so I wrote to them (I would have preferred to email or message them but the former isn't possible and the latter is only possible if you can access your account, which, of course, I couldn't!). I provided every bit of information they could possibly need and suggested that surely my request to access my account could be easily resolved without any complicated complaint procedure. Waited nearly four weeks but received no reply - not even an acknowledgement - so wrote again by registered letter. Royal Mail confirmed receipt by TP but no response from TP for another couple of weeks. Then I received a letter from TP to say that my complaint was being dealt with, although it might take a while! Decided to try online chat and, after a while, the usual bot decided it couldn't help me and I was passed on to a real person, Amy. She was extremely helpful and patient for nearly an hour and, despite the site regularly crashing, amongst other problems, we eventually succeeded in changing my password and I was able to access my TP account again. (Unfortunately, the site crashed again before I was able to thank her. Such a pity because I really appreciated her assistance and it's very rare to be able to compliment TP or one of their employees). The next day I tried to log in to TP and - you'll never guess - my password was not accepted. A few days later I have been advised that I have received a message from TP - but I can't access it because I can't log in! I have given up. It would be nice to be able to look at my details online but I suppose that as long as I receive my pension regularly, that's all that really matters. My problem is relatively trivial compared to some of the experiences of others on here - people receiving the wrong, or no, pension, bereaved members trying to advise TP of their partner's demise etc. and all making little or no progress. Surely after, in many cases, a lifetime of dedication to teaching, often at the expense of health or family, teachers deserve better than to have to deal with this incompetent, inept and uncaring organisation? Thankfully, there is a ray of light. Crapita will soon no longer be responsible for TP. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are taking over, probably next year. It would be nice to think that Crapita have lost the gig because of their incompetence and failure to provide a decent service. However, I suspect that, as usual, it's more likely to be the result of someone offering to do the job more cheaply. Government outsourcing is usually a disaster (for those having to use the service - not the shareholders, of course) so perhaps we shouldn't be too optimistic but surely Tata can't do a worse job than Crapita?!

Totally ineffective system. Despite starting the process 5 months in advance I still have not received my pension and have been continually let down. There is no way to escalate concerns even when you speak on the phone to someone. They do not care.

Unfortunately there isnt a 0 star. No reply to repeated messages sent on the online portal. Constantly failing to get through on the telephone. I am a retired member re ring a teachers pension and still awaiting a review statement for my pension. Deadline regularly changed and missed! MP can’t get any response . Does anyone actually still work there?

I very begrudgingly have to give one star since the ‘Zero star’ option is not available. The website is totally useless, so-called member support is atrocious. The website throws you out repeatedly, if it lets you in at all, and will not allow your documents to be downloaded - a total disgrace.
I have previously followed the complaints process and that is itself another joke. They eventually send you a letter which does nothing to address the very detailed points which you raise in your complaint. No wonder people are leaving the teaching profession when you are treated with utter contempt and disrespect. DISGRACEFUL.

Disgusting service. Contradicting advice given each time , taje over 1 hour to answer calls , just had phone bill and two calls cost near £30 due to high call rate. If I could give 0 stars I would. This needs investigating by Unions and Government.

It would be good to actually receive the pension lump sum due on the date it is due. Applied in March, lump sum due 1st September.
Added to this is the problem in finding out information, and talking to someone who can actually tell you information or pass you on to someone who can actually do something. 90 minutes waiting for someone to answer the phone, two weeks waiting for a response to a message or complaint (woolly answer - no action).Others have said the same - retention of our money, no-one to contact directly for information, the power to act, or to receive complaints. This is not good enough and the government should act.

Disgusting 'service'.
My wife applied for her pension in February 2025 in order that she should receive her not insignificant lump sum on 6th August 2025 and commence receiving her monthly pension.

9th September. Still no pension. We were told on the phone yesterday that it probably won't be paid until the the first week in October.

We have committed to a couple of financial expenses based on the assumption that we would have money in our account to cover them. This will not be the case and we will be forced to withdraw money from other savings accounts to cover this planned expenditure.

The worst aspect was my wife received an online letter saying TP had not received a form, which she had, in fact, returned immediately upon request. It turns out that her form is still sitting in TP's sorting office unattended a week after receipt, and might not be processed for "another 5 days".

Nothing has changed since 2023 and my last comment.Still crap! If IT specialists have trouble what chance have I got who strangely enough at 80 is still compis mentis.Another flaming government agency not working! What with Cafcass and this it's enough to send this poor pensioner Doolally....sorry if it's spelt wrongly....

I'm scared how bad this is. I urge everyone to write to their MP's about the awful 'service' and sign the petition on Change.org titles urgent reform needed for the teachers pension scheme administration delays and failures.
I've had multiple issues trying to complete the form to apply for early pension. Website kept crashing. I have had no acknowledgement that the submitted form is received. I have tried ringing and sit for over an hour each time with no response. I have put in two complaint forms with no response. How is this able to be allowed? I can't communicate with anyone. It's shocking.

Benefit RSS doesn't work for me so I have requested a valuation of my pension and received no response. It has been over 10 working days since I requested a valuation.
They have also not responded to another message sent a month ago.

Would give zero stars if I could.
Not fit for purpose.

Been waiting to get my triviality pension for over 8 weeks! These people are so unfair I have contributed into the pension and now having difficulties getting my own money! I have spent hours on the the phone to be told they can’t do anything ! They need to outsource to an organisation that knows what they are doing

As my pension date looms {14 days} I have had absolutely no contact from the Teachers Pension to confirm that they have received or are processing my application since April 2025. I have had to call for only to be met with limited information after 2.5 hours waiting for someone to answer. I am still non the wiser and left without any assurance that I will receive my payments. The paperwork has apparently been waiting to be sent for approval since June 25!! What on earth is going on? Next step is a formal complaint and after years of service it galls me to have do so. Awful service and terrible communication.

Spent 1.5 hours waiting for them to answer but gave up in the end.

What on earth is happening here and why isn't something being done about the service provided?

Yet another incompetent organisation within our Government. When will they ever learn?

Absolutely shocking beyond and these people need to be held tp account! They wouldn't last 5 minutes in the private sector!

Surely there is something that can be done about this! I am in the waiting line again to speak to someone as I followed advice given (once I got through to them after a 47 minute wait on the phone). Advice given led me to complete a particular form to claim my pension. I have completed it only for it to state at the end that due to dates given I need to request a particular form from contacting the TP. Could that not just have been a hyper link to the form? This needs improvement! Someone- please help!

Appalling organisation - I received the wrong advice and have lost out on nearly 3 years of pension - at what point is the government going to step in - this is people's livelihoods at stake. My lump sum arrived today £5k short!

Reading the reviews on here pales into insignificance as to my plight .I showed my young daughter these reviews ( she is actually 26 ) and who would have known that our beloved teachers who want to retire , have retired are being treated like second class citizens !! Your quick enough with yourOfsted reviews and your criticism but Keir Starmer , pull your f..g finger out and give our teachers what they have worked for !!!

As an IT lecturer, I cannot understand how the TP website/login system is so bad. I clearly understand how glitches and bottlenecks can occur, but this does not explain the countless flaws in the process of logging in, being told that email address, password or security answers are wrong when they are not. I am due to semi retire, and have experienced all manner of difficulties simply trying to establish what benefits I am due. I have only managed to log in successfully once. I am 100 percent accurate when entering details, but have been locked out numerous times. I am not the idiot, but somebody is responsible for this appalling system, and for the frustration and anguish of many dedicated, hardworking teachers, who can actually do their job. Shame on those responsible for this shambles.

Terrible. Wait times are unacceptable- 1hr wait currently and still continuing. They say that you can access information on website but when you try to follow link to change password it doesn’t work - link Is useless. Really poor service. How are you supposed to access really important information. Something drastic needs to be done.

Think 1.1 star aaverage says it all. Total incompetence auto replys to complaints and so far taken nearly 7 months and god knows how many times chased to not get any answers. Advised to take it to the pension ombudsman but they are just as useless probably the same people.

Shame there’s not an option for zero stars. Such a shocking organisation. It’s scary that they are responsible for administering pensions on such a wide scale. These (and google) reviews speak volumes. Appalling communication. Incompetent management. Shambles of an organisation.