What's Happening?
Grant Thornton has been appointed to assess the recovery plan for the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) after its administration was transferred from MyCSP to Capita in December 2025. The transition led to significant issues, including difficulties
with the online portal, resulting in a backlog of approximately 86,000 cases. Capita, along with the Cabinet Office, initiated a recovery plan in January 2026, but failed to meet the end-June deadline, prompting the government to reassess the scheme's administration. Grant Thornton's role will involve evaluating Capita's strategy to address the backlog and meet contracted service levels. This appointment is in addition to the efforts of 140 HMRC staff already working on the issues. The Public and Commercial Services Union has requested consultation arrangements with Grant Thornton and detailed terms of reference for its appointment.
Why It's Important?
The appointment of Grant Thornton is crucial as it addresses the significant backlog and service issues affecting thousands of pension scheme members. The effective resolution of these issues is vital for maintaining trust in public sector pension administration. The backlog includes 9,463 outstanding retirement quotes and 4,750 bereavement cases, highlighting the scale of the problem. Successful intervention by Grant Thornton could set a precedent for handling similar administrative challenges in public services, potentially influencing future policy and operational strategies in pension management.
What's Next?
Grant Thornton will begin its assessment of Capita's recovery strategy, with potential consultations involving the Public and Commercial Services Union. The outcome of this assessment could lead to further adjustments in the recovery plan or additional resources being allocated to address the backlog. Stakeholders, including pension scheme members and government officials, will be closely monitoring the progress and effectiveness of Grant Thornton's involvement.
