Swann backs call for action over Civil Service pension delays

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has joined a cross-party group of Parliamentarians calling for an urgent fix to the "fundamental failure" of the Civil Service pension scheme.

Mr Swann has signed an Early Day Motion highlighting the financial hardship facing thousands of retired public servants. Many have been left waiting more than nine months for payments they are legally entitled to.

The motion notes that some retirees have been unable to pay mortgages or household bills, while bereaved spouses have faced months of delays for survivor pensions. The backlog of unresolved cases reached 90,000 when the current contractor, Capita, took over the service.

Commenting on the motion, Mr Swann said:

"It is completely unacceptable that people who have given years of dedicated service to the public are being left in financial limbo. To hear that retired civil servants are being forced to borrow money or rely on family just to pay their rent is deeply concerning.

"The stress and anxiety this is causing for people in South Antrim and across the UK cannot be ignored. We are seeing a basic failure of a core government function. I am backing calls for Capita to prioritise hardship cases and for the Government to introduce a proper compensation scheme for those who have incurred bank charges or late fees through no fault of their own.”