At first I thought the simple and only answer to your quite proper concern was "No" because we have always been told, and this is re-iterated by the BBC Pensioners Association in recent correspondence, that nothing can change the terms of existing pensions payments.  However when it comes to annual increases I am certainly not so sure.    It would be very difficult to justify RPI related increases for pensioners when serving staff are getting nothing or very little.   So I would be grateful if someone with a position of authority on the pensions issue would clarify this for us a,s,a,p. for I have no doubt that we will all be feeling the pinch in the next six years.   But in the meantime, if you are not yet a member of the BBCPA then I urge you to join. They have their own website at  <www.bbcpa.org.uk>.

Hi,
Concerning Pension increases during the six year TV licence freeze.... I would agree with David, in that nothing can change the terms of existing pensions in payment.

However from what I have read fom the (Downloadable) BBC Pension Scheme 43rd Deed of Variation 21/12/09.

Quote:
9.1 :  INCREASE OF PENSIONS

a    :  Maximum increases in Pensions, 2.5% for CAB, 5% for New Benefits, 10% for Old Benefits.

b    :  The % increase is the Index published for the previous year ended 31st Dec.
"Index" means the Govnt Index of Retail Price (RPI) or such other published index of prices which the Trustees and the BBC agree will be the index instead.

So as the government are to use the CPI index (instead of RPI) for the calculations of Benefits in future, I should think that Pension schemes will do the same (including the BBC).
Of course if it becomes law to use the CPI then the Trustees will have no option but to use it.

At least It would appear that we (Pensioners) will still get an increase albeit CPI.

As for pay increases in the BBC during the six year period ...well there will be some agreement made I would have thought with the unions i.e rate of inflation (CPI or less) or a pay freeze for a set period. It's going to be hard though as the employee pension contributions will have been increased by then!

Before I sign off I would like to echo David's request for someone from BBC Pensions who could lay out the facts on this platform.  

Further to my last posting I am still of the impression that in the ranks of Pensioners the one's being paid an Incapacity Pension are the only group who can have their Pensions cut/stopped..in this present climate will this come to the fore?
Hopefully we can get authorative answers in the not too distant future on these pressing subjects.