The two-week blackout for the switchover of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme from Capita to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was not the final stage expected by members, with services still to be brought online.
After three years of build-up and a two-week blackout period, teachers expected the migration to be complete, but there is still work to do, and the process remains “underway”, according to the Department for Education (DfE).
TCS won the 10-year contract in June 2023, replacing Capita, with the takeover set for earlier this month.
While millions of member records were transferred by 2 November as planned, to the surprise of members, critical services are not yet available to them.
A DfE spokesperson said: “Following the planned temporary pause to all teacher pensions services, different elements of the service will come online in a sequenced way.”
But according to former teacher David Fountain, who is supporting teachers who have concerns, this was not explained before. “The ‘sequenced way’ was not detailed before the blackout and had no current publicly explained timeline for what and when is being shared,” he said.
“We were given the impression that it would be fully up and running from day one,” said Fountain, who added that the fact this was not communicated in advance risks causing anxiety among members.
The DfE spokesperson said: “Pension benefits and payments will be paid as usual, and members can visit the Teachers’ Pensions website for the latest updates and urgent support if needed.”
The spokesperson added that the “employer portal is now available for all employers, as well as the contact centre and live chat for members”.
Fountain said the sequenced approach surprise was “akin to being told that a shop will open at 9am and then for everyone getting there for that time, to be told that only staff can go in and it won’t be until midday that they will open doors to customers”.
The DfE was asked by Computer Weekly whether the “sequenced” approach was always part of the plan. The spokesperson said this wouldn’t have been announced in advance.
Computer Weekly asked for details of when different services will go live. The spokesperson said: “[The scheme administrators] will keep members and employers updated every step of the way.”
TCS was contacted for comment but had not responded when this article weas published.
Existing problems
There have been fears over the transfer, following the disastrous Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) migration from MyCSP to Capita. The CSPS contract was originally won by Capita in 2023, around the same time that TCS took the Teachers’ Pension administration contract. It also had a two-year period before the transfer in December 2025, which has been a disaster.
Retired civil servants have been pushed into severe financial hardship due to delays in receiving pensions of almost a year in some cases (see timeline of articles below).
MPs heard last month that some teachers were experiencing problems. In September, amid the fallout of Capita’s botched takeover of the CSPS, a Westminster Hall debate was held where MPs discussed the problems. During the meeting, which was held weeks before the switch from Capita to TCS, Alison Bennet, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Sussex, said she had been told teachers were experiencing problems with their pensions. She asked: “Are we seeing teachers go through the same ordeal [as civil servants]?
“I have received very concerning casework from teachers in my constituency who seem to be having similar or the same troubles with their pensions,” added Bennet. “The idea that the immense stress and potential financial hardship we’ve heard inflicted on civil servants has been [repeated] with teachers is appalling.”
Comparing the transfer to the Civil Service Pension Scheme supplier switch, Fountain said: “I would say that there are similarities but that we do not have the severity of hardship caused by teachers failing to be paid anything that appears to be the case with the civil service pensions for a large number. However, the issue with data husbandry is, and has been, ongoing.
“Unfortunately, I can see TCS might have similar problems given how many errors are flagged up at the last minute in the process when teachers apply for their pensions,” he added.
