Former Mineworkers Celebrate Historic £100-a-Week UK Pensions Boost
The Autumn Budget 2024 ended the government's decades-long surplus raid on the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, resulting in a significant pensions uplift for scheme members. The government transferred £2.3bn from the scheme's reserve fund to enable a 41% increase in pensions, affecting about 40,000 people with non-mining roles at collieries, including more than 5,000 women.
An average lump sum of £5,500 will be paid back, backdated to the end of the unjust surplus-taking arrangement. This reform aligns these pensions more closely with those of other former public sector workers. Similar changes were made last year to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, which has around 100,000 members.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband praised the campaign that led to the uplift, noting thousands will benefit just before Christmas. Cheryl Agius, chair of trustees for the scheme, called this a historic moment recognizing the campaign and advocacy behind the change.
MP Steve Yemm, representing Mansfield for Labour, acknowledged the progress but emphasized that clarity on ongoing surplus-sharing arrangements is still needed, and he is engaging with trustees and ministers to address these concerns.
