The technical content of the website has been rewritten and updated to appeal to a wider audience, including the millions of people who will become pension savers for the first time, over the coming months and years, due to automatic enrolment into workplace pensions. Topics that feature on the website include saving into a pension, taking money from your pension pot and tracing a lost pension.  The website provides a wealth of top tips for saving and planning for a comfortable retirement.

The newly revised series of factsheets provide more detailed information on topics such as income drawdown, the annual allowance and taking lump sum payments. These spotlights can be found on the publications page.

A series of short videos has also been added to help people learn more about automatic enrolment and the importance of saving for retirement. As one of the Department for Work and Pension's strategic partners in the roll out of automatic enrolment, we will be working closely with our partners to ensure those people who need support can access the help they need. 

Marta Phillips OBE CA, Chief Executive of TPAS said: "I am delighted this work has been completed as it gives us the foundation we need to make it more relevant for people seeking information and guidance from TPAS.  Users of the website and social media links can look forward to further developments which will enable them to find the information they need."

Alison Bailey, Head of Policy and Technical Development at TPAS said:  "With over 3 million visits to our website in the last year, we know that more and more people are seeking help and support with their pensions. We hope that the new content will make it easier for people to find the information they need, as well as encourage more people to save for retirement."

Notes to editors;

1 For all media enquiries please email media.enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk or telephone the press office on 020 7932 5797

2 To visit our website please go to www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

3 To read out spotlight factsheets please go to www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/publications

4 To view the video content please go to http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/automatic-enrolment/videos

TPAS will be hosting an Open Evening on Tuesday 16 April 2013 6.30pm - 8pm at the London Office, providing the chance for pensions professionals to meet with current volunteers and staff and the opportunity to find out more about the benefits of volunteering.

Charlotte Jackson, Head of Information & Guidance, at TPAS said;

 "We are currently recruiting for volunteers to work in our London office to help with answering calls from the public on our Pensions Helpline. With the introduction of automatic enrolment and the proposed changes to the state pension, more and more people need our help and guidance, and volunteering at TPAS can really make a difference."

"Many of our volunteers find it a very rewarding experience. For those who have had worked in the pensions industry, or have some time to spare during the day, it gives them the chance to give something back to the community."

To find out more about the Open Evening and volunteering at TPAS please email: Cathy.Prenderville@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

Ends.
Notes to Editors:
1)     For all media enquiries please email media.enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk or telephone the press office on 020 7932 5797.

2)     TPAS offers volunteers:

1. Affiliate Membership of PMI for all volunteers that are not in work/retired
2. Membership of a supportive team of like-minded professionals
3. Access to TPAS's in-house technical training, materials and support
4. Re-imbursement of all reasonable expenses (travel to and from the office/refreshment) on production of receipts
5. A personalised induction and initial training programme to fully equip you to help on our helplines
6. A technical mentor to support you with any day to day questions you may have
7. The mental challenge presented by supporting people with a wide range of pensions issues
8. The satisfaction of knowing that using your knowledge has made a difference!

 3)     TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.

4)     TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
 

Marta Phillips said: "I have enjoyed leading TPAS over the last three years but feel it's now time to broaden my experience. I took over at a challenging time with fewer resources and growing demand for our services from the public.  However, our staff and volunteers have responded magnificently and TPAS has been able to help many more thousands of people with their pension problems.

"I set out to transform the way that TPAS works and prepare for automatic enrolment.  These have now been completed.  Part of my legacy will be the new infrastructure that has been put in place.  This has made us more efficient and improved the quality of the service we are able to provide the public."

Partha Dasgupta, TPAS Chairman, said: "I would like to thank Marta for her hard work over the past three years and for agreeing to stay until the summer to help facilitate an orderly transition.  I am confident that many of the changes she has put in place will help us play our part in supporting the introduction of automatic enrolment and other changes.  I wish her every success in the next stages of her career."

The TPAS Board will shortly begin its search for a successor.

Notes to editors:

1 FOR ALL MEDIA QUERIES please email: media.enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk or telephone: 020 7932 5797

2 Marta Phillips OBE CA was appointed though open competition to the role of Chief Executive.  Her appointment commenced in April 2010 and her contract expires in April 2013.  She is paid £92,500 per annum.

3 Previously, Marta was Director of Compliance at the National Lottery Commission.  Prior to that, she was Head of Finance for the European Social Fund Unit in the Department for Education and Employment. Her early career was spent at Ernst & Young, the Stock Exchange and Midland Bank.    She is a Member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.  She has also held a number of non-executive roles.  She was awarded an OBE in 2006 New Year's Honours List for services to social housing.

4 TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.

5 TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has not statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.

6 TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

"We are delighted to support the PMI in this new qualification for the pensions industry. Automatic enrolment is a major step forward to helping more people to save for retirement. We would encourage all those who are involved with implementing the changes in their workplace to consider gaining this qualification."

"We welcome any initiative that better prepares the industry for this new phase in pensions. As an organisation we are committed to making sure our staff are as highly trained as possible and not only able to meet the standards required, but exceed them.

Charlotte Jackson, Head of Information and Guidance, added;

"We are really proud of our staff, for meeting the challenge of being the first organisation to take the examination. This demonstrates the dedication of our staff to provide a high quality technical service.

"Our information and guidance service has been responding to questions from the public on automatic enrolment issues for more than a year and this qualification underpins this experience."

The qualification comprises of a single compulsory module, which requires candidates to work through a study manual with case studies of approximately 35-40 hours of work. It is assessed by a 60 multiple choice question examination designed to test knowledge across the syllabus.

TPAS is one of the Government's specialist pension partners, and are working hard to support customers with questions or difficulties as the automatic enrolment policy is rolled out. Whilst the helpline service is primarily aimed at members of the general public, information about automatic enrolment is also available on our website www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk for employers.

Note for Editors

1. FOR ALL MEDIA QUERIES please email: media.enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk or telephone: 020 7932 5797 or 07818 010 094
2. TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.
3. TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
4. Our website covers all aspects of pensions in the UK: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
5. During 2011/12, TPAS dealt with;
   Telephone calls               68,534
   Written Enquiries             20,656
   Pension Dispute cases      5,120
   Website Visits                  2,514,105
6. TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has no statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.
7. TPAS provides a range of leaflets on different aspects of pension. Details can be found on the website.

"Introducing a simpler state pension will benefit millions of savers and pensioners. The changes will help people to understand how much they need to save to ensure they have a comfortable retirement," said Marta Phillips, Chief Executive of The Pensions Advisory Service.

Alison Bailey, Head of Policy at The Pensions Advisory Service, added:

"The technical expertise of our staff and volunteers means that we are well-placed to help people understand the impact of the changes on their overall retirement planning.

"We are still examining the detail of the changes and will keep our website up to date as our understanding of the implications unfolds."

Charlotte Jackson, Head of Information and Governance, said:

"Our team of pension experts are ready to help people work through the options.  Members of the public can contact our helpline on 0845 601 2923 or by sending a message via our website. www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk."

Note for Editors

1. FOR ALL MEDIA QUERIES please email: media.enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk or telephone: 020 7932 5797
2. TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.
3. TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
4. Our website covers all aspects of pensions in the UK: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
5. During 2011/12, TPAS dealt with;
   Telephone calls               68,534
   Written Enquiries             20,656
   Pension Dispute cases      5,120
   Website Visits                  2,514,105
6. TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has not statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.
7. TPAS provides a range of leaflets on different aspects of pension. Details can be found on the website.

Our Chief Executive, Marta Phillips OBE said "As one of the Department for Work and Pensions' key stakeholders for the delivery of pension reform, we expect to deal with a significant number of enquiries from members of the public who are joining a pension scheme for the first time.  We have been working with the Department and other stakeholders to identify the sorts of complex pension queries people might have as they start planning for retirement for the first time."

Charlotte Jackson, Head of Information & Guidance, said, "Even ahead of today's official launch of automatic enrolment, The Pension Advisory Service has seen a steady increase in calls and emails from the general public and this is expected to continue to increase over the coming months.  As the number of people in workplace pension schemes is set to explode, so we expect to continue to play our part in helping them understand their pension rights.  We have been very busy making a number of changes to the way we work and increasing our staffing levels to ensure we are ready for the exciting challenge ahead."

Alison-Jane Bailey, Head of Policy & Technical Development, said "The technical expertise and many years' pensions experience of our staff and volunteers means that we are uniquely placed to provide free and impartial help in this area. Our experience of explaining complex issues in ways that people can easily understand means we can talk people through their options, help them to decide what is right is for them and encourage them to stay in their pension scheme once they have been enrolled."  

Questions about automatic enrolment are just one of the many issues that our helpline deals with daily.  Members of the public with a question or concern about their pension rights or pensions generally can telephone our helpline on 0845 601 2923 or visit our website at www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

Note for Editors

1. TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.

2. TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

3. Our website covers all aspects of pensions in the UK: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

4. During 2011/12, TPAS dealt with;
Telephone calls               68,534
Written Enquiries             20,656
Pension Dispute cases      5,120
Website Visits                  2,514,105

5. TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has not statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.

6. TPAS provides a range of leaflets on different aspects of pension. Details can be found on the website.

We have already seen a growing interest in questions about automatic enrolment and have started to prepare for an expected increase in questions as the requirements take effect and public awareness grows later this year.  Most questions, however, related to people's own pension arrangements and a desire to better understand their entitlement.  Other common questions were about general retirement saving guidance, transferring pensions and tracking down lost plans.   The main reasons for complaint concerned mistakes and overpayments, and failed ill-health retirement applications.  The report includes some summaries of our work.  We have also been able to use our experience to provide valuable insight to Government and stakeholders.

A large part of our service was again delivered by volunteers, to whom we are very grateful.  Volunteers donated 66,882 hours of their time to help others.  We estimate that this equates to just under £10 million in equivalent monetary value. 

TPAS Chairman, Partha Dasgupta said "Against a back drop of rapid developments in the pension landscape, I am pleased that we have continued to use our evidence base to help shape pension policies.  Our formal and informal mediation processes have continued to help resolve complaints and make a difference to people lives.  Many thanks to our staff and volunteer advisers for achieving this.

Marta Phillips, TPAS Chief Executive said "It is clear from last year's work that we continue to have a challenging agenda to meet the needs of the people we help; the pension reform agenda means that this demand is likely to grow and we are preparing for this.  We are also pleased to continue to work with colleagues across the industry to help resolve the issues that come to us.

Copies of the report can be downloaded by clicking here.

Note for Editors

• 1. TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.
• 2. TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• 3. Our website covers all aspects of pensions in the UK: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
• 4. TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has not statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.
• 5. TPAS provides a range of leaflets on different aspects of pension. Details can be found on the website.

We are also pleased to announce that four volunteer advisers have been made Fellows of TPAS in recognition of their outstanding service over a number of years.  The new Fellows are Andrea Morris-Conway, Richard Ralph, Brian Smyth and Keith Wallace.  

TPAS Chief Executive, Marta Phillips said: "All our volunteers helped their fellow citizens to the tune of just under £10 million last year, so it is particularly pleasing to recognise our Adviser of the Year and new Fellows.  I would like to congratulate Usha and our new Fellows and thank them for their contribution over many years of service."

Note for Editors

• 1. TPAS is an independent body supported by the Government which exists to provide information and guidance to the public on pension matters generally. Our service is free and sustained by a nationwide network of volunteer advisers.
• 2. TPAS provides a national pensions helpline 0845 601 2923 which is open 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• 3. Our website covers all aspects of pensions in the UK: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
• 4. TPAS acts as an impartial mediator in pension disputes involving occupational, personal and stakeholder pensions. It has not statutory powers and does not provide investment advice.
• 5. TPAS provides a range of leaflets on different aspects of pension. Details can be found on the website.