The Pensions Ombudsman is the official ombudsman institution responsible for investigating complaints regarding pensions in the United Kingdom. The Pensions Ombudsman is a non-departmental public body, and the holder is appointed by the Government, but acts independently after appointment. His brief is to resolve disputes of fact or law and to investigate claims of maladministration. Unusually for UK Ombudsmen, the Pensions Ombudsman's determinations are enforceable as though they were orders made by a Court.
Although the first UK Ombudsman, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, was established in 1967, the first time the title Ombudsman was used by Parliament was to establish the office of Pensions Ombudsman in 1991.
The first Pensions Ombudsman was Michael Platt, a civil servant. He was succeeded by Dr. Julian Farrand, formerly the Insurance Ombudsman. Prior to his work as an Ombudsman, Farrand had been a Law Commissioner and a University Professor. He is married to Baroness Hale, also previously a Law Commissioner and the first woman to be a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, the UK's highest court.
Farrand was succeeded by David Laverick, previously a Director of the Local Government Ombudsman service and chief executive of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority. He also holds a Judicial Appointment as President of the Adjudication Panel for England, a body which deals with allegations about the conduct of members of local authorities.
The role of Deputy Pensions Ombudsman was created in December 2004. The current holder of the office is Charlie Gordon.
The present Pensions Ombudsman is Tony King who took up office in September 2007.
Since April 2005, the holder of the office of Pensions Ombudsman has also acted as the Ombudsman for the Pension Protection Fund, and in that capacity also deals with appeals against decisions made by the Financial Assistance Scheme, established by the Government to provide assistance to those whose pensions have been lost due to an employer going into liquidation.