Pension Groups and Research Bodies

Actuarial Profession: provides commercial, financial and prudential advice on the management of assets and liabilities

ASW Pension Action Group: much useful information on pensions during a scheme wind up

Employers Forum on Age: (EFA) network of employers tackling ageism at work

Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS)

Just Pensions Project, managed by UKSIF, to encourage socially responsible investment by pension funds

Local Government Pension Scheme: guide to the scheme. See also Local Government Pensions Committee (LGPC)

NAPF: The National Association of Pension Funds represents the interests of occupational pensions funds

National Pensioners Convention an umbrella body for pensioners' groups throughout the UK

Occupational Pensioners' Alliance is a non-political confederation of occupational pensioners' associations in the UK

Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) is an educational charity set up to promote the study of pensions and other retirement provision.

PMI: The Pensions Management Institute promotes professionalism amongst those involved with pensions and provides training and qualifications

The Raising Standards of Pension Administration project aims to improve the standard of administration of pension arrangements, by creating guidance notes, case studies, tools and checklists

TUC home page, with links to other unions; includes TUC Trustee Network discussion forum

Government and regulation

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) home page

DWP: The Pensions Service for information on state pensions (includes links to Pensions Credit information)

Financial Services Authority (FSA): regulates the financial services industry in the UK

Government independent pensions guide.

National Insurance Contributions: part of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

OPAS: The Pensions Advisory Service gives free advice on company or personal pension schemes, and general advice on state pensions

Pension Protection Fund: (PPF) pays compensation to members of defined benefit pension schemes, where there are insufficient assets when the scheme is wound up. See also Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) which deals with schemes wound up before PPF

Pensions at Work: gives employers information and examples of good practice in workplace pension provision

Pensions Commission: set up in 2002 to review the UK private pension system and long-term savings

Pensions Ombudsman: investigates and decides complaints and disputes about the way that pension schemes are run

Pension Tracing Service: can help you trace pension schemes you have belonged to in the past. Formerly the Pensions Registry; part of the Pensions Service since April 2005

Pensions Regulator: is sponsored by the DWP, and replaces OPRA from April 2005 as the body responsible for the regulation of occupational pension schemes