Pension stoppage.

[Mackar]

I recently completed a contracted term of employment (22 years) with a company. On completion of this term, I received an immediate pension. (Payable from day one of the contract completion date.)
After a period of 2 1/2 years I was re-employed with the same company on a short term contract. The new job was at a lower grade/level of management than previously held, with an obvious lower level of pay. The company pension scheme, now entered with, is a different pension scheme from the one I received originally. Also, due to the type of contract, I am unable to gain promotion within the company.
My question is: Since being re-employed with this company, they have stopped payment of my previous pension. This doesn't seem right (morally) and with all things considered. Do I have a leg to stand on, legally, with regard to my pension being abated in full?

[themas]

This probably depends on the terms of your pension - which will be set out in the deed and other documents which control the pension scheme. You should have been given the necessary information, but if you haven't the first thing to do is to ask the pension scheme trustees to give you an explanation of why payments have stopped & details of which part of the terms & conditions apply.

You will probably find there is something in the small print which gives them the right to do this, but if you are not satisfied you could go here:

http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/

and ask their advice line.

[dzug]

It is normal for a pension to stop or be reduced if you restart work with the same company. The precise terms for your company will as Themas says be documented in the Scheme's rules