HSE apologise to retired Mayo workers for non-payment of pension
Cllr Michael Kilcoynes accuses HSE of breaking the law by failing to make pension payments over the summer months
Management for the HSE in the west have apologised to retired former HSE workers in Mayo who have yet to receive any pension payments since they retired in the summer.
The meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum West heard that Mayo Mental Health workers who retired last June have yet to receive their pension and may have to wait another month before they get any payment.
Castlebar-based Independent councillor MIchael Kilcoyne, who is a member of the regional forum brought the issue up at this afternoon's [Tuesday] meeting and accused the HSE of breaking the law by withholding pension payments.
“The fact is that some people retired last June, and this is September and they still haven't got their pensions," he said.
“I just want to draw to your attention that the HSE is actually breaking the law under the Pensions Act, and that it hasn't paid people their pensions on time. I'm sure it's not the first time the HSE has broken the law on something.
“These are people who have been left without their pensions, without an income since they retired. I'm sure there's no one in management in the HSE that is left four months or five months without an income. But it's wrong. I want to know why it happened and what steps are being taken to ensure it doesn't happen again," Cllr Kilcoyne demanded to know from the HSE management.
The meeting was informed that the pension calculations for the relevant staff members have been calculated and these have been submitted to the Merlin Park Pension Department for processing and payment.
Unacceptable
Mary Warde, the Integrated Health Area Manager for Mayo apologised for the payments not being made and accepted that the delays are not acceptable. She said efforts are being made to make an interim payment but revealed it will be mid October before the lump sum can be made.
“It is down to a recruitment issue between HSE Pensions and local mental health services, which we're endeavoring to resolve and put an interim solution in place. I am looking for an interim payment to be made and I'm waiting for a response from HSE Pensions on that.
“But the update as of today is that the full payment and their lump sum will be made by mid-October. The date I've been given is around the 16th of October. I know that's still not good enough, but it is the payment date that has been given. The calculations have been done locally now, and we're making every effort to resolve the situation so that it isn't reoccurring for others. And I can only apologise on behalf of all involved," Ms Warde said.
Cllr Kilcoyne said he accepted what Ms Warde said but added that these people will have to wait another month before they can 'buy a loaf of bread or pay your mortgage'.
“You work for the HSE and people think because you work for the HSE that you're getting a good salary or a good pension. The fact is that for five months they are getting nothing.
"If they went up to the dole office and signed on, they would get money, but because they have worked and got a pension from the HSE, the HSE decides for whatever reason not to pay it. I find it the worst of the worst.
“As an organisation, if you treat your own staff in that manner, I hate to see what the rest of the public would be treated like. It's unacceptable,” Cllr Kilcoyne said adding that 'somebody is getting paid for nothing' over the last four months,
Ann Cosgrove, HSE Integrated Health Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon said what has happened is unacceptable and stressed they are 'trying to sort it'.