Almost 40,000 ex-miners are set to receive a weekly pension increase of £100, marking a significant 41% raise following extensive advocacy for surplus funds in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) to be distributed to members. The boost was announced today after Chancellor Rachel Reeves disclosed in the Budget that the government has transferred the long-held £2.3 billion reserve back to BCSSS beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries are also entitled to a one-time lump sum of £5,500 effective today, with retroactive effect to November 2024 when adjustments to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme were introduced. The BCSSS scheme caters to former coal miners and non-mining personnel at collieries nationwide, including engineers, managers, canteen staff, and administrators. Roughly 40% of the 40,000 BCSSS members are women. This initiative follows last year’s £1.5 billion transfer to Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme members by the government.
Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, expressed appreciation for the efforts of mineworkers and advocates in rectifying this long-standing issue. Cheryl Agius, Chair of Trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, hailed the momentous occasion as a culmination of persistence, lobbying, and cooperation. She highlighted the alignment of BCSSS members with their MPS counterparts and acknowledged the crucial role played by members in raising the matter with the government over the past year.
