Early Christmas present for Nottinghamshire mineworkers as Government makes first pension reserve payment

Thousands of former mineworkers and widows from Mansfield, Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Eastwood are receiving an early Christmas present in the form of an, on average, extra £100 to their weekly pension payment.

The first 41 per cent payment boost follows the Chancellor’s announcement at Budget that the Government has transferred the £2.3bn reserve, previously held by Government since 1994, to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

Coalfield MPs with Chancellor Rachel Reeves outside No.11 Downing Street last month before the Budget BCSSS announcement. Photo: Toby Perkins

placeholder image — Coalfield MPs with Chancellor Rachel Reeves outside No.11 Downing Street last month before the Budget BCSSS announcement. Photo: Toby Perkins

In Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, 9,883 former mineworkers will be receiving money.

The increase will land in members’ pockets just in time for Christmas, ensuring former colliery workers and staff, who helped power the country for decades, finally get the just rewards from their labour.

With payments backdated to November 2024 when the increase to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme was implemented, members should today receive a £5,500 lump sum on average.

The BCSSS scheme represents former coal miners as well as those who worked in non-mining roles at collieries across the UK, including engineers, managers, canteen workers and administrators – with more than 5,000 women part of the scheme, representing 13% of members.

Last year the Government transferred £1.5 billion to members of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, supporting more than 100,000 members across the UK.

Cheryl Agius chair of trustees of the BCSSS, said: "This is a historic moment – the result of a year of determination, advocacy and collaboration – and it marks a turning point for the scheme.

“The Government has listened to the trustees, scheme members, and coalfield MPs that have supported this issue and agreed to transfer the scheme's investment reserve to members.

"Being able to make the first bonus pension increase, brings BCSSS members into line with their former colleagues in the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme (MPS), who received their investment reserve in November last year.

“Our members have been key to helping us raise this issue with the Government over the last 12 months and the trustees would like to thank them for their support."

The Government will meet with trustees of the BCSSS in the new year to agree a way forward with surplus sharing arrangements.

Ed Milliband MP (Lab), Energy and Net Zero Secretary, said: “I want to pay tribute to all the mineworkers and all the campaigners involved in ending this decades-long injustice.”