Former mineworkers receive £100-a-week pension boost after decades-long dispute

Almost 40,000 former mineworkers and colliery staff across the UK are receiving a significant pension uplift this week, following a Government decision to transfer £2.3bn to members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).

From today, members are seeing an average increase of around £100 a week to their pension income, alongside a one-off lump sum payment averaging £5,500, with payments backdated to November 2024.

The uplift represents a 41% increase and marks the first pension rise delivered under the new arrangements.

The payments follow the Chancellor’s Budget announcement confirming that the Government would return the investment reserve, held since 1994, to scheme members.

The move completes the process of delivering pension increases to all members of the former British Coal pension schemes, after £1.5bn was transferred last year to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, benefiting more than 100,000 people.

The BCSSS covers former coal miners as well as thousands of staff who worked in non-mining roles at collieries, including engineers, managers, canteen workers and administrators.

More than 5,000 women are members of the scheme.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “I want to pay tribute to all the mineworkers and all the campaigners involved in ending this decades-long injustice.

“Today, thousands will rightly see a 41% uplift in their pension payment just before Christmas – providing them with the retirement they deserve.”

Cheryl Agius, chair of trustees of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, described the payment as a “historic moment” and said it brings BCSSS members into line with their former colleagues in the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

The Government said it will meet scheme trustees in the new year to agree next steps on surplus sharing arrangements.

Ministers also highlighted wider plans to support jobs and investment in former coalfield communities through the transition to clean energy, with the Clean Energy Jobs Plan projecting more than 800,000 jobs in the sector by 2030.