{
  "id": 11405553,
  "title": "National Audit Office launches review into Capita’s handling of civil service pension scheme",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/national-audit-office-launches-review-into-capitas-handling-of-civil",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:09:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/national-audit-office-launches-review-into-capitas-handling-of-civil-service-pension-scheme/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Audit Office (NAO) has initiated a formal review into Capita's administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) following widespread service failures and processing backlogs. Capita, a London-listed outsourcer, took over the management of the CSPS in December 2025, and the NAO's review builds upon a June 2025 initial investigation. Capita admitted that its performance remains below the standards expected, and the company has pledged to engage fully and transparently with the NAO, the Cabinet Office, and relevant stakeholders. The review was prompted by Capita missing three transition milestones before assuming control of the scheme, leading the Cabinet Office to withhold £9.6m in transition payments. Scheme members have expressed concerns over delays in receiving pension payouts and responses to queries, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as those making bereavement claims and death-in-service benefit payments. Capita has acknowledged the need for continued service improvement but claims it has made \"good operational progress\" in priority areas of the scheme in August and September. The company lost its statutory pension scheme with Royal Mail earlier this year due to a loss of confidence in the firm.",
  "summary": "Capita has said the public spending watchdog has launched a review into its administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, after admitting its performance “remains below” the standards expected. The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched a further formal review into the London-listed outsourcer’s handling of the scheme, building on the watchdog’s initial June 2025 [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "This Is Money",
        "title": "Capita faces fresh probe over its bungled handling of the civil service pension scheme",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/capita-faces-fresh-probe-over-its-bungled-handling-of-the-civil",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:37:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}