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What do we mean by pensions?
Most staff employed in the NHS have the right to be members of the NHS Pension Scheme. Pensions under the NHS Pension Scheme includes the retirement pension and early payment of pension on grounds of ill health.
If you are transferred from the NHS to another organisation you should have access to a broadly comparable pension scheme and in certain limited circumstances you can continue with your membership of the NHS Pension Scheme. Your continued membership depends on the nature of the new employer organisation, and the circumstances of the transfer from NHS to non-NHS employment. The advice below will tell you what applies in your case.
How will my pension be affected?
If you are compulsorily transferred from an NHS organisation to a Local Authority, your employer can apply for you to retain access to the NHS Pension Scheme. Alternatively, you may be eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.
The arrangements for continued access to the NHS Pension Scheme depends on the circumstances of your transfer and it is important that you contact your trade union or staff representative to establish your own position.
Partnership Arrangements
Transfers of NHS staff to Local Authorities typically involve partnership arrangements between NHS bodies and local authorities to provide integrated health and social care. If your NHS employer has entered into a partnership arrangement, the Secretary of State for Health can sign a ‘transfer order’ which allows transferring NHS staff to retain full access to the NHS Pension Scheme.
Public Health Transfers
If your employment is being transferred to a Local Authority as part of the transfer of Public Health functions to the Local Authorities in 2013 (part of the NHS modernisation process) you will have your access to the NHS Pension Scheme protected on transfer. For more information, please see the following link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/public-health-pensions/
Other Transfers
Where staff are transferred in circumstances other than those outlined above, Local Authorities can generally apply for an ‘NHS Pension Direction’ from the Secretary of State for Health which protects transferring staff's access to the Scheme.
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