All staff employed in the NHS have the right to be members of the NHS Pension Scheme. Other staff not employed by the NHS but delivering NHS services have the right to access a good quality 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 compulsorily transferred from the NHS to another organisation providing health care services to the NHS you can in certain limited circumstances 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.
From 1 April 2008, the NHS Pension Scheme has two sections the 1995 section and new arrangements staff who joined on or after 1 April 2008, described as the 2008 section.
All staff currently in the 1995 Section will be offered the choice to remain in the 1995 section or to transfer to the 2008 section. Given the scale of the exercise, the Pensions Choice Exercise (PCE) will be delivered in a phases between July 2009 and 31 March 2012. The PCE will be delivered regionally, beginning in January 2010 in the South West and moving up the country to the North East and finishing in Wales.
Each SHA region will see two periods of Choice activity with staff aged 50 and over offered Choice during 2010/2011 and staff aged 49 and younger during 2011/2012. For efficiency reasons, all staff in smaller organisations, e.g. General Medical Practices, will receive their Choice during 2010 aligned to their SHA region.
Further advice
Download a copy of ‘What happens to my pension?’ for further advice.
How will my pension be affected?