Changes to your NHS pension

Did you miss our deep dive at the latest changes? From 1 April 2022, all active members, regardless of age, will be members of the 2015 NHS pension scheme

This change means that active members of the 1995/2008 scheme will automatically move to the 2015 scheme and start building up benefits in this scheme. 

Both the 1995 and 2008 Sections of the 1995/2008 scheme will close on 31 March 2022 – but you will not lose any of the pension benefits you’ve already built up in this scheme; they’ll make up part of your benefits when you retire and the rest will be made up of any you earn in the 2015 scheme from 1 April 2022 onwards. This means that, when you claim your pension, it could consist of up to THREE different parts of the NHS pension scheme.

How your pension benefits are calculated

During your career you may have been a member of different NHS pension schemes so, when you eventually claim your pension, your total monthly payment will be made up of any benefits you’ve earned in the 1995 Section, 2008 Section and the 2015 NHS pension schemes, as applicable.

You need to be aware that you can claim these benefits at different times.

• You can start receiving your 1995 section benefits, without any reductions, from age 60 (or 55 if you’re a special class member).
• You can claim your 2008 section benefits from age 65.
• You can claim your 2015 scheme benefits from age 65 or your state pension age, whichever is later.

When you claim your pension, each month you’ll receive one monthly payment; this will include any benefits you have claimed from the 1995 section and the 2008 section and the 2015 scheme, as applicable.

You’ll keep any pension benefits you’ve earned in legacy schemes

If you are member of the 1995/2008 scheme you‘ll keep any service you have earned before 1 April 2022 in the legacy scheme and you’ll be able to access these benefits in the same way, and at the same time, as you can now. 

You can find out more about when you can access your benefits on the NHS’ applying for your pension webpage. 

You will NOT lose your final salary link if you have one.

You’ll also keep your final salary link for your 1995/2008 scheme benefits, as long as you don’t have a break in membership of more than five years. This means that, when it’s time for the NHS to pay you your 1995/2008 benefits, they’ll be calculated using your final salary at retirement.

If you’ve built up practitioner benefits, these will be protected at retirement using arrangements equivalent to a final salary link – as long as you don’t have a break in membership of more than five years. 

Any pension benefits you earn on or after the 1 April 2022 will be held in the reformed 2015 pension scheme.

These changes are designed to make sure the government’s aims of rewarding hardworking public servants, at the same time as making sure schemes are sustainable and affordable in the future, are met.

The NHS’ Understanding your benefits in the 2015 scheme webpage explains more about the scheme.