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Changes to the AW171 retirement benefits process

We would like to thank you for your continued support whilst the revised automated AW171 retirement benefits process has been bedding in. During the implementation we have worked with you to alleviate some of your initial concerns. We created a set of FAQs to answer the most common queries we received and made some slight changes to the process from your feedback. We hope you have found this helpful.

We have also reached out to some of you who volunteered to join an employer working party and invited you to provide feedback on how the AW171 process is now working.

We promised to share these testimonies with you which include:

“Since NHS Pensions updated the process in respect of sub awards by removing the need to complete an AW171 and acted on ESR/POL updates, the process has become more streamlined, quicker, cost effective and easier to manage.” 

“As pensionable pay figures are checked prior to submitting the initial AW8 only minimal checks for anomalies in the last three ‘estimated months’ are needed.” 

“If there are no changes to the last day of service, all that is required is an update to POL. There's no need to run reports and fill in forms meaning no duplication or postage costs.”  

“Revised pensionable pay only needs to be recalculated and emailed over if there has been a change to the dates.” 

“The team all agree that this is a good and welcomed improvement.”

“The new Sub Award process is a positive step forward in the administration of pension awards.” 

“We have noticed a reduction in work loads due to this automation.” 

Please continue to share any feedback with us and thank you for bearing with us whilst this revised process fully embedded.