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Increasing benefits

Members can increase their pension benefits in a number of ways.

Additional Pension

To set up an Additional Pension, follow the instructions in the Additional Pension decision tree (PDF: 311KB).

Added Years

Read the Added Years factsheet (PDF: 85.5KB) to find out how to process an Added Years application for a member.

You may need to use the Half Cost Added Years decision tree (PDF: 163KB) and the AB54 contract form (PDF: 239KB).

Unreduced lump sum retirement allowance

Read the unreduced lump sum retiring allowance factsheet (PDF: 197KB) for information about how to process an application for a member.

Money Purchase Additional Voluntary contributions (MPAVCs)

Read the Money Purchase AVC factsheet (PDF: 115KB) and Money Purchase AVC additional information (PDF: 108KB) to find out more about Money Purchase AVCs for members.

Stakeholder pensions

Stakeholder pensions are an alternative way of saving for retirement.

They are not normally recommended as a main pension for someone who can join the NHS Pension Scheme.

If a member is not able to join the Scheme, you must offer them an NHS stakeholder pension.

A member of the NHS Pension Scheme can use an NHS stakeholder pension to top up their main Scheme benefits. They can do this instead of, or as well as, other top up arrangements.

Stakeholder contributions are invested with an external provider. This means the NHS Pension Scheme can’t guarantee the members’ fund or the amount of the pension it will produce.

NHS stakeholder pensions are run for the NHS by Standard Life.

A member can take out a stakeholder pension independently of the NHS Pension Scheme if they prefer.

Get a free information pack

If a member would like to find out more about NHS stakeholder pensions, they can contact our providers for a free information pack:

Standard Life
Dundas House
20 Brandon Street
Edinburgh
EH3 5PP

www.standardlife.co.uk/nhs

Helpline: 0800 333 306