It has come to our attention at NHS Pensions that some payable dates are being recorded incorrectly, which is creating delays within the Final Pay Control department and, in turn, impacting members.
The department has identified a significant number of awards where key dates — such as the Deemed Date (pensions increase date after the relevant pay period), Payable Date, and Last Day of Service (LDOS) — are being entered as the same date. This is not correct.
- An award cannot be paid before the LDOS for the relevant scheme.
- A member’s payable date cannot fall on a day they are still in employment and receiving pay from their employer.
- The earliest payable date must be the day after the LDOS.
For example, if a member’s LDOS is 04/12/2025, their payable date should be 05/12/2025.
Why it matters
Accurate recording of these dates is essential to:
- prevent delays in processing awards and payments
- ensure members receive their benefits on time, avoiding unnecessary stress or confusion
- support efficiency by reducing rework and corrections
- maintain trust between employers, NHS Pensions, and members by demonstrating reliability and accuracy
What You Need To Do
To help avoid errors and delays, please ensure that:
- the Last Day of Service (LDOS) is recorded correctly
- the Payable Date is set to the day after the LDOS
- the Deemed Date, Payable Date, and LDOS are not entered as the same date
- all staff involved in processing awards are reminded of these rules
By following these steps, we can work together to ensure members receive their awards promptly and accurately.