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Joining the Scheme

You may be eligible to join the NHS Pension Scheme if you're between 16 and 75.

This also applies to those working under a contract for services, including:

  • general practitioners (GPs)
  • general dental practitioners
  • ophthalmic medical practitioners

How our pension works

If you are eligible when you start work, your employer or Pensions Officer will enrol you as a member of the Scheme.

Pension contributions will come out of your salary (or income). You'll see this on your payslip.

Your employer will email you a copy of the relevant Member Guide to help you understand the Scheme rules.

When you join, you get a membership number, also known as an SD number. Your employer should give you this.

Watch this video to understand the important benefits of being a member of the Scheme such as:

  • employer contributions
  • family benefits
  • ill health benefits
  • ways to increase your pension
  • flexibilities about when you can take your pension

Download the video transcript (PDF: 98KB).


Rejoining the Scheme

If you are in NHS employment, you may rejoin the Scheme if you meet the eligibility conditions.

You may also rejoin the Scheme if you are taking your NHS Pension and have returned to NHS employment. 

The maximum age for joining or rejoining the Scheme is 75. 

All members joining or rejoining the Scheme from 1 April 2023 will build up pension benefits in the 2015 Scheme. 

This also applies to those working under a contract for services, including:

  • general practitioners (GPs)
  • general dental practitioners
  • ophthalmic medical practitioners

Rejoining the Scheme following a break of five years or more

You might return to pensionable NHS employment after more than 5 years.

On rejoining the NHS Pension Scheme you'll join and build up pension benefits in the 2015 Scheme.

You’ll have a one-off opportunity to transfer deferred benefits from your earlier membership into the 2015 Scheme.

We’ll contact you if this applies. You can then request a personalised comparison pack so you can decide whether to transfer.

You'll need to:

We do not accept requests for a comparison pack after the 3 month deadline.

Rejoining the Scheme following retirement 

From 1 April 2023, all members will have the option to retire and re-join the pension scheme.

If you are not ready to stop work altogether, you can retire and take your full pension, then return to work after a break of at least 24 hours and re-join the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme to earn further benefits.

This is already available to members of the 2008 Section or 2015 Scheme and from 1 April 2023, it’ll also be an option for members who have retired with 1995 Section benefits.

You can find more information on our options for flexible retirement webpage.

If you have taken ill-health retirement, read the guidance on our re-employment webpage.