There are 2 NHS Pension schemes. There's the 1995 / 2008 Scheme and the 2015 Scheme.
The NHS Pension scheme overview (PDF: 290KB) gives you more detail about each scheme.
If you’re not sure which scheme you’re in, you can watch our video or use our 'scheme identifier' tool to find out.
Watch our video to understand which NHS Pension scheme you're in and what type of member you are:
Download the video transcript (PDF: 101KB).
Types of scheme member
There are different types of NHS Pension scheme member:
Active – a member who is currently contributing to the scheme
Deferred – a former member who is:
- no longer contributing to the scheme
- not eligible for a refund
- not yet receiving their NHS pension
Pensioner – someone who is receiving their NHS pension
Read the member character key (PDF: 471KB) for more information about which type of member you are.
Scheme membership
Calculating membership (PDF: 99.7KB)Maximum membership and age restrictions (PDF: 101KB)Mental Health Officer (MHO) (PDF: 133KB)Special Class (PDF: 128KB)
NHS Employers have put together a helpful presentation about the benefits of having an NHS pension:NHS employers NHS Pension presentation (PDF: 1.5MB)
Find out how some changes in your life may impact your NHS pension:Career breaks (PDF: 96.6KB)Maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave (PDF: 163KB)Gender recognition (PDF: 129KB)
Membership enquiries
To get information about your membership, you need to complete a membership enquiry form.
Read our membership record factsheet (PDF: 218KB) for general information.
The following factsheets will provide more in-depth information regarding your specific enquiry.
Standard membership enquiry factsheet (PDF: 242KB)Retrospective membership enquiry factsheet (PDF: 182KB)Part-Time Access membership enquiry factsheet (PDF: 184KB)
Membership enquiry forms
Membership statement request (1995/2008 Scheme) (SM27A) (PDF: 77KB)Membership enquiry - contact with the employer (SM27B) (Word: 166KB)Membership enquiry - contact with NHS Pensions (SM27C) (Word: 274KB)Retrospective membership enquiry - contact with the employer SM Retro 1 (Word: 98KB)Part-Time Access membership enquiry - contact with NHS Pensions SM PTA1 (Word: 102KB)Request for Mental Officer status form (SM MHO) (Word: 353KB)
Scheme protection arrangements
Scheme Protection allowed some members to stay in the section of the scheme they were in on 31 March 2015.
Read the Scheme Protection factsheet (PDF: 210KB) for more information.
Deferred pension
When you leave the Scheme, your pension will be deferred if you have either:
- more than 2 years qualifying membership
- less than 2 years in the Scheme, but have transferred a personal pension into the NHS Pension Scheme
This means the pension you have built up will remain in the Scheme. It will be paid when you reach your normal pension age.
We’ll defer your pension after you have left the Scheme for 12 months.
This is only if you haven't either:
- transferred your pension benefits to another pension provider
- returned to the NHS in a role where you can start building up your pension again
Protection of pay
You may be able to protect your pensionable pay if you have both:
- 2 years’ qualifying membership
- suffer a reduction in pensionable pay
To find out more read the Protection of Pay and Voluntary Protection of Pay factsheet (WORD: 249KB).
Apply for protection of pay or voluntary protection using the request to protect pensionable pay application form (SM R9) (Word: 246KB).
