The UK government published their coronavirus action plan on 3 March 2020. This plan set out measures to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This included increasing the available health and social care workforce. This removed barriers and allowed recently retired NHS staff and social care workers to return to work and tackle the outbreak.
From 25 March 2020, the UK government’s emergency legislation suspended some regulations to allow retired NHS members to return to work.
It also allows retired members who have already returned to work to increase their commitments if needed, without affecting their pension benefits.
The measures include temporary suspension of:
- the 16-hour rule in the 1995 Section
- abatement for special class status holders in the 1995 Section who retire and return to work between age 55 to 60
- draw down abatement in the 2008 Section and 2015 Scheme
Information for current pensioners and those planning to retire (PDF: 145KB)
The end of temporary suspensions
On 15 February 2022, DHSC announced a consultation on proposals to extend the temporary retire and return easements via temporary amendments to NHS Pension Scheme regulations. This proposal would take effect from 25 March 2022 to ensure the continued suspension of NHS Pension Scheme regulations following the expiry of section 45 on 24 March 2022. We have now been informed by the Department of Health and Social Care that suspension of the regulations will continue until 31 October 2022.
This is when the 16-hour rule in the 1995 Section, abatement for special class status holders in the 1995 Section and draw down abatement in the 2008 Section and 2015 Scheme will come back into force.
You can read more about the consultation in our news section.
What we’re doing to support you
In November 2021 we contacted all pensioner members who have:
- Retired and returned to work
- Chosen to draw down part of their benefits
This was to tell them that the temporary suspensions will be ending and we’ll return to normal arrangements from 25 March 2022. We have since written to the same pensioner members to inform them of the proposed changes to allow easements to continue to 31 October 2022.
We will write to affected members again over summer, and we will provide their earnings margin ready for 1 November 2022.
You can read the full consultation outcome on Department of Health and Social Care’s website here.