We've started writing to NHS Pension Scheme members who have claimed benefits from any part of the Scheme and are affected by the public service pensions remedy.
These letters explain that members have a choice of 1995/2008 Scheme (whichever Scheme they were in before moving to the 2015 Scheme), or 2015 Scheme pension benefits for membership between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. This is called the remedy period.
We're writing to retired members in the following order, starting with the people most affected.
|
Type of member |
Date by which you should receive your letter |
|---|---|
|
Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly unprotected and only 1995/2008 Scheme benefits in payment |
1 July 2025 |
|
Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly taper protected and only 1995/2008 Scheme benefits in payment |
1 July 2025 |
|
Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly unprotected and both 1995/2008 Scheme and 2015 Scheme benefits in payment |
1 October 2025 |
|
Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly taper protected and both 1995/2008 Scheme and 2015 Scheme benefits in payment |
1 October 2025 |
|
Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly protected and benefits in payment for remedy period |
1 December 2026 |
|
Retired between 1 October 2023 and 1 July 2025 |
1 December 2026 |
Unprotected members
When the government made changes to public service pension schemes in 2015, including the NHS Pension Scheme, scheme protection allowed some members who were closer to retirement to stay in the 1995/2008 Scheme.
Members who were more than 13.5 years away from their normal pension age on 1 April 2012 were moved to the 2015 Scheme on 1 April 2015, and are referred to as 'unprotected members'.
Taper protected members
A taper protected member was someone who, due to being closer to retirement than younger members, was allowed to remain in the 1995/2008 Scheme for a longer period than others before moving to the 2015 Scheme.
Tapered protection meant that members who were within 10 to 13.5 years of their normal pension age on 1 April 2012, were allowed to stay in the 1995/2008 Scheme for longer than younger members.
What to do when you receive your choice letter
Your choice letter includes a personalised decision guide. You'll find 2 tables in your guide, showing the same choice in different amounts of detail, with personalised figures to help you compare options and decide which pension benefits are best for you.
Your decision guide includes all the information we need to give you about the remedy, but this page includes some extra information to help you understand your options.
Video walkthrough for unprotected members (YouTube video with transcript)
Video walkthrough for tapered members (YouTube video with transcript)
You have 12 months from the date of your letter to tell us your decision. If we don’t hear from you, we’ll revise your benefits permanently to pay you 1995/2008 Scheme benefits for the remedy period.
Revisiting your lump sum
The lump sum figures in your choice letter assume you’d make the same lump sum decision as when you claimed your pension. Depending on the option you choose for the remedy period, you may be able to take a different lump sum to the one shown in the personalised decision guide of your choice letter.
If you took the maximum lump sum when you retired
The figures in your personalised decision guide assume you would want to take the maximum now, too. You will not be able to take any more than the amount shown in your guide.
Your maximum lump sum could have increased as a result of the remedy. If you decide to take this higher lump sum, it means more of your annual pension will be permanently reduced in exchange for it.
You could decide to take less than the maximum lump sum shown in your decision guide, and you will receive a higher annual pension instead. But if you do this, it may mean you need to repay any overpaid lump sum you have already received.
If you decide to take a smaller lump sum than the amount shown, it must not be lower than the mandatory lump sum available to you.
If you would like to request a different lump sum amount, email us at nhsbsa.pensionsmember@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
What happens after you send us your decision form
We'll update your pension within 30 days of receiving your choice. We'll also write to you about your updated benefits and any helpful information you may need for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Support
We cannot give financial advice or tell you which option is best for you.
Most members will find the choice straightforward. If you have more complex circumstances and you need support to decide which option is right for you, you may want to speak to an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA).
Members who do need to speak to an IFA can apply to recover costs using the NHS Cost Claim Back Scheme.
Further information about the NHS Cost Claim Back Scheme, including details of the types of costs that can and cannot be claimed back, are available on The NHS Cost Claim Back Scheme webpage.
If you have any other question about your letter, you can email us at nhsbsa.pensionsmember@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Our opening times are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.