Skip to main content Skip to footer

Reminder of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) extension of retire and return easements including abatement

A reminder that following a short consultation, DHSC announced an extension to retire and return easements to the 31 October 2022 through temporary amendments to NHS Pension Scheme regulations.

DHSC proposed a continuation of the temporary easements which were introduced by section 45 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 beyond the current expiry on 24 March 2022 to 31 October 2022. The agreed extension took 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.

The ‘retire and return’ easements will continue until 31 October 2022.

The amendments to the NHS Pension Scheme regulations continue the temporary suspension of:

  • the 16-hour rule in the 1995 section
  • abatement of special class status members who retire and return to work between age 55 to 60 in the 1995 section
  • abatement of draw-down members who claim a portion of their benefits and continue working in the 2008 section and 2015 scheme

We will write to affected members over summer to provide their earnings margin ready for 1 November 2022. You can view more information about the extension of retire and return easements.