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Current processing times for NHS Pensions

This page was last updated on 27 June 2024.

We’re currently receiving high volumes of retirement applications. This means it’s taking us longer than usual to process payment of retirement benefits.

While we prioritise making payments to our members, it may take us longer than usual to process requests for estimates and transfers.

We’re working hard to reduce this time and sincerely apologise for the delay. We'll keep you up to date with your request by text or email.

Payments

Payments Current processing times
Payment of your retirement benefits

Within 40 calendar days from the date of your retirement, or from the date we received all information required to process your application.

Payment of your ill health retirement benefits

Ill Health Retirement benefits - within 20 working days of receipt of your application.

Significant Ill Health benefits - within 48 hours of receipt of your application.

Payment of bereavement benefits – Death in service lump sum, survivor pension, dependent child pension

Within 30 calendar days from the date we received all information required.

Refund of your contributions after opting out of the NHS Pension Scheme

Within 1 calendar month of receipt of your application.

Estimates

Estimates Current processing times
Receiving your Estimate

Within 40 working days of receipt of your request.

Your Annual Benefit Statement for 2023/24 will be available from mid-August 2024. You can access this using the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) or via My NHS Pension.

If you wish to create an account for My NHS Pension, you can contact us by email: nhsbsa.mynhspension@nhsbsa.nhs.uk 

Transfers 

Transfers in and out of the NHS Pension Scheme

Current processing times
Receiving your transfer in estimate

We're processing in date order, working on the oldest requests first. We anticipate being back to normal service by November 2024.

If you're approaching or have passed your first employment anniversary, we'll still process your application as long as we receive it before this date.

Transfer in completion

We're processing in date order, working on the oldest requests first. We anticipate to be back to normal service by November 2024.

If you're approaching or have passed your first employment anniversary, we'll still process your application as long as we receive it before this date.

Receiving your transfer out estimate

We're processing in date order, working on the oldest requests first. We anticipate to be back to normal service by October 2024.

Transfer out completion

We're processing in date order, working on the oldest requests first. We anticipate to be back to normal service by October 2024.

Other service areas

Other service areas Current processing times
Pensions On Divorce - Receiving your Cash Equivalent Transfer Value (CETV)

We're processing in date order and anticipate being back to normal service by August 2024.

If you need your CETV urgently due to an upcoming court date, contact us with evidence of your court date at: pensionspod@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Nomination completion

Within 35 calendar days of receipt of your request.

You can update your nominations using My NHS Pension. If you wish to create an account for My NHS Pension, contact us at: nhsbsa.mynhspension@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Additional Pension Application

We're processing in date order, working on the oldest requests first. We anticipate to be back to normal service by October 2024.

The new Additional Pension Calculator is now available: Additional Pension Calculator

Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out (ERRBO) Application

Within 40 working days of the receipt of your agreement to proceed with your application.

In some circumstances, it may take our teams longer to resolve your request. This could be because: