All members of the NHS Pension Scheme pay a percentage of their pensionable pay to the scheme each month, known as a contribution rate.
From 1 April 2024, the amount you pay for your pension will change. On this page you can find more information on your current contribution rate and what the changes from 1 April 2024 mean for you.
Your contributions from 1 April 2024
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced it is introducing changes to the amount members pay towards their NHS pension.
The DHSC has updated the pensionable pay ranges used to decide how much you contribute to your pension, and the percentage of your pay you’ll pay to be a member of the Scheme.
The changes help to reduce the gap between the different tiers of contribution rates.
| Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2024 | Contribution rates from 1 April 2024, based on actual annual pensionable pay |
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £26,831 | 6.5% |
| £26,832 to £32,691 | 8.3% |
| £32,692 to £49,078 | 9.8% |
| £49,079 to £62,924 | 10.7% |
| £62,925 and above | 12.5% |
These salary ranges will be automatically reviewed in line with the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on 1 April every year, with the exception of the lowest tier. This rate already anticipates that members' earnings in this tier may not be high enough to benefit from tax relief on their pension contributions. If the Agenda for Change pay award for England that is announced later in the year is higher than the increase in CPI, contribution tiers will be updated to reflect the higher pay award. This means you'll be less likely to move into a higher contribution tier and receive a reduction in your take home pay as a result of a national pay award.
The contributions you pay are based on your actual annual pensionable pay. This means that from 1 April 2024 some members may move to a lower contribution rate. When the Agenda for Change pay award for England is announced and comes into effect later in the year, it could be backdated, and you could receive 'back pay'. This increase in your actual annual pensionable pay might push you into the next pay range until any further rate updates are made by DHSC, meaning a higher contribution rate would have applied from 1 April 2024. If this happens arrears of contributions would be payable.
Contribution rates from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 are:
| Pensionable pay range from 1 April 2023 | Contribution rates from 1 April 2023 |
| Up to £13,246 | 5.1% |
| £13,247 to £17,673 | 5.7% |
| £17,674 to £24,022 | 6.1% |
| £24,023 to £25,146 | 6.8% |
| £25,147 to £29,635 | 7.7% |
| £29,636 to £30,638 | 8.8% |
| £30,639 to £45,996 | 9.8% |
| £45,997 to £51,708 | 10% |
| £51,709 to £58,972 | 11.6% |
| £58,973 to £75,632 | 12.5% |
| £75,633 and above | 13.5% |
If you're a practitioner or non-GP provider
If you’re a practitioner, you already pay contributions based on your total annual practitioner pensionable pay. This hasn't changed, but now all members are members of the 2015 Scheme your practitioner pay may be annualised and the updated salary ranges will apply to you.
If you also work in an officer post, for example as a salaried hospital doctor, your contribution rates are calculated separately and may be different for your officer and practitioner pensionable pay.
If you're a non-GP provider, you already pay contributions on your profits from one contract. This hasn't changed, but as a member of the 2015 Scheme your profits may be annualised and the updated salary ranges will apply to you.
You can find out more about annualising pay on our Information for practitioners and non-GP providers webpage.
Understanding what the changes mean for you
The NHS Pension Scheme remains one of the best ways to save towards retirement, and you can find more information on the benefits of the Scheme on our Understanding your benefits in the 2015 Scheme webpage.
We're writing to all members to explain the changes. Read a copy of our member contributions letter for active members (PDF: 176KB).
Find out more about the NHS Pension Scheme regulations and member contributions:
The National Health Service Pension Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)