You may be eligible to join the NHS Pension Scheme if you're between 16 and 75.
This also applies to those working under a contract for services, including:
- general practitioners (GPs)
- general dental practitioners
- ophthalmic medical practitioners
How our pension works
If you are eligible when you start work, your employer or Pensions Officer will enrol you as a member of the Scheme.
Pension contributions will come out of your salary (or income). You'll see this on your payslip.
Your employer will email you a copy of the relevant Member Guide to help you understand the Scheme rules.
When you join, you get a membership number, also known as an SD number. Your employer should give you this.
Watch this video to understand the important benefits of being a member of the Scheme such as:
- employer contributions
- family benefits
- ill health benefits
- ways to increase your pension
- flexibilities about when you can take your pension
Download the video transcript (PDF: 98KB).
Rejoining the Scheme
If you are in NHS employment, you may rejoin the Scheme if you meet the eligibility conditions.
If you have returned to NHS employment and are taking your NHS pension, you may rejoin the Scheme if:
- you take a 1995 Section ill health pension and are under 50
- you take a 2008 Section or 2015 Scheme pension and are under 75
1995 Section
If you leave pensionable employment with deferred benefits, you can only rejoin the 1995 Section up to 1 April 2022 if you meet this criteria:
- You return before age 60.
- You have not transferred your NHS pension to another provider.
- The break is less than 5 years.
- You are ‘Fully Protected' or still within the ‘Tapered Protection‘ period. Find out about 'Protection' on our Membership page.
The government is currently making changes to public service pension schemes where transitional protection was introduced as part of the 2015 pension reforms. As a result all active members regardless of age will be members of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme from 1 April 2022.
You can find out more about the changes and if you're affected on our changes to public service pensions webpages.
2008 Section
If you leave pensionable employment and take benefits from the scheme, you can only rejoin the 2008 Section up to 1 April 2022 if you meet this criteria:
- You return before age 75.
- You have not transferred your NHS Pension to another provider.
- You have not received a refund of your contributions.
- The break is less than 5 years.
- You are ‘Fully Protected' or still within the ‘Tapered Protection‘ period. Find out about 'Protection' on our Membership page.
The government is currently making changes to public service pension schemes where transitional protection was introduced as part of the 2015 pension reforms. As a result all active members regardless of age will be members of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme from 1 April 2022.
You can find out more about the changes and if you're affected on our changes to public service pensions webpages.
2015 Scheme
If you leave pensionable employment or have taken benefits from this Scheme, you can rejoin up to age 75.
Rejoining the Scheme following a break of five years or more
You might return to pensionable NHS employment after more than 5 years.
If this is the case, you may be enroled in a different section or scheme from your earlier membership.
You’ll have a one off opportunity to transfer deferred benefits from your earlier membership.
You can transfer them into your latest section or scheme. We’ll contact you if this applies. You can then request a personalised comparison pack so you can decide whether to transfer.
You'll need to:
We do not accept requests for a comparison pack after the 3 month deadline.
