NHS Pensions

Your options for a flexible retirement

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is making changes to the NHS Pension Scheme rules to enable NHS staff to work more flexibly up to and beyond retirement age.

If you are a member with 1995 Section benefits from 1 April 2023 you will be able to return to NHS employment after retirement if you wish and build up further pension benefits in the 2015 Scheme.

From 1 October 2023, members of the 1995 Section will also be able to take partial retirement, meaning you can take some or all of your pension without having to leave your job. 

These options are already available to members of the 2008 Section and 2015 Scheme. 

Find out more about partial retirement

Visit our partial retirement page here in the Member hub. 

Find out more about rejoining the 2015 Scheme after retiring and returning

Visit our re-employment page on the Pensioner hub. 

Summary of proposed changes

Introducing partial retirement options from 1 October 2023 for members with 1995 Section benefits so they can claim (or drawdown) up to 100% of their 1995 Section benefits once they reach minimum pension age, whilst they continue to work and accrue further pension in the 2015 Scheme.

Expanding partial retirement options for members with 2008 Section and 2015 Scheme benefits from 1 October 2023, to increase the maximum amount of pension they can claim (or drawdown) from 80% to 100%.

Enabling retired members who have claimed their 1995 Section benefits to return to work in the NHS and build up new benefits in the 2015 Scheme from 1 April 2023. This option is already available to members with 2008 Section or 2015 Scheme benefits.

Allowing members who are currently non-pensionable because they have exceeded maximum service limits in the 1995 and 2008 Sections to join the 2015 Scheme from 1 October 2023.

Permanently removing the 16-hour rule from the 1995 Section from 1 April 2023 to allow members to take their pension benefits, return to work and work as many hours as they choose, as long as they’ve had a break of at least 24 hours from their previous job.

 

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Employee section

This section is to inform employees about their Total Reward and Annual Benefit Statements.

Applying for your pension

Retirement: age, early, redundancy, ill health, flexible, lump sums. How to claim and supporting information.

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