Applications
We have received a number of partial retirement applications where the AW8 is not fully complete or the employer has not signed the relevant sections.
If you are processing applications for partial retirement, please ensure the partial retirement supplementary form and AW8 are both completed as fully as possible and signed where relevant.
Forms not being completed fully could result in delays to benefits being paid to members, who will have reduced their pensionable pay.
We realise there is some duplication between the two forms. Once the new AW8 is available next year ready for the introduction of choice of retirement, this duplication will be reviewed.
Partial retirement calculator
Since changes to partial retirement were announced earlier this year, we’ve been working hard to make sure our processes, tools, and guidance are updated to support members and employers.
As part of this work, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) commissioned the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) to develop a calculator to help members plan how much of their pension to take at partial retirement. The intention was for this calculator to be available in October, but following extensive testing, we requested some changes from GAD to ensure the calculator gives accurate information clearly and concisely for members.
We’re sorry that this has meant a delay before it’s available, but we’ve been working closely with GAD and expect to be able to publish the calculator in mid-November.
We recognise that some members may have been waiting for the calculator before submitting their partial retirement application. Members will be able to retrospectively apply for partial retirement from 1 October 2023 and we will backdate payments to their chosen partial retirement date. Once the calculator is available, they just need to include the date they want it to start from, for example 1 October 2023 on the application form.
If members would like to submit their application before the calculator is available and they’re affected by the Public Service Pension Remedy, also known as the McCloud Remedy, they may be able to use the McCloud Percentage Tool to help complete their application. It cannot give as much information as the Partial Retirement Calculator, but if a member was a fully protected member, it allows them to see what percentage of pension they can take to avoid having overpayments to repay when they make their McCloud choice later on.
Members can find more information on how to use this tool and the information they'll need to do this on our partial retirement webpage.
Some members may need to ask us for an estimate instead
The partial retirement calculator can help the majority of members who might consider partial retirement. But some members may have more complex circumstances, such as those explained in the bullets below, which mean the figures shown by the calculator will be less accurate than an estimate requested from NHS Pensions.
Members who should ask for an estimate rather than use the calculator include:
- Members affected by the McCloud remedy who moved to the 2015 Scheme before 1 April 2022
- Members of the 2008 Section
- Members who only have membership of the 2015 Scheme
- Members who have had any break from the pension scheme
- Members of the 1995 Section wanting to take partial retirement before age 55
- Members who are male nurses
- Members whose Added Years/Additional Pension contract payable dates are different from their normal retirement age
- Members who have mixed service between Mental Health Officer (MHO) and Non-MHO
- Members who have transferred in from another public service pension scheme
- Members who have had periods of time when they have received no pay due to unpaid sick leave or unauthorised absence, for example due to strike action
- Members with over 40 years’ service before age 55
- Members working in more than one part-time role at the same time
To request an estimate, use the Partial Retirement Member Estimate form on our getting an estimate of your pension webpage.