You can return to work after you've taken your pension benefit if you choose to. There may be an impact on your pension if you decide to return to work.
Read the factsheets and watch the videos to find out more about:
- the rules around returning to work in the NHS
- who you need to inform if you are returning to NHS employment
- why your pension may be suspended
- why your pension rate may drop (this is also known as abatement)
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is making it easier for all members to return to work after their pension benefits if they wish.
The DHSC has already extended temporary retire and return easements beyond 31 October 2022, including the temporary suspension of the 16-hour rule, abatement for Special Class status holders and draw down abatement.
Read our COVID-19 guidance on support for retired members
The DHSC is now consulting on proposals to permanently remove the 16-hour rule and introduce the option to retire and return for 1995 Section members.
Proposed changes to enable 1995 Section members to rejoin the NHS Pension Scheme after re-employment
Members with 2008 Section or 2015 Scheme pension benefits already have the option to retire and take their full pension, and then return to work after a break of at least 24 hours. On returning to work they can rejoin the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme to earn further benefits.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is currently consulting on proposals to introduce retire and return flexibilities for members with 1995 Section benefits from 1 April 2023.
If you're a member with 1995 Section benefits, the proposed changes would allow you to:
- return to work after taking your pension benefits and earn 2015 Scheme benefits even if you have 45 years service in the 1995 and 2008 Sections, as long as you're under 75.
- Work as many hours as you choose straightaway if you to decide to rejoin the NHS.
Currently members of the 1995 Section are limited to working 16 hours a week in the first month after retirement to avoid their pension payments being affected. The DHSC is proposing permanently removing this rule from 1 April 2023.
This would mean that as long as you have a break of at least 24 hours from your previous job, you would be able to move to a new employment contract and start building 2015 Scheme benefits immediately under the proposed changes.
You can read more about the proposed changes and when these may be introduced on our retirement flexibilities webpage.