TranslateNHS Pension Scheme
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Information about NHS Pension Scheme
To help people save more for their retirement, the government now requires employers, including NHSBT, to enrol their workers into a workplace pension scheme. This applies to those who aren't already in a pension scheme who:
- Earn over a minimum amount (£10,000 a year/£833.33 a month - 2020/21 figures)
- Are aged 22 or over
- Are under state pension age
- Work or usually work in the UK
Employees that are deemed eligible will be Auto-enrolled in to the NHS Pension Scheme. Auto-enrolment is processed when an employee starts with NHSBT. A review of existing employees is done every three years. The next review is due in May 2025.
From 01 April 2023 rulings changed and if you retire/return you can re-join the NHS 2015 Pension Scheme
If you are a re-employed pensioner from before 01 April 2023 and you wish to re-join the NHS Pension Scheme, please email 918pensions@uhb.nhs.uk. Advise that you would like to leave the NEST Scheme (if you are contributing to NEST) and re-join the NHS Pension Scheme. UHB will then make the necessary amendments to your payroll record.
You also have the choice to transfer any NEST service into the NHS Pension Scheme and should also include this in the email to UHB.
For information about the NHS Pension Scheme, please visit NHS Business Services Authority members hub.
NHS Pension Tiers
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 October 22, the amount you pay for your pension will be changing
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced it will be 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 amount you pay will be based on your actual annual rate of pay, instead of your whole-time equivalent. This means if you’re part-time, you may pay less as your contribution rate will be based on how much you’re paid each year, instead of how much you would earn if you worked full time.
The changes help to reduce the gap between the different tiers of contribution rates.
To give members time to adjust the DHSC is phasing in the new contribution rates in two stages, starting on 1 October 2022 with further changes planned in 2023:
| Pensionable salary range from 1 October 2022 (the new salary ranges have been consulted on and will be published on www.gov.uk): | Contribution rates from 1 October 2022 (based on actual annual pensionable pay): | Future planned contribution rates (based on actual annual pensionable pay): |
| £0 to £13,246 | 5.10% | 5.20% |
| £13,247 to £16,831 | 5.70% | 6.50% |
| £16,832 to £22,878 | 6.10% | 6.50% |
| £22,879 to £23,948 | 6.80% | 6.50% |
| £23,949 to £28,223 | 7.70% | 8.30% |
| £28,224 to £29,179 | 8.80% | 8.30% |
| £29,180 to £43,805 | 9.80% | 9.80% |
| £43,806 to £49,245 | 10% | 10.70% |
| £49,246 to £56,163 | 11.60% | 10.7% |
| £56,164 to £72,030 | 12.50% | 12.50% |
| £72,031 and above | 13.50% | 12.50% |
Additional details can be found on NHS Pensions and also on the following FAQs.
Opting out of NHS Pension Scheme
If you do not wish to join, or remain in the NHS Pension Scheme you can choose to opt-out. Make sure you fully understand the benefits you are giving up before completing form SD502 to opt-out. Form SD502 is available from the NHS Business Services Authority Members Hub 'Opting out' Section.
Once completed the SD502 should be sent for processing to the Pay Support email address.
Joining the NHS Pension Scheme
If you have previously opted out of the NHS Pension Scheme, or were not eligible to join when you started with NHSBT, you may wish to manually join the NHS Pension Scheme. To join the NHS Pension Scheme complete both the NHS Pension Joining Form* and the NHS Pensions Scheme Equal Opportunity Form. The date of joining will be the first day of the pay period following the receipt of application. University Hospital Birmingham (UHB) will advise if there is any doubt of an employee's right to join the NHS Pension Scheme.
NHS Pension joining forms should be sent to:
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Blood and Transplant Pension Team
PO Box 16967
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 6TT
NHS Pension scheme administration for NHSBT is provided by University Hospital Birmingham (UHB). Any queries about your NHS pension should be directed to the UHB email address
*Form is only accessible if you are logged in to the NHSBT network (connection through Citrix/NHSBT Desktop). As a result it may take a moment to load.
