The NHS Pension Scheme - Membership

Membership of the scheme is voluntary. However when taking up employment with the NHS you will automatically be enrolled into the scheme unless you elect not to join.

Membership of the NHS Pension scheme is strongly recommended. If, for some reason, you elected not to join earlier in your career, we recommend that you do so now.

The Scheme is established in law – which means that nothing short of an act of parliament can change your entitlements under the scheme.

It provides a wide range of valuable benefits for its members. Not only that, these benefits are funded out of general taxation and therefore not dependent upon investment returns.

Your NHS Pension Scheme benefits are paid out of General Taxation.

Eligible Members

  • Any NHS employee aged between 16 and 70 excluding general dental practice staff).
  • Dental, Medical and Ophthalmic Practitioners, including trainees, together with some locums and assistants.
  • GP Practice staff (who became eligible to join the scheme from 1 September 1997).
  • GP Locums

    • Some scheme members who work outside of the NHS in specialist hospitals such as hospices may also retain membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.

    Those not eligible for membership

  • Staff employed in private hospitals or nursing homes.
  • Dental Practice Staff.

    • If you would like to check your eligibility for membership of the scheme, please contact us.

     

    NHS Pension Scheme Index