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Retirement Options

If you have reached a point where you’d like to start thinking about retirement, or just want to know more about your pension, read through the section below.

Please note, there may be some slight differences depending on which trust you work for – refer to your trust’s pension policy for more information if needed. This page is just to give you some ideas about what to expect as you are nearing retirement.

What are my options?

There are different things to consider as you approach retirement age. Click on the different expandable sections below to learn about the different options. This list isn’t exhaustive, and it is always recommended to speak with your line manager about the options specific to your role or service.

Generally, you will be able to begin claiming your pension between age 55 to 65, depending on which scheme you are on, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop working if you don’t want to.

You can find more information about the different pension schemes at the end of this page.

You can also choose to ‘retire and return’ which means you can retire, and start taking your pension and then return to the NHS after a break. With retire and return, you can usually return to the same role or something similar.

Colleagues usually choose to retire and return if they’re not ready to stop working yet, or if they would still like a regular pay check as well as their pension. The process of retiring and returning will differ between organisations. Please ask your manager for more information about how to retire and return.

Watch the video from NHS Business Authority to learn about re-joining the NHS Pension scheme after a break from the NHS:

Alternatively, you can take a partial retirement, meaning you begin to claim your pension but continue to work without taking a break and returning.

The amount that you can claim from your pension while working varies between the different schemes.

It would also mean that you would need to adjust your hours to reduce your salary to be in line with a reduction of 10% in pensionable pay.

Watch the video from NHS Business Authority to learn if you might be eligible for partial retirement:

Learn more about your NHS Pension

1995 Section pension benefits – age 60 or 55 if you have Special Class status

You’ll get a pension and retirement lump sum based on your scheme membership and the best of your last 3 years’ pensionable pay. If you joined before 6 April 2006 you can choose to take early retirement from age 50.

If you joined on or after 6 April 2006, your minimum pension age is 55 unless you have a protected minimum pension age. If you returned to the scheme after this date, this might also apply to you.

2008 Section pension benefits – age 65

You’ll get a pension based on your scheme membership and reckonable pay. Your reckonable pay is the average of the best 3 consecutive years’ pay in the last 10. Your minimum pension age is 55.

2015 Scheme pension benefits – same as your State Pension age or age 65 if that is later

You will get a pension based on 1/54th of your pensionable pay for each year that you have contributed to the scheme. The pension you get is increased each year by a method known as revaluation. Your minimum pension age is 55.

Please remember: If you chose to draw your pension at the minimum pension age, you will receive a reduced rate, as it is being paid early and will be in payment for longer.

To see the full laydown of the different pension schemes, view the file below.

NHS Pension Schemes Overview (pdf)

*Please note, your pension plan will differ dependent on the organisation that you work for. Please ask your workforce team or manager for more information about your pension. The above just serves as a guide.

Visit My NHS Pension – Welcome to your NHS Pension Portal if you would like to view and manage your pension.

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