About the Scheme

Membership of the NHS and New NHS Pension Schemes is voluntary. When you start work in the NHS you automatically become a member of whichever Scheme you are eligible to join (see paragraph after next). But you can opt not to join and you can leave the Scheme at any time by completing a form SD502 available on request from your local employer.

Different arrangements apply to freelance locum medical practitioners, who can find further information in the members section of this site.

The Pension Scheme has undergone a significant change, effective form 1 April 2008. Consequently, if you joined the Scheme on or before 31 March 2008 you will be a member of the NHS Pension Scheme, which was amended on 1 April 2008. If you became a pension scheme member for the first time on or after 1 April 2008, you will be a member of the New NHS Pension Scheme.

The situation is more complicated if you have been a member of the NHS Pension Scheme before and rejoin on or after 1 April 2008. There is more information about this in the deferred members’ factsheet in the members library.

If you are joining the New NHS Pension Scheme you should read the Guide to the New NHS Pension Scheme, also in the members library. Those re-joining the NHS Pension Scheme can find a similar Guide in the members library.

From 1 April 2008 people joining the Scheme for the first time may only join the New NHS Pension Scheme*. The Scheme is open to

  • Any NHS employee aged between 16 and 70. This includes non-GP partners but does not include general dental practice staff.
  • NHS medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners, including trainees, some locums and assistants.
  • GP Practice staff.
  • Staff working for an Out of Hours provider, which has registered as an NHS Pensions employing authority.
  • Some Scheme members who leave the NHS to work for approved organisations outside the NHS, for example hospices. These organisations are known as Direction Employers. There are time limits for joining in these circumstances. You should get in touch with us for details.