Claiming deferred benefits
Please note: the information below is for people who deferred membership on or before 31 March 2008 and are therefore claiming deferred benefits from the NHS Pension Scheme (pre 1 April 2008 terms). We will in due course publish information for people who deferred membership after 1 April 2008, whose benefits will be governed by the rules of the NHS Pension Scheme (post 1 April 2008 terms) – also known as the NHS Pension Scheme Amended April 2008.
Deferred benefits are normally paid at age 60. Three to six months before you reach that age you should write to us and ask for a claim form.
Voluntary Early Retirement
If you leave the Scheme with deferred benefits on or after 31 March 2000 and are aged 50* or over, you may be able to claim your deferred main Scheme and any NHS AVC benefits early, provided you are no longer in NHS employment. Your benefits will be reduced to cover the extra cost of being in payment longer.
* If you joined the Scheme for the first time on or after 6 April 2006, or previously left the
Scheme before 31 March 2000 with deferred benefits and rejoined again on or after 6 April 2006, the minimum age that you can retire will increase to 55 with effect from 6 April 2010.
You cannot take your deferred benefits on Voluntary Early Retirement grounds if you left
the Scheme before 31 March 2000.
Ill-health retirement
If you become permanently unable to do any regular work because of ill-health before age 60, we may be able to pay your deferred benefits early. If this happens please ask us about sending medical evidence to show the date you became unable to do any regular work.
Redundancy retirement
If you are made redundant before age 50 and are a qualifying member of the special classes we may be able to pay your deferred benefits at age 55.
If you are thinking of claiming your benefits early, you must first write to us for an estimate of your benefits.