Joining

Who can join?

Membership of the Scheme is voluntary. When you start work in the NHS you automatically become a member (except freelance locum medical practitioners). 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.

If you have been a member of the Scheme before you can normally rejoin at anytime but there are exceptions. Information on this and other issues for people joining the scheme can be found in the Guide to the Scheme (booklet SD) that can be found in the members’ library.

If you join the NHS Pension Scheme on or before 31 March 2008 you will join the NHS Pension Scheme, which is being amended on 1 April 2008. If you become a pension scheme member on or after 1 April 2008, you will only be able to join the New NHS Pension Scheme. You can read more about what is happening in the Non-members’ Factsheet available from the Scheme changes section in the members’ library

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. If you are thinking of joining please read the booklet Scheme Guide in our library section
  • NHS medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners, including trainees, some locums and assistants. If you are a practitioner thinking of joining, please read the booklet Benefits for Practitioners, in our library section.
  • GP Practice staff. If you are working in or thinking of joining a GP Practice please read the booklet - A Guide to the NHS Pension Scheme for GP Practice and Out of Hours Provider Staff which is available in our library section.
  • Staff working for an Out of Hours provider, which has registered as an NHS Pensions employing authority. Please read the booklet SDGP - A Guide to the NHS Pension Scheme for GP Practice and Out of Hours Provider Staff which is available in our library section.
  • 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.