Superannuation Scheme

SolvingDebtCrisis

I have contacted the nhs pensions tracing service to find out about my superannuation scheme with Nhs when I was a student nurse in 1989 to 1991.

Their response was that I paid into the pension from 1989 to 1990, this means paid into it less than 2 years so the only option for me is to complete a form to claim back what I have paid but not all will be refunded.

I still believe I paid into it over 2 years but have no proof as have lost documents long ago.

Advise please, claim as have been informed it is the only option open to me and it is money I can bank and will be under my control earning interest.

In 2001 to 2003, I paid into uni students union staff superannuation scheme less than 2 years.

Is it worth keeping the nhs and students union schemes as it seems similar pension scheme?

Please advice. Many thanks in advance.

jem16

SolvingDebtCrisis wrote: »

I have contacted the nhs pensions tracing service to find out about my superannuation scheme with Nhs when I was a student nurse in 1989 to 1991.

Their response was that I paid into the pension from 1989 to 1990, this means paid into it less than 2 years so the only option for me is to complete a form to claim back what I have paid but not all will be refunded.

I still believe I paid into it over 2 years but have no proof as have lost documents long ago.

Advise please, claim as have been informed it is the only option open to me and it is money I can bank and will be under my control earning interest.

The other option open to you should be a transfer into another pension scheme. This would be better as you would not lose the value of the employer's contribution.

I would suggest you ask about this.

In 2001 to 2003, I paid into uni students union staff superannuation scheme less than 2 years.

Is it worth keeping the nhs and students union schemes as it seems similar pension scheme?

Again ask for a transfer value and transfer both to a new pension assuming the student's union scheme has the same rules about contributing for less than 2 years.

SolvingDebtCrisis

Thanks Jem16. I will ask about transfer value.

Koicarp

The NHS scheme back then was an opt out scheme, so you were in it for as long as you were a student nurse, unless you opted out.
You were lucky to have membership, a couple of years later it was removed from student nurses, when they became students of universities rather than NHS employees.

SolvingDebtCrisis

Many thanks Koicarp.

Yes I was in the NHS Superannuation during my time as a student nurse, for a period of just over 2 years.

I responded to the email I received but have not received a response to my query about transferring my pension to another pension or to combine it with my old student union superannuation pension.

I will follow up with a letter. I can only hope they will respond with the best advice for me.

SolvingDebtCrisis

I was told my only option is to get refund of my contributions as the overall avc amount to less than 2 years.

With the lack of paperwork or proof I completed the refund of contributions form and sent it off to the hospital trust I worked at over 20 years ago.

Will see what they come back with. I fear that I would lose the employer contributions made at the time.

SolvingDebtCrisis

I received a refund of contributions form from the NHS asking me to provide more information. Sent it off last month. Still have not heard back, so not sure if it is all okay.