NHS pension & emigration

Jedley

Just stumbled across this forum whilst trying to find info on the NHS pension scheme, having spoken to my sister-in-law about our advancing ages and retirement etc. I'm having trouble finding relevant info on the NHS pension website. So here goes.

I worked for the NHS as a mental health nurse for just short of 10yrs, leaving in 1991 to live in Australia. I have no plans to return to the UK to live. I had no idea I was actually entitled to an NHS pension, I thought I would just get a lump sum. This is half the problem - I took very little notice of what was happening back then as I was very young and retirement was way too far away for me to be thinking of! Does anyone know what, in general terms, I'm entitled to, if anything, and when I'm entitled to it? My sil knows what she's entitled to but she's still working for the NHS so things are different for her.
I have tried over the years to get info from Fleetwood but they are dreadfully unhelpful - can't (won't?) help over the phone, don't reply to letters or emails (even when they've told me to put things in writing) and I'm just left in limbo. I have a financial adviser in Oz and he tried, through an approved agency, to at least find out if I could transfer anything to my super scheme over here, but the agency gave up as they found it too difficult. I couldn't even find out enough to know whether it was worth pursuing or whether I should just leave it.
I've just turned 50 so I've got time up my sleeve, but it would be useful to have an idea of what I can expect.
Any info/help/pointers in the right direction would be gratefully received.

atush

Did you pay into the pension, or did you opt out (some pool fools did)?

You can contact them and ask for a forecast and a copy of the scheme rules you were under.

Sean_Kennedy

Despite the name it is not all one National Health Service. Did you work in England or elsewhere? Our Scottish Public Pensions Agency (?Authority?) which manages Scottish NHS pensions has different contact details to the English office. I presume the same is true for Wales & Northern Ireland.

xylophone

Fleetwood?

Lancs? A hospital?

Try here http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2672.aspx

Jedley

I worked in England, in Lancashire. I don't remember opting out (or doing anything about it when I left). I do know I've had one or two letters over the last 20yrs since I left, which have been sent to my parents house, so they obviously have me in their records somewhere. The first time I contacted them they did send some very vague information and figures - it made no sense and when I tried to clarify it I started hitting brick walls and got no response from them.
I mentioned Fleetwood as that's the postal address that comes up on the website, it wasn't where I worked.

xylophone

Do you know your NHS pension
reference number?
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/2735.aspx number here to ring from abroad.

Jedley

No, I don't think I do. I may have something somewhere but I'll have to have a hunt around to see if I can find it and then try ringing or emailing them again. Just hope I get more of a response than I did last time(s) I tried.
Thanks.

FatherAbraham

Jedley wrote: »

No, I don't think I do. I may have something somewhere but I'll have to have a hunt around to see if I can find it and then try ringing or emailing them again. Just hope I get more of a response than I did last time(s) I tried.

Don't panic.

Look for a "lost" pension here: https://www.gov.uk/find-lost-pension

Warmest regards,
FA

Jedley

^ Thank-you, I'll give that a go.

jackyann

Even better, try the NHS pension scheme itself: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/

I have always found them very helpful.

You probably found "Fleetwood" unhelpful because of the number of changes of authority & re-organisations. NHS pensions are really understanding about this.

Jedley

Thanks jackyannn. Just had a quick look at that link and it seems helpful.
I knew the NHS had gone through changes but didn't realise just how many there had been. It's hard work trying to find your way through when you've been out of the loop for so long.