NHS redeployment and pension

matt1966_2

I am almost 51 and a senior nurse in the NHS. I have "Special Class Status" under the 1995 pension scheme which means i can retire at 55. My current post is about to be put at risk of redundancy and the options for redeployment are already being reconsidered. My employer has suggested that i could be redelpoyed into a managment role that does not require a nursing qualification which would result in me losing my entitlement to retire at 55 and mean i have to work until im 60. Does anyone have any experience or offer advice as to how i may retain my SCS during this organsisational change. I have argued that i would suffer a detriment if this were the case but HR seem unwilling to accept my reasoning?

Thanks for any thoughts

woolly_wombat

matt1966 wrote: »

I am almost 51 and a senior nurse in the NHS. I have "Special Class Status" under the 1995 pension scheme which means i can retire at 55. My current post is about to be put at risk of redundancy and the options for redeployment are already being reconsidered. My employer has suggested that i could be redelpoyed into a managment role that does not require a nursing qualification which would result in me losing my entitlement to retire at 55 and mean i have to work until im 60. Does anyone have any experience or offer advice as to how i may retain my SCS during this organsisational change. I have argued that i would suffer a detriment if this were the case but HR seem unwilling to accept my reasoning?

Thanks for any thoughts

I strongly suggest you consult your union.

I understand that many posts in the NHS are being down-banded to slash costs, with disastrous effects on staff morale.

HR will be all too aware that herding you into a 'management role that does not require a nursing qualification' would mean a loss of SCS for you - and the conclusion of another successful cost-slashing exercise for them.

I'm so sorry I can't offer any more positive advice.

hyubh

woolly_wombat wrote: »

HR will be all too aware that herding you into a 'management role that does not require a nursing qualification' would mean a loss of SCS for you - and the conclusion of another successful cost-slashing exercise for them.

Out of interest, how does it their budget? I thought employer rates were flat in the NHS.

GunJack

hyubh wrote: »

Out of interest, how does it their budget? I thought employer rates were flat in the NHS.

surely the extra 5 yrs of working and contributions and 5 yrs fewer pension payments counts as a "cost saving"? Seen it all too often in the public sector

hyubh

GunJack wrote: »

surely the extra 5 yrs of working and contributions and 5 yrs fewer pension payments counts as a "cost saving"? Seen it all too often in the public sector

Not sure what you mean... my assumptions would be, the net pension liability would indeed be a bit lower - a job to be filled (which is pensionable) is still a job to be filled, and the five years extra service won't make up for five years untaken pension. However, the decision-making of the budget manager won't take account of this because (I assume) there's no (or little) connection between pension liabilities attributable to individual employers and actual employer rates and costs.

GunJack

hyubh wrote: »

Not sure what you mean... my assumptions would be, the net pension liability would indeed be a bit lower - a job to be filled (which is pensionable) is still a job to be filled, and the five years extra service won't make up for five years untaken pension. However, the decision-making of the budget manager won't take account of this because (I assume) there's no (or little) connection between pension liabilities attributable to individual employers and actual employer rates and costs.

the way things are accounted in the Civil Service (so I'm assuming NHS also) it is probably down to overheads of the senior nursing position (inc. pension payments, notional contributions, etc.) being less than the overheads of the "management" position, rather than necessarily hard cash, if there wasn't a saving, they wouldn't be doing it....

gwynlas

As a senior nurse you would be best served by taking a full time union official to any management meeting on redundancy or redeployment. Essentially you will have experienced the reality that management can do what suits them including allowing you to retain your SCS status in the managerial role by modifying the JD. In my situation I went quietly just turned 52 with a pension based on 30 years service. Together with an income from a buy to let this was sufficient for me and I allowed my registration to lapse.I have never regretted retiring though perhaps should have retained registration and done some agency shifts.
Only you know your circumstances and need for full time salaried employment, you might be equally as well off taking your pension and taking on a part time role somewhere.

AnotherJoe

Is it feasible to leave the NHS, get redundancy, collect your pension in 4 years time, and in the meantime until then do agency work or some other work, the point being that your job won't be reclassified if you leave the NHS rather than take the new job?

woolly_wombat

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Is it feasible to leave the NHS, get redundancy, collect your pension in 4 years time, and in the meantime until then do agency work or some other work, the point being that your job won't be reclassified if you leave the NHS rather than take the new job?

Not according to this unfortunately:

https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_Pensions/template.do?name=What+is+Special+Class+status+and+who+is+entitled+to+it%3F&id=16555

Extract:
You must be in a special class post immediately prior to retirement. If you leave pensionable employment before age 55 and do not return your benefits will become deferred and your normal retirement age will be 60.


.

woolly_wombat

There's more on retaining Special Class status when moving into a managerial role here:

https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_Pensions/template.do?name=Can+I+retain+Mental+Health+Officer+or+Special+Class+status+if+I+move+into+a+managerial+role%3F&id=16564

.

AnotherJoe

woolly_wombat wrote: »

Not according to this unfortunately:

https://contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_Pensions/template.do?name=What+is+Special+Class+status+and+who+is+entitled+to+it%3F&id=16555

Extract:
You must be in a special class post immediately prior to retirement. If you leave pensionable employment before age 55 and do not return your benefits will become deferred and your normal retirement age will be 60.


.

Bummer. I wonder if that applies if you are forcibly moved? Union and legal advice seems necessary.