NHS 1995 Pension scheme

blackbirdxx

Hi,

My partner is a nurse who works for the NHS and is planning to retire in a year once she reaches 60. She is on the NHS '95 Pension Scheme which will be based on 20 years employment. She recently asked for a quote of what annual pension she will receive if she retired a year early. The figure received seemed to be higher than what she was expecting, which was nice but you wonder if it was calculated correctly by the pensions team. Also, it presumably included a reduction for retiring a year early.

She knows that her pension is based on the best of her last 3 years salaries and was wondering if her regular night-time unsocial hours had been included within her pensionable salary calculation as it was higher than expected?? 

Unfortunately, all the night working seems to have disappeared now, and what with COVID, she is currently on daytime duties only receiving no unsocial hours payments with no future enhancements likely for the forseable future. This seems to be an unfortunate situation if unsocial hours payments form her pensionable salary.

My questions are:

⦁          Can I assume that her regular night-time unsocial hours have been included within her pensionable salary calculation as it seems a bit higher than expected?? 

⦁          If her pensionable salary is based upon the best of the last 3 year salaries is it based on her basic salary only?? 

I know I should probably be asking the pensions department these questions but they are impossible to contact, especially during the current pandemic. 

Thanking you in advance for your help. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Have you googled NHS 1995 unsocial hours pensionable pay?

There are a few documents from NHS pensions which explain what should be included in pensionable pay.

I don't believe NHS pensions are based on basic salary, they will be based on pensionable pay.  Which may be the same as basic salary for some people but be totally different for others.

Greylocks

⦁          Can I assume that her regular night-time unsocial hours have been included within her pensionable salary calculation as it seems a bit higher than expected?? 

Under the 1995 scheme yes. It worked to my advantage although working nights at the time was not great.
I would suggest talking to the Trust’s Pension’s Officer.
All the best, G.

spaniel101

NHS Pensions also have a very good Twitter account which has increased mass efficiency over the last 10 months (as you would expect), you can ask anything or DM, very helpful and informative during these times.
@nhs_pensions

kaMelo

The short answer is yes, it's based upon what you actually get paid rather than basic salary.
Pensionable pay works both ways. Payments such as nights, weekends and unsocial hours payments form part of your pensionable pay upon which you pay a percentage of in pension contributions.  It also works in reverse as the same pensionable pay is used for the calculation of what pension you are entitled to.

Worth checking also to see if she holds special class status. If she does then there will be no actuarial reduction as she's over 55.