NHS pension - claiming and timescale for receiving it

BillBrumNew

Hi all
I am looking to leave my NHS employment as soon as possible, and it would be helpful to have as little delay as possible in receiving my regular monthly pension.  The NHS pensions service website suggests starting the process three months before the planned retirement date.  I understand that it is ideal to be able to allow the agency and employer time to get things in place, but (to be honest) I've had enough, and want to give one month's notice in the next few days.  Reading about the three months made me wonder whether I should just quit, then at a later date (very soon thereafter) put in the other type of claim form that people use when they are no longer in NHS employment.  I realise that doing it that way would involve doing extra things like sharing my birth certificate, so it may be that starting the process via my employer is best (as long as I can still leave in one month).

Do any of you have experience of how this has gone for you, or any information about how it might work?

Grateful for any help.

xylophone

Judging by the comments of other posters concerning claiming a pension, I's say that whether active or deferred you cannot expect quick service, even at the best of times.

I'd say that three months  notice was probably the minimum.......

jog

NHS pensions usually say you need to give at least 3 months notice to claim your pension.

When I went on a pension webinar last year they said that it was, at that time taking longer as they were dealing with ‘unprecedented numbers of staff applying for their pensions’

I applied for my pensions about  6 weeks ago, wanting to start taking it at the beginning of June, and was informed by my local pension officer, that, the pensions depts had been asked by NHS pensions, not to submit any pension applications for pensions to be paid out after March 31st until the start of April, I was then told that, as per NHS pension instructions my application has been passed onto NHS pensions on April 4th. I haven’t yet heard anything, but am expecting to be told that I won’t be getting it when I hoped, but it’s my understanding that it would get back dated to the date I applied for, as I did give them more than three months notice. But as I said I am still waiting to hear anything further. 

Good luck, whatever you decide to do. 

Flugelhorn

OH and I both got our NHS pensions as deferred members - however  I am not sure that you are actually considered deferred until you have been not paying into it for one year, so might take even longer to do that way

Anyway we applied 3/12 before the date and it was paid on time (this was a couple of years ago) - needed to send birth cert and marriage cert (to identify  nominated beneficiary) - we got certified copies from GRO for this purpose. Had to get signature witnessed by someone to say that they believed I  was who I said I was - got one of the kids who was aged over 23 and hence could no longer benefit from the pension - all certs were returned very promptly (2-3 days after sending them). 

I had complicated mixed practitioner / officer with several jobs so it would have been a nightmare if I hadn't been deferred ie  chasing each employer etc 

BillBrumNew

I appreciate all of your comments.  I spoke today with my organisation's pension office about how it will work.  It was explained that when I give one month's notice of my leaving/retiring date the forms will go from my department manager to the local pension office, then after whatever they do it will go to the NHS Business Services Authority.  Whenever it gets finalised and the pension payments start they will get backdated to the retirement date.  That'll be fine.  As I am still in employment I won't have to send documents to the NHSBSA, as my dept manager will just need to certify my identity (eg that my passport has been seen).  So basically I can let the whole arrangement be handled by my employer, and will not need to resign and then start the pension process afterward (which I was considering only because I want to finish in one month and not have to wait for three months).

sadgalmoon

Hi all, I left the NHS in 2017, my pension was frozen.  I decided to take this age 55 from the 1995 section and sent off my application in April ready for the age 55 date in June.  Receipt of this was confirmed.  After 7 emails I have today found out that my application has not even been processed yet.  No-one will Tell me anything else except most are processed in 30 days, some are late due to delays??? Could anyone advise.  Thank you.

DT2001

OH had a deferred NHS pension due to come into payment at 60. Forms sent 3 months beforehand and certificates returned quickly. No more contact until we sent a couple of weeks after 60th (start of the month) and email reply confirmed receipt 3 months prior to date of retirement and advice that they aimed for payment within 30 days of retirement date. Payment of first month plus lump sum was 26 days after birthday but a few days after normal pension payments date (on the basis that subsequent letter advised payment for x which was 4 days before actual date).