Leave NHS??

Bobinyorkshire

I utilised the ‘step down’ option in the 1995 scheme when I was 50 and took a lower banded job at the same NHS Trust. The ‘protected pay’ at that point then increases with CPI each year. It was a great way for me to stay working with colleagues but reduce the stress and responsibilities I had. I know it’s still 3 years away for you, but might be worth a look. Also, just checking that you don’t have special class status whereby you could retire at 55 without actuary reductions

Marcon

Purplelady65 said:

You could get a statement of your current pension benefits by logging onto ESR and looking for your TRS (Total Reward Statement). However it won’t be a totally accurate reflection of your benefits as they haven’t been updated to show the impact of the McCloud judgement and the choices available when you retire but will give you an indication nevertheless. 

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/my-nhs-pension
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/total-reward-statements

Purplelady65 said:

If your anxiety and depression is severe it may be possible to apply for ill health retirement but as anxiety and depression can be recovered from it would be more difficult to get that than for other illnesses from which there is no prospect of recovery. 

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2017-05/Ill%20health%20retirement%20tiers%20and%20FAQs%20%2805.2017%29%20V8.pdf

GrubbyGirl_2

Can I ask what do you do in the NHS?

It's a huge organisation (if I recall correctly one of the biggest in the world), which many different roles and many different types of sub organisations.  You can stay working for the NHS but in a different role and in a different organisation.  I started as an auxiliary (now called health care assistants) then trained as a nurse (adults and children), then I progressed into working away from patients at the health authority and became someone who planned services then I moved into commissioning services and working jointly with social services.  After 42 years I retired from a very senior role on an unbelievably good pension.

What I am trying to say is if you're motivated to do so you can move into a very different job, working for a different employer and yet still be in the NHS.  Happy for you to message me if you want some more focussed advice.