22nd June 2022

If you are already a member of the NHS Pension Scheme or NEST you will not be affected by this, nothing will change and you do not need to do anything.  However if you are NOT a member this could affect you so please take time to read.

Every three years the Trust must re-enrol eligible all staff who meet qualifying conditions back into a Pension scheme.  The next enrolment date for the Trust is the 01/07/2022.  If you are not currently a member of a pension scheme you may be enrolled into a scheme on this date.  If you are enrolled, you will receive a letter from the trust informing you of this.

To be eligible for automatic enrolment you must be:

  • Aged between 22 and State Pension Age
  • Earn over £833 a month or £192 a week.

If you have opted out of a Pension scheme with the Trust within 12 months of the re-enrolment date you will not be re-enrolled.

You cannot opt out of the enrolment process, but you can opt out of the Pension scheme after being enrolled.  The only exceptions to this are those who have protections in place for Lifetime Allowance purposes. 

To opt out of the NHS Pension scheme you will need to complete a sd502 form which you can download from the NHS pensions website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/leaving-or-taking-break-scheme  Completed forms should then be sent to UHDB Pensions team uhdb.pensions@nhs.net

IMPORTANT: Any opt out forms received by the Pensions office or signed and dated before the enrolment date cannot be processed. The forms will be destroyed, and you would not be opted out of the Pension Scheme.

You cannot opt out of the NEST Pension Scheme until after you have received a welcome pack from NEST.  The welcome pack contains your NEST ID which you will need to quote to opt out of the scheme either online or over the phone. This must be done via NEST, opt outs cannot be authorised by the UHDB Pensions Team.

If you have a valid Lifetime allowance protection certificate and do not wish to be automatically enrolled into a Pension scheme, can you email a copy of your protection certificate to the UHDB Pension Team uhdb.pensions@nhs.net and they will ensure you are not automatically re-enrolled.

If you are not automatedly enrolled into a Pension scheme you can still join a scheme by completing a joiner form which you can request form the Pensions Team.

To help you decide if you wish to stay in either pension scheme once enrolled please see the information below and also more detailed information on the schemes and benefits are available at Member hub | NHSBSA for the NHS Pension Scheme and for NEST Workplace Pension Scheme | Nest Pensions

How much will it cost?

                NHS Pension Scheme                                                               

Tier

Pensionable Pay - whole time equivalent pensionable earnings used to assess contributions rate **

Contribution rate (before tax relief) from 1 April 2015 to 30 Sep 2022 **

1

Up to £15,431.99

5.0%

2

£15,432.00 to £21,477.99

5.6%

3

£21,478.00 to £26,823.99

7.1%

4

£26,824.00 to £47,845.99

9.3%

5

£47,846.00 to £70,630.99

12.5%

6

£70,631.00 to £111,376.99

13.5%

7

£111,377.00 and over

14.5%

 

Nest

Date

Employee Contribution

Employer Contribution

Total Contribution

From April 19

5% (incl 1% tax relief)

3%

8%

**  Please note that contribution rates and pensionable pay in the NHS Pension Scheme are due to change on 1st October 2022 with an additional phase 2 change at a later date which is yet to be confirmed. The amendments are as follows –

Pensionable Pay – actual pensionable earnings used to assess contributions rate

Phase 1 Contribution rate (before tax relief) from 1st October 2022

Phase 2 Contribution rate (before tax relief) at a date to be confirmed

Up to £13,231

5.1%

5.2%

£13,232 to £15,431

5.7%

6.5%

£15,432 to £21,478

6.1%

6.5%

£21,479 to £22,548

6.8%

6.5%

£22,549 to £26,823

7.7%

8.3%

£26,824 to £27,779

8.8%

8.3%

£27,780 to £42,120

9.8%

9.8%

£42,121 to £47,845

10%

10.7%

£47,846 to £54,763

11.6%

10.7%

£54,764 to £70,630

12.5%

12.5%

£70,631 to £111,376

13.5%

12.5%

£111,377 and above

13.5%

12.5%

More detailed information will be sent soon regarding this change.

The employers contribution to the NHS Pension Scheme is 20.68%

If you have any queries please contact the Systems & Information Team on 01332 564856 (Option 3 then Option 2)