Pensions

The BMA pensions department

We can give you guidance and represent your interests in relation to your pension. Find out how the BMA can help you.

BMA pensions webinars

View our range of webinars and videos based on pensions - including tax, annual allowance, the McCloud judgement and an introduction to the NHS pension scheme.

NHS pension annual allowance

Doctors are being excessively taxed on their pensions. This guidance informs you about your annual allowance statement and your options should you be charged.

The BMA Goldstone pension modeller

The modeller will provide an accurate estimate for your pension if you are a consultant or SAS doctor in the 1995, 2008 or 2015 schemes. It will estimate your annual allowance and lifetime allowance charges.

End the pension tax trap for doctors

The current NHS pension scheme is driving doctors away from medicine. We outline how taxation is punitive, how it can be fairer and how you can help our lobbying by responding to a Government consultation on the NHS pension scheme in England and Wales.

Annual allowance compensation scheme 2019/20

How to apply for scheme pays, documents and deadlines. Plus, guidance on the annual allowance compensation scheme scheme 2019/20 which allows tax charges to be compensated at retirement.

Pension taxation and using scheme pays guide for GPs

Guidance for GPs on the annual allowance scheme pays election, deadlines for submission and changes to the threshold income.

NHS pension lifetime allowance

Our guidance offers everything you need to know about your NHS pension lifetime allowance. The BMA can help you to make the best decisions with your pension and reduce your potential tax charge – give us a call.

Salary sacrifice schemes

Guidance on the opportunities and implications of engaging in salary sacrifice schemes - including benefits, effects on your pension and what you need to consider first.

Your annual allowance statement and exceeding the limit

Guidance on getting your annual allowance statement, tapered annual allowance, information for high earners and what to do if you exceed the allowance limit and incur a tax charge.

Death in service and your pension

Guidance about the benefits available if you die in NHS pensionable service, who they can be paid to and whether they are taxable.

Death after leaving the NHS pension scheme

This guidance is for doctors who have left NHS pensionable service with deferred pension benefits.

Death after retirement and your pension

Guidance on pensions and lump sums payable at death after retirement from the NHS, including sums payable to your children, spouse or partner.

Calculate your NHS pension

What will your NHS pension be when you retire? Use our pension calculator to estimate your pension benefits in minutes.

Calculating your pension lump sum

This guidance answers all your queries on the lump sum you receive at retirement from your NHS post – how much you will get, how much will get taxed and what commutation is.

Your final pensionable pay

As a secondary care doctor in the 1995 section of the NHS pension scheme, or who has since transitioned to the 2015 scheme, this guidance can help calculate your final pensionable pay.

Pensionable service guide for secondary care doctors

This guidance covers what elements of your service and time are contributing to your NHS pension, what reckonable pay is, what whole-time is defined as and how your final pension pot is calculated.

NHS pension contribution rates

A summary of contribution rates to your pension from you as an employee and your employer.

Ill health retirement and your pension

Guidance on ill health retirement including definitions, possible outcomes and effects on your pension.

Ill health retirement and your pension for transitional members

This guidance addresses the main queries concerning ill health retirement for members of the 2015 NHS pension scheme who also have membership in the 1995 or 2008 sections of the scheme.

Sick leave and your pension

We guide you through how sick leave affects your pension pot, covering deemed pay, stepping back, disallowed days and additional pension purchase.

Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and your pension

We cover the basics of the effects that leave can have on your NHS pension, including what contributions you and your employer make and if your leave is pensionable.

Authorised absences and your pension

Authorised absence is where you take unpaid leave from work for an agreed period – find out how this effects your pension pot, how long you can take and under what circumstances.

Direction status - NHS pensions for non-NHS organisation employees

Direction status allows individuals who are not working in the NHS to remain members of the NHS pension scheme. This guidance covers the types of status and how you and your organisation can apply.

Armed forces doctors pension scheme

Read the need to know information on the 1975 and 2005 sections of the armed forces pension scheme.

The NHS pension scheme as a sessional GP

Guidance for sessional and locum GPs on your pension tier, submitting the right forms to Capita (PCSE) on time and annualisation. 

An introduction to the NHS pension scheme for locum GPs

Your pension can be hard to navigate as a locum GP. Here we guide you on how to pension locum earnings, opting out of the NHS scheme and how your benefits are calculated.

GP flexibilities in your NHS pension scheme

This guidance is for doctors who mostly work in primary care but also have responsibilities in secondary care and how this will affect your pension.

1995 section mental health officer status

If you are in the 1995 section of the NHS pensions scheme, holding mental health officer status can have a big impact on your pension. Read the benefits, your options and when you can retire with MHO status.

Local government pension scheme

The LGPS (local government pension scheme) is a statutory pension scheme for employees of local authorities. Find out about the benefits and your rights as a doctor.

The NHS pension scheme as a medical director

It can be hard to know whether to pension your earnings as a medical or clinical director. Here we answer when and whether it is beneficial for you.

Non-legal tribunal members pension scheme access

Information on NEST and pension scheme access for doctors who undertake the work of sitting on tribunals as medical members.

Returning to work after retirement

Guidance on returning to work after retirement including rules on retirement, taking a break in service and limits to working hours and NHS earnings.

NHS pension abatement rules

When abatement applies, what your pre-retirement pensionable NHS earnings are and other issues.

McCloud pension consultation judgment

Watch our webinars and guidance on the Government consultation on unfair discrimination in the pension scheme. The need to know, how it will affect you and what you should do now.

About the 2015 NHS pension scheme

Approximately 75% of existing NHS employees and all new employees will have joined the 2015 NHS pension scheme. The BMA can help you with any questions you may have about your pension.

Can I join the 2015 NHS pension scheme?

You may be questioning whether you can join the NHS pension scheme if you left employment and wish to return. You may also be a new doctor and want to know more about the available pension schemes.

Taking early retirement

We cover what voluntary early retirement is, if you should take your NHS pension early and how much your pension will be reduced by.

Opting out of the NHS pension scheme

Given increases to contributions and reduced annual and lifetime allowance limits, doctors are asking if they are better leaving the NHS pension scheme. The BMA can support you with your decision.

When can I take my NHS pension?

We look at the position for doctors who have a mixture of benefits in different sections of the NHS pension scheme and when they can draw them. We also cover retiring late.

Transferring money out of the NHS pension scheme

This guidance sets out why and how you may want to transfer your pension benefits from the NHS pension scheme into another scheme, depending on where you are in your career.

Refunding your pension contributions

When are refunds of NHS pension contributions payable, how do you apply and is a refund good value for money?

Moving between NHS and university employment and your pension

The implications of moving between the university superannuation scheme and NHS pension scheme.

Redundancy and your pension

This guidance for doctors covers being made redundant from the NHS, eligibility, how it affects your pension and different employment factors to consider.

Half cost added years for 1995 section pension members

Purchasing additional membership for members who could not achieve maximum membership at normal pension age.

Additional pension purchase

Guidance for doctors on additional NHS pension, what it costs, what the payment options are and how it is affected by leave or absence and other issues.

Inflationary increases to your NHS pension

This guidance covers how much inflation might increase your pension, how it’s applied and by who and information on guaranteed minimum pension and second bit pensions.