Each scheme member will receive a comparative benefit statement to enable them to make an informed decision about their future NHS pension provision. The statement outlines the key differences in individual scheme members’ benefits in the 1995 and in the 2008 sections of the NHS Pension Scheme.
NHS Pensions will dispatch comparative benefit statements to employers in tranches by SHA region (tranche timetable). Scheme members should have a minimum of three months, before the end date that appears on their statement, in which to make a decision about their pension arrangements.
To protect the members’ decision making time and to minimise the risk of legal challenge, employers are advised to distribute comparative statements without delay.
Employers can further reduce the risk of legal challenge by putting in place arrangements for scheme members to sign and date a receipt for their comparative statement. Where this is not practical employers will want to put in place a clear audit trail, similar to that used for the distribution of P60s.
Issuing statements before the scheduled tranche
Employers should be aware that, for some members, participation in the NHS Pension Choice exercise will need to happen before the scheduled tranche. This applies to members who are:
- terminally ill
- involved in a compulsory transfer under TUPE or TUPE like conditions to an employer that is not eligible to offer access to the NHS Pension Scheme
- age 65 on or after 1 October 2009 and a member of the special classes
- set to retire as a result of redundancy
- in the process of applying for ill health retirement
- seeking to agree a retirement date that falls before tranche; this includes members taking voluntary early retirement.
These members will need to receive their comparative benefit statement before the scheduled tranche. Guidance is available for the NHS Pensions website.