How to check and update your NHS pension record

Your NHS pension is a crucial part of your financial future, providing security in retirement. Regularly checking and updating your pension record ensures accuracy and maximises your benefits. This blog will guide you through the steps to check and update your NHS pension record and explain why it’s important.

Understanding the importance of your NHS pension

The NHS Pension Scheme offers a secure retirement income based on your service and earnings. Making sure your pension record is accurate is vital for several reasons:

• Accuracy: Prevents incorrect pension calculations and incorrect calculations of tax liabilities.
• Maximising benefits: Makes sure all pensionable service periods are recorded and earnings are included correctly.
• Planning: Provides a clear picture of your expected pension income to help with financial planning.

Ways to check your NHS pension record

1. Register for the NHS pension online service

Members of the NHS Pension Scheme should have received details in the post to enable them to log into My NHS Pension. Members can view and manage their NHS Pension online, ensuring that their record is updated accurately.

2. Obtain a service extract

Members can contact NHS Pensions directly and request a service extract. This document sets out each role that the member has had and paid pension contributions on. This includes the dates each post covers, whether the positions are full or part time, the amount of service accrued, and the amount of pensionable income for each financial year. The names of each employer will not be listed, so this statement can be supplemented by requesting a membership statement which lists the names of each employer and the dates covered. The membership statement does not include details of pensionable income, though.

3. Request an estimate of benefits

If you’re unable to access a statement of benefits from My NHS Pension, you can request an estimate from NHS Pensions directly. This will detail your accrued benefits up to a certain date, depending on what date your pension record is updated to.

Steps to update your NHS pension record

If your pension record is inaccurate, it will be necessary to update this as soon as possible. How this is done depends on your role and what aspects of the record are incorrect.

1. Practitioner service

General practitioners that are either salaried GPs, self-employed or partners in a partnership will complete superannuation certificates annually. If there is missing service in respect of these periods, superannuation certificates will be outstanding. These will need to be completed or resubmitted to Primary Care Support England to bring the record up to date.

2. Employed member (non-GP)

If the pensionable pay, part time hours or service is incorrect, the employer will need to submit an update to NHS Pensions via Pensions Online.

3. Missing historic service

If the record is missing historic service, you may be able to get this reinstated by completing forms SM27B or C. These forms can be completed where the employment to be queried is not current, or where the employer is not known. If the missing employment was within the last seven years, form SM27B should be used. If the missing employment was more than seven years ago, or the employer is unknown, form SM27C should be used.

Need help?

Your NHS pension is vital for your financial future. Follow these steps to check and update your record to make sure you receive the benefits you should. Regular checks provide peace of mind, prevent errors and help you plan effectively for a secure retirement. If you need help with this or any aspect of your NHS pension, please get in touch with our medical accounting team on 0330 024 0888 or enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk.

George Crowe