Remediable Service Statements (RSS) – Making sense of your NHS pension choices

NHS Pensions have started sending out choice letters (RSS) to those of you who have claimed benefits from any part of the NHS Pension Scheme and are affected by the public service pensions remedy (McCloud). These letters are designed to help you navigate your pension options and make the best decision for your future.

So, what does this mean for you?

You get to choose between the 1995/2008 Scheme (whichever one you were in before moving to the 2015 Scheme) or the 2015 Scheme pension benefits for your membership between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 (the remedy period).

To make things easier, NHS Pensions will include a personalised decision guide with two tables. These tables show the same choice in different levels of detail, with personalised figures to help you compare options and decide which pension benefits are best for you.

The decision guide should include all the information you need, but if you want extra support, there are videos available on NHSBSA Website to help you understand your options better: Understanding your choice after retirement | NHSBSA.

You have 12 months from the date of your letter to tell NHS Pensions your decision. If you don’t respond, they’ll revise your benefits permanently to pay you 1995/2008 Scheme benefits for the remedy period.

Retired members who are most at risk of financial detriment are being prioritised. Here’s the timeline for when you should receive your letter:

• Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly unprotected and only 1995/2008 Scheme benefits in payment: 1 July 2025
• Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly taper protected and only 1995/2008 Scheme benefits in payment: 1 July 2025
• Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly unprotected and both 1995/2008 Scheme and 2015 Scheme benefits in payment: 1 October 2025
• Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly taper protected and both 1995/2008 Scheme and 2015 Scheme benefits in payment: 1 October 2025
• Retired by 1 October 2023 – formerly protected and benefits in payment for remedy period: 1 December 2026
• Retired between 1 October 2023 and 1 July 2025: 1 December 2026

Most members will find the choice straightforward. But if your circumstances are more complex and you need support deciding which option is right for you, we’d recommend speaking to an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA).

If you do need to speak to an IFA, you can apply to recover costs using the NHS Cost Claim Back Scheme. For more information about the types of costs that can and can’t be claimed back, visit The NHS Cost Claim Back Scheme webpage.

Need help?

If you have any initial questions, please contact your usual team member or email enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk.

Louise Dean