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Leaving/Re-joining the Scheme
What if I decide to leave the scheme or the NHS?
If you are considering leaving the scheme but staying in your job, please make sure you fully understand what you are giving up. Before making your final decision, speak to your employer and seek independent financial advice.
The scheme provides a number of option for those leaving the scheme before retirement. The options available will depend on your length of service.
If you leave your job or decide to leave the scheme:
- if you have been in the scheme for less than 2 years you can have a refund of the contributions you have paid provided you are under age 60 when you leave. Tax and National Insurance contributions will be deducted from the refund before it is paid to you. Refunds are not available to anyone who joins the scheme after age 60.
- If you have been in the scheme for 2 or more years, you can leave your benefits with the scheme. These are called preserved benefits. Their value is maintained and they are normally paid to you at age 60.
- You may be able to transfer the benefits you have earned in the scheme to another pension arrangement.
If you have reached retirement age and decide to leave the scheme but carry on working, you will not be able to claim your retirement benefits until your employment ends.
‘If you leave the NHS scheme, you would be giving up much more than a good pension...’
If you are thinking of leaving
- Think carefully
- From the day you join -
Life insurance cover and family benefitsif you die. - After 2 years’ membership -
A pension payable for life and a lump sum if you are forced to give up work because of ill health. - On retirement -
A pension payable for life and a lump sum.
Other information to consider
- If you leave the scheme, you will still have to pay into a Personal Pension or the State Scheme.
- If you compare those alternatives with the NHS scheme, you will see that in terms of value for money the scheme is hard to beat, and its benefits are guaranteed.
Re-joining the Scheme
Would I be able to rejoin the scheme?
The rules and conditions for re-joining the scheme are currently described within an NHS Circular 3/2008 issued to all NHS Employers on 6 March 2008. This can be viewed in the Circulars section of this website.
Would I be able to stay in the scheme if I leave NHS to work for another employer that provides services to the NHS?
Generally speaking, membership of the Scheme is only open to those employed by an NHS employer. However, there are occasions when membership may be extended to those who work outside the NHS. This is by means of a direction under the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967. The Director of Policy, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, is responsible for setting up directions. For more information, go to our Direction Bodies page.
Further information about leaving or re-joining the scheme is available both in the 1995 Scheme and 2008 Scheme Members guides and within leaflets Leaving the NHSSS and Joining the NHSSS which can be viewed online via our Forms and Guides page.
