If you’re not an active member, you cannot join the NHS Pension Scheme during a period of absence from work, such as parental leave.
If you’re already an active member when your leave starts, you’ll continue to contribute to your pension throughout any period of absence for:
- maternity
- paternity
- adoption purposes
- other parental purposes
The employees' contributions payable during your leave will be based on the pay you receive. This includes full pay, half pay or statutory maternity pay.
For periods of unpaid leave, contributions continue to be payable at the same rate that applied immediately before the unpaid leave commenced.
If you stop paying contributions, you’ll not build up any further membership or retirement benefits. You’ll be treated the same as if you had left NHS employment on the date your contributions stopped.
If you continue to pay contributions, your employers’ contributions are payable based on your full rate of pay.
Any parental leave does not apply to locum practitioners.
Read more information on parental leave on our website.
Arrears
If you fall into arrears with your pension contributions whilst on parental leave, you can arrange to pay these back on your return to work.
This must be organised with your NHS employer.
We’ll expect these arrears to be paid back within a reasonable amount of time.
Bank staff
Check your contract of employment or discuss with your NHS employer if you’re eligible to receive pay during parental leave.
If you’re a bank employee and receive maternity pay, you can pay pension contributions.
Doctor in training
If you’re a doctor in training receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP) and your contract finishes, you may need to move between employers or placements. This depends on how long is left before your expected week of childbirth.
Contact your employer to check if this applies to you.