Use the Remedy Benefits Illustrator on our website to understand how your remedy choice is likely to affect your pension overall.
You’ll be asked to choose between receiving 1995/2008 Scheme or 2015 Scheme benefits for your membership during the remedy period of 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022.
You must make this choice when you apply for your pension benefits.
This illustrator cannot give you exact figures. The figures are not your final retirement benefit offer and cannot be used as financial advice.
You’ll receive a letter with accurate figures to help you make your choice when you apply for your pension benefits.
If you need support to decide which option is right for you, speak to an independent financial adviser. You may be able to able to apply to have the cost of this advice repaid to you through the Cost Claim Back Scheme.
The Remedy Benefits Illustrator can help you to understand:
- if you're likely to be affected by the public service pensions remedy
- an illustration of your remedy choice
- potential figures based on your chosen retirement age - if your chosen retirement age is before your normal pension age (NPA), it’ll show benefits reduced for early payment
- how increases may apply to your 2015 Scheme benefits if you wait to claim them until after your NPA
- your possible maximum tax-free lump sum
- how much annual pension you would likely have to permanently reduce to take up to the maximum lump sum
- an illustration of your potential total pension benefits based on full-time or fixed part-time employment
- the potential impact of expected future salary increases on your pension at retirement
The illustrator cannot show you:
- the actual pension benefits you’ll receive at retirement - you’ll receive exact figures when you apply to claim your benefits
- your pensions from sources other than your NHS Pension
- partial retirement benefits - you can use the partial retirement calculator for this
- how any Scheme Pays election you have made will be affected by your remedy choice
- any additional pension (AP), Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), or added years (AY) you have bought or buy in future
- any pension debits or other special arrangements
- what your dependants and beneficiaries may be entitled to
- how your pension is calculated
- the impact of age-dependant service caps
- if you're eligible for a higher tax-free lump sum
- the effect of any early retirement reduction buy out (ERRBO) agreement you might have
- any information transferred in from another pension scheme
Members who cannot use the illustrator
Some members may have more complex circumstances which means the illustrator cannot show how your remedy choice could affect your pension.
You must wait until you receive your letter with accurate, personalised figures to help you make your choice if you:
- are not affected by the Public Service Pensions Remedy
- have already left the Scheme or taken any of your pension benefits
- are currently a practitioner, or you have historic practitioner membership - including GPs, dental practitioners, and ophthalmic practitioners
- have had any break from the pension scheme
- are a male nurse with Special Class status and joined the scheme before 17 May 1990
- work in more than one part-time role at the same time
- chose to move from the 1995 Section to the 2008 Section during the Choice Exercise or Choice 2 Exercise
- have an Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out (ERRBO) agreement
- have received no pay for more than one month due to unpaid sick leave or unauthorised absence
- have transferred in from another public sector pension scheme
- have mixed service between Mental Health Officer (MHO) and Non-MHO
Making your choice when you retire
Active and deferred members affected by the remedy can make the choice at retirement starting from the end of 2025.
After you apply for your pension, you’ll receive a letter showing your options using personalised and accurate figures. It will have instructions for how to confirm your choice.
Issues using the illustrator
If you have any difficulties accessing the illustrator, you may need to:
- clear the cache and cookies in your web browser - you can find guidance on how to do this online
- adjust the zoom in your web browser
- change the resolution of your screen