NHS Choice Exercise rolled out in Health Boards in January 2010

by Nicola Morris

If you have been a member of the NHS Pension Scheme from before 1 April 2008 and continue in active membership to at least 1 October 2009 you will soon be offered a one-off choice to transfer across to the 2008 Section should you wish to.

NHS staff in Scotland will be contacted in the next few months as part of the NHS Pensions Choice Exercise. The NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) has two different sections being introduced on 1 April 2008.

From January, staff who were members of the pension scheme prior to the introduction of the new section will be asked to make the choice between the following: (a) Staying in the 1995 section with the pension you have earned to date, and all future membership being treated under the rules and regulations that apply to that section, or (b) Transferring to the 2008 section, which means that the rules and regulations of this section would apply to all pension you have earned so far and any that you earn in the future.

When the time comes to make a choice, members will be issued with a pack from the scheme administrator, The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), containing information to assist them in making an informed decision.

There are a number of resources available from the SPPA to assist members in making an informed decision at website www.sppa.gov.uk A number of UNISON Health branches will be holding briefing sessions for members on the Choice Exercise process and details of these will be available on the UNISON Scotland website www.unison-scotland.org.uk

UNISON representatives continue to attend the Scottish Pensions Review Group for Scotland (SPensiR) and participate in discussions on the Choice Exercise process and would advise all members to pay particular attention to their Choice Statements and take the opportunity to query any apparent errors in the information.

It is important that members eligible to take part in the Choice Exercise are well-informed about what is involved - but it is important to stress that neither UNISON staff and stewards or the SPPA can provide financial advice or make specific Choice recommendations for members. It’s your pension. It’s your choice!

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