This programme has been specifically designed for those who administer the NHS Pension Scheme in General Practice. It enables them to appreciate the complexities of the scheme, understand their responsibilities and be able to administer routine tasks with a high degree of competence and accuracy. The ultimate aim being to ensure that Members receive the correct benefits, and the Employer is not put at risk of penalties from the NHS Business Services Authority or action by members for maladministration.

The content has been developed following several years’ experience working with practices to resolve their NHS Pension issues and mistakes. The programme is under constant review and subsequent updating to reflect any legislative changes.

There is Homework to complete between the sessions and attendance at Session 1 is mandatory (ie, delegates must attend that foundation session before being able to attend any subsequent sessions). Session 3 is an optional extra for those attending both the first two sessions and concentrates on the annual submissions to NHSBSA.

The primary objective is to ensure that delegates leave being able to accurately administer the NHS Pension Scheme and stay up to date with legislative changes.

The precise content is under constant review, but will broadly cover the following areas:

Session 1 – 4 hours

  • NHS Pension Overview (1995, 2008 and 2015)
  • Understanding Pensionable Pay
  • Calculating Annualised Earnings (including re-assessment regulations)
  • What happens during periods of Reduced Pay (including Deeming for Special Leave and logging Disallowed Days)
  • Ensuring Correct In-Year Administration (commonly occurring member events)
  • NHS Pension Administration Errors (top 15)

Session 2 – 4 hours

  • Feedback from Homework (POL errors and Content for Member Pension Noticeboard)
  • Active versus Deferred Membership
  • Issues Affecting Retirement (including Special Class Status, Early Retirement and ERRBO, McCloud Judgment, Final Pay Controls)
  • Retirement Options (including Full, Partial, Retire and Return)
  • Calculating Final Pensions and Lump Sum Options for all Schemes
  • Brief Overview of Practitioner Administration (including Role Definitions, Accessing Forms, Timeline for Administration, Sources of Information)
  • Preparation for Session 3

 

Session 3 (optional) – 3 to 4 hours depending on the number and complexity of issues raised in advance by delegates

  • LSO Tools for Calculating Annualised Earnings (including Automatic Calculation of Re-Assessment Tiers)
  • Finding your way around Pension Online (POL) (including Main Menu, E-Forms, Technical Guidance)
  • End of Year Administration (including Pre-EOY Checks, SD55 Preparation and Submission)
  • Review of ‘Officer’ and ‘Practitioner’ Administration
  • Individual Issues Raised by Delegates (this will vary by delegate group – but delegates will have the options to submit queries by email for inclusion in the session)

 

Having attended this programme, delegates would be entitled to commission an ‘NHS Pension Administration Review’ at a discounted price.

Where practices choose to ‘Outsource’ their pension administration, they should be aware that this DOES NOT in any way reduce their practice’s personal responsibility for ensuring that all legislative requirements are followed. They are still legally responsible for any errors or omissions. We therefore recommend that the practice undertakes random checks, especially before making end of year submissions.