About NHS pensions in Scotland
There are currently two pension schemes in operation for NHS employees in Scotland and some members have benefits in more than one of these schemes. Both arrangements are defined benefit, statutory occupational pension schemes.
NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland)
The NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) closed to new members on 31 March 2015 and has two sections known as the 1995 Section and the 2008 Section. Benefits in the scheme are worked out on a final salary basis and members receive a pension based on their membership and final pensionable pay.
NHS Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015
The NHS Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015 came into effect on 1 April 2015 and all new NHS employees (and staff who move to Scotland having previously been a member of an NHS scheme elsewhere in the UK) now join this scheme.
While most members of the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland) automatically joined NHS 2015 on 1 April 2015, some were granted protections that allow them either to stay in the earlier scheme until retirement or to join the new scheme at a later date.
Benefits are worked out on a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) basis, using earnings in each year and revaluing them to take account of inflation. The normal retirement age is the member’s State Pension age.