How to re-join the NHS (Scotland) pension scheme
On this page:
- Who is eligible to re-join
- How to re-join
You can re-join following career breaks, changes in jobs or following periods where you've opted out of making payments to the scheme.
If you’re looking to re-join the scheme, you need to contact your employer and ask them to re-enrol you. To re-join, you’ll have to be:
- aged between 16 and 75
- directly employed by NHS Scotland, or be:
- a medical, dental or ophthalmic practitioner (or trainee);
- working for a general practice; working for certain approved employers or;
- a non-general practitioner provider.
You can re-join the scheme by contacting your employer and letting them know you want to start contributing again, or, when you take up employment with the NHS, you’re automatically enrolled.
Practitioners
Following an amendment to the scheme regulations in November 2024, Practitioner members can opt out of individual employments without having to opt out of all Practitioner employments. For example, a GP could opt out the scheme for their out of hours work but remain in the scheme for their GP practice earnings.
As a result of this, our administration process for opting back into the scheme has changed.
All Practitioners, including Self employed GP’s (Principal & Locums) and General Dental Practitioners, as well as Salaried GP’s working under a Practice or Health Board, are required to opt in if they have previously opted out.
You no longer need to complete the ‘Opt In’ form to re-join the scheme. Simply contact Practitioner Services, or the Health Board/Practice you work for to advise them you wish to re-join the scheme.
They will then send a starter form to SPPA, to advise us of your start date and will deduct contributions accordingly. Please ensure the correct contributions are being deducted and if not contact your employer.
As of 1 April 2025, we will no longer accept the ‘opt in’ form .