If you wish to request a pension estimate, you can access your TRS statement which is accurate up to 31st March when the data is extracted (for the last completed financial year). For staff looking to retire in the near future and as the information in TRS is not live data (at the request of the estimate), the information Pensions require is not accessible in the system and so they have to contact NHS Pensions for the information.
We received the below notification from NHS Pensions regarding requests for pension estimates which has been implemented by NHS Pensions. It is essential that the following information is communicated to all staff to ensure they are aware of changes to the pension estimate process.
NHS Pensions have advised that with immediate effect, where a TRS statement is available, all such requests are chargeable to the individual requesting the estimate. Full details on the schedule of charges can be found on the website at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/4193.aspx
NHS Pensions have advised that they have checked all age and early retirement estimate requests (including those requested by employers) and where the member has an Annual Benefit Statement available through TRS, has written to them. The letter informs members to access their Annual Benefit Statement available through TRS and advises that the facility is free of charge and is a faster and more convenient way to obtain NHS pension information. It also informs them that although it doesn’t show what benefits can be expected for early retirement, they can use the early retirement calculator to model their benefits, available at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/4202.aspx.
NHS Pensions will only produce any age related estimates without receipt of payment where the member does not have an Annual Benefit Statement available and has not received an age related estimate in the last 12 months. NHS Pensions will continue to process all ill health estimates where an ill health application is in progress and redundancy estimate free of charge.
Charges for these services are now in place:
- Individual Protection valuations
- Copy of information we have previously provided
- Pensions on Divorce
- Multiple requests
- Hypothetical transfer value or estimates
- Early retirements
- Contributions and pay
- Projected benefits for 1995 and 2008 Section members only.