LETTER 1A EJH NHS PS VERSION 1 22/02/13 NWPAEG

(Please note: The elements that are required by law are shown highlighted in yellow. Remove the yellow highlight and this sentence from the final version).

[Insert Date]

[Insert Name]

[Insert Address]

Dear [Insert Name]

The NHS Pension Scheme – A change in the law that affects you

To help people save more for their retirement, the government now requires employers to enrol their workers into a workplace pension scheme. This applies to those who aren’t already in one and who:

  • earn over £9,440a year (£787 a month) (£182 a week)
  • are aged 22 or over; and
  • Are under State Pension age.

We therefore are enrolling/enrolled [select as appropriate] you into the NHSPension Scheme on [insert automatic enrolment date] (your automatic enrolment date).

  • You can choose to opt out of the scheme if you want to, but if you stay in you will have a pension which will be paid to you when you retire.
  • The Employer and you will both pay into it every month
  • The government will also contribute through tax relief
  • Your pension belongs to you, even if you leave us in the future

Why is this happening?

The government’s aim is for more people to have another income, on top of the State Pension, when they come to retire. The State Pension is intended to be a foundation - you may want more. Employers are enrolling their workers automaticallyinto a scheme to make it easier for people to start saving.

What does joining the Pension Scheme mean for you?

The payment in to your Pension will be a percentage of your pay. Your contribution level would be based on the whole time equivalent pensionable pay value as shown below:

2013/2014 Contribution Rates before tax relief (gross)

Pensionable PayContribution Rate

Up to £15278.995.0%

£15279.00 to £21175.995.3%

£21176.00 to £26557.996.8%

£26558.00 to £48982.999.0%

£48983.00 to £69931.9911.3%

£69932.00 to £110273.9912.3%

£110274.00 and over13.3%

The Trust’s contributions will be 14% of your pensionable pay

The pension contribution will be taken directly from your pay and will be subject to tax relief at point of deduction.This means that you donot need to do anything to get the tax relief.

Where do I find out more information about the Pension Scheme?

Further information about the NHS Pension Scheme is available on the scheme website at by telephoning the member helpline on 0300 330 1346.

What you need to do now

If you want to stay in the pension scheme you don’t have to do anything. Your membership of the scheme will start automatically.

If you want to opt out of the pension scheme, follow the instructions below.

Yours sincerely

(Name)

(Title)

How to opt out

To opt out, you will need to download an opt-out form (SD502) from the quick links section for members on the homepage of NHS Pension Scheme website at:

If you do not have personal access to a computer you can contact NHS Pensions for an opt-out form by telephoning the member helpline on 0300 330 1346.

Once you have completed the opt-out form, send it to the [insert department]at the address at the head of the letter.

If your completed opt out form is received within one month of the date of this letter, you will be removed from the pension scheme. Any payments you have already made will be refunded and you will not have become an active member of the scheme on this occasion.

If you want to stop making payments after the end of the one month opt out period, you can do so. However, the payments you have already made may not be refunded.

If I opt out or stop making payments, can I re-join a workplace pension scheme at a later date?

Yes, you can re-join a workplace pension scheme. To do so, contact the [insertdepartment] at the above address by sending a letter, which has to be signed by you, informing us that you wish to join the workplace pension scheme. Or if sending electronically, in addition it has to contain the phrase “I confirm I personally submitted this notice to join a workplace pension scheme” and be submitted from a Trust internal email address to [email address]

The [insert department] will then assess which of the workplace pension schemes you can join (either the NHS Pension Scheme or our alternate scheme NEST) and advise you accordingly.

A regular reminder

Anyone who opts out or stops making payments will be automatically enrolled back into a pension scheme at a later date (usually every three years). This is because your circumstances may have changed and it may be the right time for you to start saving. We will contact you when this happens and you can opt out if it’s still not right for you.

For information on pensions and saving for later life visit:

If you are under 75, work or usually work in the UK, and earn over £5,668 a year:

- Wemust by law continue to maintain your membership of a scheme that meets certain government standards; and

- If your membership of such a scheme ends (and it is not because of something you do or fail to do), we must by law put you into another scheme that meets government standards straightaway.