FOI-03258

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

<p><i>‘Further to my emails below, I would also like to submit a Freedom of Information request (FOIA) 2000, as follows:</i></p>

<p><i>1) How many substitute award recalculations were received each year from 1 April 2022 to date.</i></p>

<p><i>2) How long on average did it take to issue revised retirement notices each year from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2024.</i></p>

<p><i>3) Are the 1995 NHS recalculated pensions automatically revised & notified on your system as detailed below.</i></p>

<p><i>[Previous email]</i></p>

<p><i>I am aware that revised calculations are now automated & I am therefore hopeful the process won’t take too long!</i></p>

<p><i>Automated Calculations:</i></p>

<p><i>Systems can now calculate updated pensionable pay for 1995 Scheme members.</i></p>

<p><i>Revised Calculations:</i></p>

<p><i>The system then calculates the revised pension benefits.</i></p>

<p><i>Payment and Notification:</i></p>

<p><i>The sub award ensures the correct pension benefits are paid and that members receive an updated award letter confirming their new benefit amounts.</i></p>

<p><i>Benefits of the New Sub Award Process</i></p>

<p><i>Streamlined and Efficient:</i></p>

<p><i>The process has been made quicker and easier to manage by automating calculations.</i></p>

<p><i>A timescale would be appropriate & appreciated.’</i></p>

##[On 4 November 2025 you clarified your request as follows] 

<p><i>‘I would like to clarify the following as requested:</i></p>

<p><i>1) I would like data for how many revised awards you have completed (and therefore the member has 'received') each year</i></p>

<p><i>2) With regard to measuring the average time, are you able to look at cases completed in the period and assess time from start to end from 1 April 2022 until March 2025 - not 2024).</i></p>

<p><i>3) Are the 1995 NHS recalculated pensions automatically revised & notified on your system as detailed below.’</i></p>

<p><i>I would also like to request the following information under the same FOI:</i></p>

<p><i>4) Is there, or will there be put in place a triage system for identifying quickly whether a case is straightforward or complex so that straightforward cases are not delayed any longer than necessary?</i></p>

<p><i>5) How many queries/cases are before mine - ie have not been reviewed/ looked into yet</i></p>

<p><i>6) How many cases took over 12 months to be finalised from 1 April 2022’</i></p>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 11 October 2025.  

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 

##Our response 

##Question 1 - I would like data for how many revised awards you have completed (and therefore the member has 'received') each year 

##Question 2 - With regard to measuring the average time, are you able to look at cases completed in the period and assess time from start to end from 1 April 2022 until March 2025 - not 2024  

##Question 6 - How many cases took over 12 months to be finalised from 1 April 2022 

NHS Pensions process over 1.3m pieces of work annually, prioritising First Awards to ensure customers receive initial pension payments as quickly as possible. Where a recalculation to a First Award is required, a substitute Award is made. 

A copy of the data is attached, detailing the substitute awards made. 

This data includes all substitute awards completed between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2025.  

Open cases, yet to be completed, are not included in the data.  

Average and Maximum times are given in calendar days from date of receipt of the case. This does reflect NHS Pensions performance in making a First Award.

##Question 3 - Are the 1995 NHS recalculated pensions automatically revised & notified on your system as detailed below 

The system will calculate updated pensionable pay and revise pension payments wherever possible, however there are still cases which will require manual input.  

##Question 4 - Is there, or will there be put in place a triage system for identifying quickly whether a case is straightforward or complex so that straightforward cases are not delayed any longer than necessary? 

No, all cases are actioned in the order they are received.

##Data Queries 

Please contact <a href=mailto:foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a> ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. 

##Reusing the data and copyright 

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact <a href=mailto:communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/  

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. 

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.

Tags: NHS Pensions, Revised awards
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log