FOI-03086

Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

##Request 

<p><i>‘a) Copies of all current internal guidance, policy documents, and training materials relating to the requirement, member notification, completion and processing of PTD1 forms where the scheme member has used over 80% of their Lifetime Allowance.</i></p>

<p><i>b) For the 2024/25 financial year: The total number of PTD1 (or equivalent) forms received, and the average, median, and longest recorded times taken to process PTD1 (or equivalent) forms from receipt to completion.</i></p>

<p><i>c) For the 2025/26 financial year to current date: Information, at the most recent available date(s), of the total number of PTD1 forms that have been received but where processing is not complete, and of projected/estimated average, median and longest processing times for these forms.</i></p>

<p><i>d) Any current plans, proposals, or internal project documents to address delays in PTD1 form processing and improve member notification in relation to the Lifetime Allowance.’</i></p>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 14 August 2025.  

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 

##Our response 

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds some of the information you have requested. 

##Question 1 - Copies of all current internal guidance, policy documents, and training materials relating to the requirement, member notification, completion and processing of PTD1 forms where the scheme member has used over 80% of their Lifetime Allowance 

Please be advised that Lifetime Allowance (LTA) has been replaced by Lump Sum Allowance (LSA).  The PTD1 replaces the LTA declaration form. 

Further information can be found at the web link below:  

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/lump-sum-allowances-6-april-2024

##PTD1 guidance 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

##Lifetime Allowance (LTA) guidance 

A copy of the data is attached. 

Please note, some of the data is redacted. See the below exemption for more information on this. 

We can confirm that we do hold the requested information, but this information is exempt under section 40(2) of the FOIA (personal information).  

Section 40(2) is an absolute, prejudice-based exemption and therefore is exempt if disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles. In order for disclosure to comply with the lawfulness, fairness, and transparency principle, we either need the consent of the data subject(s) or there must be a legitimate interest in disclosure. In addition, the disclosure must be necessary to meet the legitimate interest and finally, the disclosure must not cause unwarranted harm. 

As we do not have the consent of the data subject(s), the NHSBSA is therefore required to conduct a balancing exercise between legitimate interest of the applicant in disclosure against the rights and freedoms of the data subject(s).  

The NHSBSA acknowledges that you have a legitimate interest in disclosure of the information in order to provide the full picture of the requested data held by the NHSBSA; however, we have concluded that disclosure of the requested information would cause unwarranted harm and therefore, section 40(2) is engaged. This is because there is a reasonable expectation that member data processed by the NHSBSA remains confidential.  

Please see the following link to view the section 40 exemption in full - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40 

##Question 2 - For the 2024/25 financial year: The total number of PTD1 (or equivalent) forms received, and the average, median, and longest recorded times taken to process PTD1 (or equivalent) forms from receipt to completion. 

##And 

##Question 3 - For the 2025/26 financial year to current date: Information, at the most recent available date(s), of the total number of PTD1 forms that have been received but where processing is not complete, and of projected/estimated average, median and longest processing times for these forms. 

A copy of the data is attached. 

Elapsed days for incomplete cases reflect the duration since the work item was initially received in Operations Manager, and do not represent final processing times  

Volume counts reflect distinct member numbers and may not equate to unique forms if multiple tasks exist per member. 

##Definitions 

Forms Received: number of unique members who have submitted a 2nd bite initial action during the reporting years 2025 or 2026. Each member is counted only once, regardless of how many forms they submitted.  

Average Calendar Days Elapsed: The average number of days between the date a form was received and the date it was completed   

Median Days Elapsed: The middle value of the total days taken to complete a form, calculated from the date it was received to the date it was completed  

Longest Calendar Days Elapsed: The maximum number of days to complete a form 

##Question 4 - Any current plans, proposals, or internal project documents to address delays in PTD1 form processing and improve member notification in relation to the Lifetime Allowance. 

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. 

##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: Lifetime Allowance, Lump Sum Allowance, NHS Pensions, PTD1
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log