FOI-03733

## Request

*Please could you provide the following information in relation to members of the NHS Pension Scheme with 1995 Section benefits who have exceeded their Normal Pension Age (55 or 60 as applicable) and have not claimed their 1995 pension as at 31 March 2026 (or the nearest available date).*
 
*Please include:* 
*- All members meeting the above criteria, regardless of Special Class or Mental Health Officer status*
*- Members who have not yet claimed their pension, excluding those who have already submitted a claim but are not yet in payment* 
 
*1. Breakdown by years past Normal Pension Age* 
*Please provide two separate tables:* 
*- Active members* 
*- Deferred members* 
 
*Note: years past NPA = age - Normal Pension Age* 
 
*Years past NPA | Number of members | Total annual 1995 pension (£)* 
*>0 to ≤1,* 
*>1 to ≤2,* 
*>2 to ≤3,* 
*>3 to ≤4,* 
*>4 to ≤5,* 
*>5 to ≤6,* 
*>6 to ≤7,* 
*>7 to ≤8,* 
*>8 to ≤9,* 
*>9 to ≤10,* 
*>10* 
 
*2. Maximum years past NPA* 
*For both active and deferred members separately:* 
*- What is the maximum years past Normal Pension Age (in years and months)?* 
*- If this relates to multiple members, please provide:* 
*Number of members* 
*Total annual 1995 pension (£)* 
*- If this relates to a single member, please provide:* 
*Their annual 1995 pension (£)* 
 
*3. Average years past NPA* 
*For both active and deferred members separately:* 
*What is the average years past Normal Pension Age (in years and months)?*
 
*4. Breakdown by Agenda for Change band (active members only)* 
*For active members on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts only, please provide:* 
*AfC Band | Number of members | Total annual 1995 pension (£)* 
*1,* 
*2,*
*3,*
*4,* 
*5,* 
*6,*
*7,*
*8a,*
*8b,*
*8c,*
*8d,*
*9*

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 9 April 2026.  
 
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. Please read the below notes to ensure correct understanding of the data. 

###Questions 1, 2 & 3 
 
###Total annual 1995 pension 
 
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. 
 
This is not a metric which is recorded by the NHSBSA. 
 
###All other data 
 
A copy of the data is attached. 
 
###Age as of 5 May 2026 
  
All ages referenced are calculated as of 5 May 2026.  
 
###MHO/SC identification 
 
NHS Pensions can only determine whether a member holds Mental Health Officer (MHO) or Special Class (SC) status where this has been recorded by the former employer within the employment history data submitted to us. This status may confer eligibility to retire from age 55 without reduction; however, entitlement can only be confirmed at the point of retirement." 
 
###Unclaimed 1995 Section service  
 
Members who have service in the 1995 Section that has not been claimed, refunded, or transferred out—and who are currently over their Normal Pension Age (NPA)—are included.  
 
•	NPA is 60 for most members, or 55 for those with MHO/SC status.  
 
•	Of the members who could retire at 55, a subset are already over age 60.  
 
###Partially retired (PR) members  
 
Members who have taken partial retirement in the 1995 Section are included if they still have unclaimed remaining service.  
 
###Award and Death applications  
 
Members with ongoing award applications have been excluded.  Also, members with an ongoing death workflow also excluded  
  
###Definition of “Active” members  
 
A member is considered Active if they have any ongoing employment.  
 
•	This includes employment in any NHS pension scheme.  
 
•	For example, if they have an active post in the 2015 Scheme, they are treated as Active.  
 
•	There should be no members in the 1995 Section after 01/04/2022, as this section is now closed.  
 
###Employment status limitations  
 
We cannot confirm whether members are actually still working in their recorded employment.  
 
“Active” simply means the employment post has not been terminated in the system.  
Contributions should still be received for an active post, but this is not guaranteed.  
Some employment records may have remained open incorrectly—for example, a post opened in 2000 may have ended in 2005 but was never formally terminated. 
 
###Maximum years past Normal Pension Age (NPA) 
 
 It is the responsibility of the member to apply for their NHS Pension. We contact members when they approach their normal pension age to inform them that they may be able to claim their NHS Pension Scheme benefits. No tracing is carried out for members who have yet to claim their pension after normal retirement age. Deferred NHS Pension benefits are backdated automatically to the members NPA at the point of claiming. 
 
There are, therefore, very rare instances in which members choose not to claim their pension benefits. 
 
###Question 4 - Breakdown by Agenda for Change band (active members only) 
 
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. 
 
This is not a metric which is recorded by the NHSBSA. 
 
###Data Queries 
 
Please contact <foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk> 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 <communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>. 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 2026”. 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
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log