Additional pension allows you to buy extra annual pension if you're an active member of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme. All active members moved to the 2015 Scheme from 1 April 2022 as part of the public service pensions remedy, also known as McCloud.
You can buy additional pension with:
- a single one-off payment (lump sum)
- regular monthly payments for an agreed period
You must complete all payments before your normal pension age (NPA). Your normal pension age is the same as your State Pension Age or 65, whichever is later.
Additional pension can be bought at any time during the year. This can be just for you or it can also provide benefits for your dependants after you die. It does not include an automatic lump sum on retirement, but you can exchange some of your additional pension to provide a lump sum on retirement.
Make sure you read our Additional pension factsheet (PDF: 206KB) before you do the calculation.
When to apply for your additional pension
Your age affects the cost of additional pension. This means when you calculate how much it will cost, the amount is only valid until your next birthday. If your birthday is in the next 6 weeks, you should wait until after your birthday, then do the calculation and send it to your employer.
Calculate and apply for additional pension
You can calculate and apply for additional pension using our additional pension calculator here:
The cost of purchasing additional pension is the same whether you work full or part-time but is dependent on your age.