We have seen an increase in the number of retirement applications (AW8) that have been inputted into POL or submitted incorrectly.
We receive many AW8 forms that have been submitted with either incorrect payable dates or incorrect reasons for retirement. We also receive applications that should not have been submitted electronically, or where we have not received the additional supplementary forms.
When submitting an AW8, make sure:
The member is eligible to claim the benefits selected
When inputting a retirement application into POL, employers have to select which Scheme the member wishes to claim benefits from by entering the relevant payable dates and reason for retirements. Extra care should be taken to ensure the member is eligible for the benefits that are selected at their last day of service.
Do not rely on POL to advise you if a member is eligible for the benefits you have selected or not.
The payable date is shown as the day after the last day of service
We have seen an increase in the number of retirement applications where the payable date and the last day of pensionable service has been recorded as the same date. The payable date must be after the last day of pensionable service.
The actual and NWT TPP figures (where applicable) are input correctly
There have been several cases where these figures have been entered incorrectly in part 2 and part 3 of the AW8.
Any additional information is provided
Any additional information is sent to nhsbsa.polia@nhs.net or nhsbsa.practitioners@nhs.net
If the member is a practitioner, this must be sent immediately upon submission of the AW8.
Where any of the above information is inputted incorrectly or not received this can prevent or delay payment of the members retirement benefits.
Remember you don’t need to confirm pensionable pay figures for 1995 members
Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of e-mails from employers confirming pensionable pay figures for 1995 members when it has not been asked on the AW8 during system submission.
Once you have submitted the AW8 through the system on POL, you do not need to tell us the pensionable pay figures for 1995 members.
The only time you need to contact us is for any subsequent amendments that cannot be made through the systems, such as the change to the lump sum amount or changes to the reason for retirement.
These changes should be e-mailed to nhsbsa.pensionsemployers@nhsbsa.nhs.uk and we will raise the request for the update on your behalf.
If you have a query relating to the pensionable pay used, please use this same email address, and the team will arrange for this to be investigated.