Response to proposals to rectify pension discrimination

AISMA welcomes the proposals made by the government to rectify the discrimination that arose from transitioning NHS pension scheme members to the 2015 Scheme. The decision to opt for the Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU) takes the pressure away from any immediate need to make decisions and members should therefore be no worse off than they are now and many will see significant improvements to their pension benefits from opting back into the legacy pension schemes.

There will be additional positive consequences for many higher earners through reduced annual allowance tax charges which will need retrospective adjustment.

The changes will put significant pressure on NHS Pensions (and their regional equivalents) to update pension records with an end date set of 1 October 2023 to do this. NHS Pensions will also need to consider the complicated issues around how to allow GP’s who have previously opted out to unpick these decisions if appropriate.