Opting out & rejoining the NHS Pension Scheme

The SD502 form must be completed to confirm you wish to opt out. It must be completed each time you no longer want to be in the scheme, including if you are auto enrolled.

You can rejoin the pension scheme at any time as long as you are under the age of 75.

Should a member wish to opt out of the pension scheme they would complete an SD502 form from the NHS Pensions website and this should be issued to PCSE.

You can only get a refund of contributions is you have less than 2 years service within the scheme. If you have over 2 years service, the pension pot will become deferred until your minimum or normal retirement age.

Please note that opting out of the pensions scheme also makes you ineligible for any death in service, along with other benefits available to active members.
 

Practitioners

Practitioners are automatically added to the Pension Scheme when they join a new practice. The GP Practice completes a joiner form for a new GP. Find out more on dedicated Joiners and Leavers page.

Non-clinical partners

Non-clinical partners are automatically added to the Pension Scheme when they join a new practice or become an non-clinical partner at an existing practice. The GP Practice completes a joiner form, selecting non-GP.

Find out more on our dedicated Joiners and Leavers page.

If a GP wants to Opt back in, a Joiner form must be completed and submitted. This is completed by the GP Practice.

If a GP wants to opt back in to the pension scheme and they work across multiple practices, they will have to request each practice submits a joiner form. The joining date needs to be the same at each practice.

Find out more about the process on our dedicated Joiners and Leavers page.

To opt out of the NHS Pension Scheme you will need to log into PCSE Online, and select Opt Out from the GP Pensions dashboard.

Visit our Opt Out of the Pension Scheme page here. 

If your application to leave the NHS Pension Scheme is signed and received by PCSE before the end of the first pay period, the member will be treated as never having been included in the scheme. Any pension contributions taken during this period will be returned by PCSE to the practice. The practice must make arrangements to adjust any National Insurance contributions and tax accordingly

If your application to leave the NHS Pension Scheme is signed and received by PCSE after the end of the first pay period, the decision to opt out will take effect from the first day of the next pay period following receipt. If you hold under two years qualifying membership at the date of opting out and wish to claim a refund of the contributions paid, an application to request a refund of pension contributions (RF12) form must be completed and sent to PCSE.

Forms should be submitted to PCSE by visiting the Contact Us page and completing a new GP Pensions enquiry.

You can download the RF 12 form from the NHS Pensions website.

If you provide a later date to opt out on your application to leave the NHS Pension Scheme, the decision to opt out will be effective from the first day of the next pay period following the date given.

If you are a Practitioner who opts out you must opt out of all your practitioner related posts, but you can continue to contribute in respect of any concurrent hospital posts if you wish to do so.