Almost 180,000 NHS staff opt out of pension scheme in four years

In last four years

Sophie King
clock • 2 min read

The number of NHS staff choosing to opt out of its pension scheme totalled close to 180,000 over the last four years, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Quilter has found.

The figure equated to an average of 45,000 NHS staff opting out of the pension scheme every 12 months over the past four years, rising to 22% last year.  The data also showed the number of people who opted out of the NHS pension scheme increased by nearly 10,000 in the 2019/20 tax year to 50,399 people. However, many of those who opted out will also opt back in again in a bid to try and reduce pension growth for the year to avoid being hit by annual allowance tax charges, Quilter said. The FOI also found those opting out could be looking to mitigate against breaching the lifetime a...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

Mind the gap: Why advisers have a key role in closing the gender pension divide

Mind the gap: Why advisers have a key role in closing the gender pension divide

'While access to pensions has improved, barriers remain'

Julia Peake
clock 22 October 2026 • 5 min read
Planning points: Paying pension funds to charity on death

Planning points: Paying pension funds to charity on death

IHT on pensions may create opportunities for charitable giving

Martin Jones
clock 16 October 2026 • 3 min read
Torsten Bell: Pensions industry must 'give ground' to what savers trust

Torsten Bell: Pensions industry must 'give ground' to what savers trust

Torsten Bell says what the industry is doing is a ‘triumph’, but there must be transparency

Holly Roach
clock 15 October 2026 • 1 min read