Consultation launched on pension changes
NHS staff and employers in England and Wales are being asked to comment
on planned changes to the NHS pension scheme.
The new proposals would mean that, although staff will be paying more
for their pensions, final salary pensions will be maintained for both
new and existing staff, and the pensionable age for current NHS staff
will remain at 60 years (65 years for new staff). A tiered system is
proposed where all NHS staff will pay contributions relative to their
salary (currently all staff contribute 6 per cent except for those classified
as manual staff who contribute 5 per cent). Under the new scheme staff
earning up to £15,107 will contribute 5 per cent, those earning
up to £60,880 will contribute 6.5 per cent, those earning up to £100,000
will see their contribution rise to 7.5 per cent and those earning above £100,000
will pay 8.5 per cent.
A formal consultation period will run from September to November. It
is proposed that the new scheme will start in 2007 and existing staff
will be moved to it by April 2008. The plans relate only to staff in
England and Wales. Similar proposals are being consulted on in Scotland
and Northern Ireland. |
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