Navigating the NHS Pension Scheme can feel complex - with rules, deadlines, and tax implications that change over time. Our NHS Pension Review FAQs are here to help.

Whether you’re a GP, consultant, dentist, or medical professional at any stage of your career, these FAQs are designed to provide clear and practical guidance on common queries.

Still have a question? Contact us

What is an NHS Pension Review?

An NHS Pension Review is a detailed and personalised assessment of your pension benefits and how they fit into your wider financial plan.

For busy medical professionals, it provides clarity on complex decisions, helping you make fully informed choices about retirement timing, taxation, and long-term financial stability.

What’s covered in an NHS Pension Review?

• Analysis of your pension scheme and projected benefits
• Assessment of your Annual Allowance position
• Retirement planning options and timelines
• The impact of part-time working or career breaks
• Integration of your NHS benefits into your wider financial goals
• Opportunity to ask questions with an NHS Pensions specialist.

Who will my review be with?

Daniel Hetherington - our Principal Adviser, Chartered Financial Planner, Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, and NHS Pensions Expert – currently hosts all NHS Pension Reviews.

With over 15 years’ experience in this field, he will be reviewing your documents, collating your report, and sharing his recommendations with you during your review. His expertise ensures your holistic financial planning is guided by someone who understands both market complexity and the nuances of individual client needs.

How do I know if I need a full NHS Pension Review?

We understand that not everyone requires a full comprehensive NHS Pension Review, which is why we first establish your motivations for getting in touch, review your most recent Total Reward Statement, and arrange a no obligation 10-minute call.

If after this, we determine that it’s not a right fit for you, we will share our recommendations for any alternative advice needed and point you in the right direction.

What do you need from me to get started?

If you’re interested in arranging an NHS Pension Review, get in touch with the team and we’ll be happy to talk you through it: hwm@sjpp.co.uk.

In the first instance, we’d need to know your job role, why you’re interested in a review, and a copy of your Total Reward Statement.

With this, we can then share some initial Fact-Finding documents for you to complete, along with an NHS Letter of Authority so we can obtain any additional information on your behalf.

Once we have this, we will arrange a no obligation 10-minute phone or video call with our specialist adviser, who will assess your current circumstances and eligibility for a full NHS Review.

At this stage, we will share our recommendations with you and proceed to next steps if applicable.

How much does an NHS Pension Review cost?

Our bespoke NHS Pension Review costs £1,500.

A fee agreement will be shared with you after the initial 10-minute call and 50% is payable at this time. The remaining 50% is payable upon receipt of the bespoke report.

How long will the process take?

The process from start to finish can vary in timescales.

To make the NHS Pension Review as comprehensive and useful as possible, we require up-to-date policy information so we can make accurate recommendations. However, this does mean that we’re entirely dependent on how quickly we’re able to access such documents and insight from third parties, such as NHS Pensions and other relevant providers.

That said, we will communicate with you throughout the process and will endeavour to progress as quickly and smoothly as possible.

In terms of the meetings, the initial call is around 10 minutes, while the comprehensive review is scheduled for one hour.

What’s the process?

1. Contact us to express interest in NHS Pension Review
2. Understand your needs and priorities
3. Collection of your Total Reward Statement (TRS) and other relevant documents (such as NHS LOA)
4. No obligation 10-minute call to outline current position and review suitability
5. Completion of external policy information (including LOAs) and sign fee agreement
6. Specialist team collates data and prepares your personalised report
7. Review meeting to discuss findings and recommendations
8. Follow-up summary with opportunity for any final questions.

Are there any other resources I can access first?

Certainly! Our Tools & Resources page has more information.

Alternatively, our Principal Adviser and NHS Specialist, Daniel Hetherington, delivers seminars up and down the country – check out his calendar to see if he’s coming to a hospital near you.

I’d like to book, how do I get started?

Contact us – we’d love to hear from you!

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is generally dependent on individual circumstances.