This resource can either be viewed online or downloaded in pdf form here. It has been developed for NHS staff and their representatives to provide information about the changes to the pension scheme retirement age; and on the anxieties, challenges and opportunities that working to a raised retirement age might present. It also provides signposts to further information and resources. It has been published at the same time as a resource for managers explaining their part in meeting the challenge of an ageing workforce.
Throughout this resource we will use the term 'older worker(s)' to denote staff aged 50 or over. We will also refer to 'working longer' as meaning working to a higher age before full pension benefits are payable.
Many NHS staff report fears and concerns about their ability to work later in life, and the impact this might have on their role and retirement. Equally, a number choose to work past their normal retirement age. One thing is true for all: it is never too early to start thinking about planning for retirement.
The new raised retirement age makes it even more important that staff put as much thought into planning the end of their working life, and the run up to that point, as they do to the earlier stages of their careers. This resource is designed to help you think about the later stages of your working life, so that you can make informed decisions and plan for the future you want.
The UK Working Longer Group (WLG) produced an age awareness toolkit for NHS organisations and a Scottish version is available on the STAC website (www.stac.scot.nhs.uk/working-longer). If you are a trade union (TU) representative, you may want to check that your organisation has taken advantage of this resource.
Background
The introduction of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme saw the normal pension age (i.e. the age at which you can receive your full pension benefits) set equal to state pension age (SPA). This means that most staff currently working in the NHS will only be able to access their full NHS pension benefits after the age of 65. There is no doubt that the impact of caring for an ageing society with an ageing workforce is one of the greatest, but perhaps least understood, challenges facing both employers and staff in the NHS.
This resource is divided into 6 Sections. Each section covers a particular topic. The Sections do not need to be read in a given order, but reading all of the Sections will help to provide a rounded view of the subject and the help available.