NHS Superannuation

[skylark, BSN, RN]

Has anyone has problems contacting the NHS Superannuation department and trying to obtain an estimate so they can retire?

I have tried this week.

I found their website, and they wanted me to verify who I am, through one of two agencies. No problem, the process is similar to renewing a passport, and the Post Office site they link to is helpful.

But after literally spending two days putting this application together, with all the document scanning and work history, they have refused me access to it.

The reason?

In order to apply for your Superannuation you have to have "ten years checkable UK credit history".

I still have 3 UK bank accounts and a mortgage.

That's not enough.

 

So what about people who literally have not had any credit history in the last 10 years? People who have paid off their mortgage, only use a debit card and don't own a car? That would be me, even if I was in the UK, I would still not have that 10  year history.

Does anyone have experience of dealing with this situation?

I cannot contact the Superann except through the verification agency, who will not register me without the credit history.

Help me out here people!!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Something I have been thinking about sorting and I would definitely have issues as I left the UK in 2008 and I paid into it from 1986 to 2002. I do have a Barclays Visa card but also haven’t used that since 2008. Would be interested to see what sort of answers you get 

[skylark, BSN, RN]

I will keep you updated. I never expected it to be such a drama, I just thought  I would fill in a few online forms, with my NI number and that  would be it.

But I have literally spent two days on this, including a four hour "chat' with a very patient lad at the Post Office website, who battled bravely with me before conceding defeat! He was able to give me an email address to try, and he also emailed them to explain why he could not process this,  so I'm now waiting for a response.

I do go back to the UK regularly, (or at least I will start again once the pandemic is over), but there is not even an address to go to. I'm sure it used to be in Lancs, but I don't see an address anywhere.

[skylark, BSN, RN]

And it gets better and better.

I got an email back from the Superann today, saying that they cannot communicate with me unless I quote my "SD" number.

When I followed the link to see what this is, it is the Superann Division that you are allocated to once you are registered with them.

So they won't communicate with me until I am registered, but in order to register I have to communicate with them.

 

 

[GrumpyRN, NP]

I know this is a long shot but... Do you have any of your old NHS payslips available? They should have your superannuation number on them.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, my whole career was in the NHS and I had no problems at all getting my pension. (Yes I know that does not make you feel better.)

[skylark, BSN, RN]

I have P45s going back to the 80s, but apparently the system changed in April 2016, and only recognises numbers issued since then.

Of course I haven't worked in the NHS since 2014 . . . . 

I knew this was going to be problematic, but had not bargained for all this!!

 

Just a thought, does figuring out how to get through this system count as CE?? ?

 

[GrumpyRN, NP]

7 minutes ago, skylark said:

I have P45s going back to the 80s, but apparently the system changed in April 2016, and only recognises numbers issued since then.

Of course I haven't worked in the NHS since 2014 . . . . 

I knew this was going to be problematic, but had not bargained for all this!!

 

Just a thought, does figuring out how to get through this system count as CE?? ?

 

I'm assuming you mean P60's ?. P45's are the ones you get when you leave a job, P60's are the yearly tax information.

My sister left the NHS years ago and had worked in England and Scotland so had 2 separate pensions. She managed to get hers no problem. She last worked in England about 25 years ago and the NHS in Scotland about 20 years ago.

I will give her a call and see what she did. Of course she was still resident in UK with bank and housing details so different situation. 

 

[skylark, BSN, RN]

I do mean P45s, I moved jobs every  few years as we moved around the country, but it was always in England.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

That's a pity, the P60's night have been more useful.

I contacted my sister but she said she just contacted NHS Scotland and they did it all for her and combined the two pensions.

she did say that if it is less than 7 years your old bank may still have records.

Oooops, sorry. Sent that then realised that you said you did have bank accounts.

 

[skylark, BSN, RN]

I still have the same UK bank account, and details of all my previous jobs. But they will not "verify" me without any credit history for the last 10 years.

Which is a really strange thing to ask. I've never had a credit card, or a car, and my only credit has been the mortgage. 

But apparently if you don't show up on a credit search, which I don't, then I don't exist and they won't verify me.

 

I've just emailed them a list of all my NHS jobs since I started in 1986.

I will wait and see what happens next!

[GrumpyRN, NP]

I don't understand that. I'm assuming you have a passport and a NI number and a superannuation number. I can't see why you need anything else.

Typical bureaucracy.

Hope it works out for you.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

OMG this has scared me! I left the UK in 2001 but had paid Super up until that point. I just assumed I'd be able to claim my super once I retired and I have NEVER been informed of any changes in the system or ID numbers despite notifying them of every address change. I last  moved in 2009, wrote to the old Lancashire address and got a letter back acknowledging that they had my new address recorded. Nothing since.

I do still have a UK bank account and a UK credit card but to be honest I virtually never use it. I'm not sure why a credit history is relevant at all if you can prove your identity?

I  will try to contact them on the premise that I'd like a pension forecast and I'll post how I get on. Please do post your updates. This sounds like craziness.