MPAVC is an arrangement for making additional contributions to build up a separate retirement fund.
The additional contributions are invested and used to buy an extra pension.
You can choose how much to pay and may be able to change or stop this amount.
You cannot pay by salary sacrifice.
In addition to a Scheme lump sum, you may be able to take up to 25% of the fund value as a tax-free lump sum.
The retirement fund is held with one of the MPAVC providers:
- Standard Life
- Prudential
From 1 April 2015, an NHS MPAVC member aged 55 or above can access their MPAVC benefits separately from their NHS Pension Scheme benefits. This is from any point permitted under wider taxation and pensions legislation. This could be before the date of retirement from the NHS Pension Scheme.
MPAVC will not increase the benefits paid from the NHS Pension Scheme. If you have any questions about payment, you must contact the MPAVC provider.
If you contribute to MPAVC your pensionable earnings used to calculate your pension will not be affected. Your contributions made to your MPAVC are taken after your pension scheme contributions have been calculated.
Visit our website for the application form and details of the MPAVC providers.
Transferring MPAVC
MPAVC and free-standing MPAVC cannot be transferred into the NHS Pension Scheme.
It may be possible to transfer to one of the NHS MPAVC providers. If you have MPAVC, check with your old pension provider if this has been done automatically.
If you have free-standing MPAVC, contact Standard Life or Prudential.
If you want to transfer your NHS MPAVC elsewhere, you must contact the AVC provider you have the arrangement with. We cannot advise on or arrange the transfers of MPAVCs.
Dependants pension
We cannot advise if the MPAVC provider provides a dependant's pension. You must contact them directly.
If a member of the NHS Pension Scheme dies, the NHS MPAVC provider will write to us requesting:
- who the beneficiary of the NHS Pension benefits is
- a copy of the member's death certificate
If you have an NHS MPAVC and do not want the dependant's pension to be paid to the beneficiary we have on record, contact your NHS MPAVC provider directly.