AP is a flexible way of increasing your pension if you’re an active member.
It allows you to buy extra annual pension.
You can choose to pay this as:
- a lump sum
- regular monthly instalments for a minimum of one year up to a maximum of 20 years
You must make the application and complete all payments before your Normal Pension Age (NPA). The NPA for the 2015 Scheme is your State Pension Age, or age 65, if later.
If you take your pension before your NPA, the AP will be paid with a reduction for early payment alongside your pension.
A reduction for early payment also applies to members who hold Special Class (SC) status and claim their unreduced main NHS pension benefits.
AP is protected against inflation by being index linked both before and after retirement.
You can choose if your AP is for you or also provides benefits for your dependants in the event of your death.
If you purchase AP with cover for dependants, every £250 of AP increases your partners survivor’s pension by £93.75 a year.
AP does not automatically increase your standard lump sum on retirement. You can exchange some of your pension to provide a lump sum on retirement.
Read more information about AP on our website.
Apply for AP
The maximum amount you can apply for from 1 April 2024 is £8,575 in the 2015 Scheme. This limit may change in the future.
If you have an early retirement reduction buy out (ERRBO) or AP in the 2015 Scheme, we must take the value of those existing purchases into account when deciding how much AP you can buy. This check will be completed when we receive your application.
If you have more than one employer, you must arrange which employer you want to make your AP contribution with.
If you cannot pay the full instalment with one employer, you must contact your other employers to arrange for the additional contributions to be taken. This is to make sure you’re paying the full amount.
If you’re part-time and do not earn enough to pay the instalments from your wages, you must contact your employer to organise the repayment of any arrears.
Getting an application
Email apavcreferrals@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
You must include:
- your National Insurance (NI) or SD number
- the amount of AP you would like to purchase
- if you want to pay by lump sum or instalments
A calculation will be completed and we’ll send you an AP1 form.
Submitting your application
You must send your AP1 form to your employer within 6 weeks of the calculation date. If you do not, another calculation will be needed.
If you have a birthday between performing the calculation and submitting your application, a new calculation is needed.
Your NHS employer will fill in Part B and forward your application to us.
We aim to respond within 4 weeks.
After submitting your application
Application accepted
One-off lump sum
If your application is accepted and you’re paying by a one-off lump sum, an AP3 acceptance letter will be sent to you and your employer.
You have one month from the issue of the AP3 to pay the lump sum to your employer, otherwise the application will be rejected.
Your employer must email apavcreferrals@nhsbsa.nhs.uk within one month of the AP3 acceptance letter being issued to confirm when the payment has been received. If your employer does not send this email, your application will be rejected.
Instalments
If your application is accepted and you’re paying by monthly instalments, an AP4 acceptance letter will be sent to you and your employer for monthly payments to begin.
Instalments are reviewed by the Scheme Actuary from time to time. If the cost of instalments increases and you do not wish to continue with the purchase, you’ll have the option to end your AP.
You’ll be credited with the AP you’ve paid for.
Application rejected
If your application is rejected, an AP5 rejection letter will be sent to you and your employer to confirm the application has been rejected and the reason.