NHS Pension Calculator (2015 Scheme)
Project your NHS 2015 CARE pension — the scheme all active members build up in since 1 April 2022. Enter your age, pensionable pay and planned retirement age to estimate your annual pension from the 1/54 accrual rate and CPI + 1.5% revaluation, plus the tax-free lump sum you could take.
Which year's member-contribution tier table sets your contribution now.
Basic pay plus any pensionable supplements (e.g. HCAS).
Your Normal Pension Age is 68 (equal to your State Pension Age).
Annual 2015-scheme pension to date, from your Total Reward Statement. Leave 0 if starting out.
Active revaluation is CPI + 1.5% each year.
Annual pension
at age 67 (37 yrs)
Monthly pension
Tax-free lump sum
available max
Your contribution now
8.3% tier
| Years to retirement | 37 |
| Annual accrual rate | 1/54 (1.9%) |
| Active revaluation each year | CPI + 1.5% = 3.5% |
| Full annual pension at retirement | £66,651.33 |
| Maximum tax-free lump sum | £285,648.56 |
| Pension if maximum lump sum taken | £42,847.28 |
| Your chosen annual pension | £66,651.33 |
Figures are a planning estimate in future (nominal) pounds, based on your CPI and pay-growth assumptions. The 2015 CARE scheme is the only scheme active members accrue in since 1 April 2022; any legacy 1995/2008 benefits are separate and not included here.
How the 2015 CARE scheme builds your pension
The 2015 scheme is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. Every year you add 1/54 of that year's pensionable pay to your pension account. Each year the whole account is revalued by CPI + 1.5% while you remain an active member, so earlier years keep pace with inflation and a little more.
Worked example: a member earning £40,000 who stays in the scheme for 30 years, assuming 2% CPI (so 3.5% revaluation) and 2% annual pay growth, would build up an annual pension of around £50,878 in future pounds — before any decision to swap part of it for a tax-free lump sum.
Your Normal Pension Age equals your State Pension Age. Retiring earlier is allowed from age 55 (57 from April 2028) but the pension is actuarially reduced for being paid earlier and for longer.
NHS Pension member contribution tiers (2026/27)
The NHS Pension Scheme sets several member contribution rates against nationally agreed full-time pay rates, so the more you earn the higher your rate may be.
| Annual pensionable pay | Contribution rate |
|---|---|
| £0 – £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 – £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,855 – £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,156 – £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,779 – £67,668 | 10.7% |
| £67,669+ | 12.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How is the NHS 2015 pension calculated?
The 2015 scheme is a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. Each year you build up 1/54 (1.9%) of that year's pensionable pay as pension. While you are an active member, your built-up pension is revalued every year by CPI plus 1.5%. Your annual pension at retirement is the total of all those revalued yearly amounts.
What is the accrual rate in the 2015 NHS pension scheme?
1/54 of your pensionable pay each year — equivalent to 1.9%. On £54,000 of pensionable pay you would earn £1,000 of pension for that year, which is then revalued each year until you retire.
What is the Normal Pension Age for the 2015 scheme?
Your Normal Pension Age (NPA) in the 2015 scheme is the same as your State Pension Age — currently 66, rising to 67 and then 68 for younger members. You can usually take your pension from age 55 (57 from 6 April 2028), but drawing it before your NPA means an actuarial reduction is applied.
Can I take a tax-free lump sum from my NHS pension?
Yes. You can give up (commute) some of your annual pension for a tax-free lump sum at a rate of £12 of lump sum for every £1 of annual pension you give up. HMRC caps the tax-free lump sum at 25.0% of the capital value of your benefits, which, after the pension you give up is taken off, works out at roughly 4.29 times your annual pension.
What happened to the 1995 and 2008 NHS pension schemes?
The McCloud remedy in the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 covers 'remediable service' that ends on 31 March 2022; service from 1 April 2022 builds up in the 2015 CARE scheme. Benefits you earned in the 1995 or 2008 sections are paid separately — this calculator projects only your 2015-scheme pension.
How much do I pay into the NHS pension?
Member contributions are set at several rates against nationally agreed full-time pay rates, so the more you earn the higher your rate may be. For 2026/27 the tiers run from 5.2% up to £13,259 to 12.5% above £67,668.
Are the projected figures guaranteed?
No. The projection depends on assumptions you set for future CPI and pay growth, so it is a planning estimate in future (nominal) pounds, not a promise. Your actual pension depends on your real pay each year, actual CPI, and when you choose to retire.
Sources
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