Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

‘I would like to formally submit a Freedom of Information request. Please provide the number of NHS Pension scheme members who are currently experiencing the same delay as I am, and what the average waiting time is before payment is made for similar cases.’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 22 October 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested.

As your request is in relation to ‘members who are currently experiencing the same delay as I am’, the data below relates to AW8D forms received in December 2024.

NHS Pensions processed 5,505 retirement applications in December 2024 of which 15 related to members submitting AW8D forms. Due to unique complexities or the requirement for further information from third parties, 12 of these remain outstanding.

The average time for payment for these cases is 165 days.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.