Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information.

Table: (Please see attached table)

For avoidance of doubt, I understand that all data requested would reflect a snapshot relating to the pension rates in payment at the end of each scheme year, apart from the results for the year ending 2025 (i.e. the current scheme year running from 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025), which should reflect the latest available snapshot during the current year.

1.) For each scheme year in the request table:

a. Please provide the total number of pensioners in payment at the end of the respective year.

b. Please provide the number of pensioners receiving greater than the pension rate stated in the table at the end of the respective year.

2.) Please provide the raw data (1 pensioner per line) for each of the pensioners reflected in your answer to question 1b, with each scheme year on a separate sheet, including:

a. The pension rate that triggered inclusion in 1b (i.e. the pension rate at the end of each scheme year that was greater than the pension rate stated in our request table)

column: RateInPayment

b. The pensioner’s age in years at the end of the scheme year in which they received the pension rate in 2a.

column: AgeAtYearEnd

c. The year end of the sheet (e.g. scheme year 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015 = 2015)

column: YearEnd

d. The scheme year that the original award was made to the pensioner

column: YearEarliestAwardPayable

e. The staff group that the pensioner was from, i.e.

column: EmploymentType

i. 03 - Medical Doctor 2 - Non-Specialist

ii. 03 - Medical Doctor 3 - Specialist

iii. 03 - Medical Doctor 5 - Principal Practitioner

iv. 03 - Medical Doctor 6 - Assistant Practitioner

v. 03 - Medical Doctor 9 – GP Locum

vi. 03 - Other (Non-Medical)

f. Type of Pensioner, i.e.

column: TypeOfPensioner

i. NHS Pensioner

ii. Child Dependent

iii. Adult Dependent

iv. Pension Credit Member

v. Divorcee

Response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached.

The pension rate is based on what the rate in payment was for each member at the respective scheme year end (31 March). It does not necessarily mean the member received that amount of money for the previous 12 months or went on to receive it for the following 12 months, as rates can change throughout the year.

Members are considered ‘Over Limit’ if their Pension Rate at the end of the scheme year exceeds the value provided in the table for the same respective year.

Employment Type has been determined by capacity code combinations defined by the requester, which are provided by the employer when setting up a new pensionable employment. They may not correlate directly with common groupings such as ‘Consultant’, and do not reflect job titles.

Age provided is based at the year end in which the pension rate has been assessed.

Year of Earliest Payable date is based on financial year of the payable date of the members earliest award (in the event of multiple payable dates).

Definitions:

Type of Pensioner

NHS Pensioner - A member in receipt of benefits based on their own accrued service or contributions

Pension Credit Member – A member in receipt of benefits due to a Pension Sharing Order (PSO).

Adult Dependant – A member in receipt of survivor benefits (partner pension) due to being the spouse or civil partner of a deceased member

Child Dependant - A member in receipt of a child’s pension (child allowance) due to being the child of a deceased member

Pension Rate – The annual amount of pension due to the member at a given point in time. This is subject to change at any point throughout the year.

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: “Dental Services, NHSBSA Copyright 2022” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

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

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.