Subject: Freedom of information request

I am writing to confirm that I have now completed my search for the information which you requested on 23 August 2022 as outlined below:

‘Can you please breakdown by year the number of people who have opted out of the NHS pension schemes for the 20/21 and 21/21 tax years.

Please could you indicate what the opt out rate was for members aged below 40 years of age and above 40 years.’

Response

A copy of the information is attached.

Tax years

Your request asked for the data for the 20/21 and 21/21 tax years. We have therefore assumed that the request relates to the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 tax years and have attached the data for this. If this is not the information you require, please let us know.

Age groups

Your request asked for the data for members aged below 40 years of age and above 40 years. We have issued the data split by those members ‘aged under 40’ and those ‘aged 40 and over, including anyone aged 40’. Please note there is a small chance of members being counted twice, if they opted out in the same financial year either side of their 40th birthday (i.e. if they opted out in May, returned in June, had a 40th birthday in July, and then opted out in August).

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact nhsbsa.foirequests@nhs.net ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact nhsbsa.communicationsteam@nhs.net. 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 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.