NHS Pension Scheme Contributions 2026/27 Explained

Almost every NHS worker is now in the 2015 Career Average (CARE) scheme, even those who started under the 1995 or 2008 final-salary sections

Member contributions for 2026/27 are tiered from 5.2% to 12.5% by pensionable pay, with most Band 5 and 6 staff paying 8.3% or 9.8%

The employer pays 23.7% on top of every band, which makes opting out the single worst financial decision an NHS worker can make

The McCloud remedy lets anyone with NHS service between April 2015 and March 2022 choose between the legacy and reformed scheme for that window, decided at retirement