Yes. Divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership can affect an NHS pension. NHSBSA explains that the court treats the value of pension benefits as an asset and may make an order to share the value of that asset between the parties.

Not necessarily. The Cash Equivalent Transfer Value, or CETV, is an important figure, but it is only one way of measuring pension value. In divorce, the relevant question may be different: income equality, fair value, offsetting against other assets, apportionment between marital and non-marital periods, or long-term retirement security.

Because each percentage may be answering a different question. One calculation may aim to equalise pension income at a particular retirement age. Another may aim to equalise capital or fair actuarial value. Another may model offsetting. The percentage only makes sense when you understand what outcome it is designed to achieve.

A PODE report is a report prepared by a Pension on Divorce Expert. It may help the court, solicitors and divorcing couples understand pension sharing options, income equalisation, capital equalisation, offsetting, pension credits, pension debits and other pension issues relevant to the financial settlement.

Not always, but NHS pensions can be complex. A PODE report may be particularly useful where there are defined benefit pensions, public sector pensions, large pension values, different retirement ages, McCloud issues, Scheme Pays, pension debit or pension credit complications, or proposed offsetting against the family home.

Pension sharing is where part of one person’s pension is shared with their former spouse or civil partner following divorce or dissolution. NHSBSA explains that the receiving former spouse or civil partner becomes a pension credit member and holds pension credit benefits in the NHS Pension Scheme in their own right. The original member’s pension benefits are reduced.

A pension debit is the reduction applied to the original pension member’s benefits after a pension sharing order is implemented. For an NHS pension member, this can affect future retirement income and, depending on the section and circumstances, potentially the lump sum position too.

A pension credit is the pension benefit awarded to the former spouse or civil partner who receives a share of the pension. In the NHS Pension Scheme, the receiving person may become a pension credit member and hold NHS pension credit benefits in their own name.

Potentially, yes. Offsetting is where one person keeps more of one asset, such as the family home, while the other keeps more pension. But NHS pensions are not ordinary savings pots. They may provide inflation-linked income for life, so offsetting should be approached carefully and with appropriate legal, actuarial and financial input.

The risk is that a pension is exchanged for another asset using a value that does not properly reflect the long-term retirement income being given up. A house and an NHS pension are very different assets. One may provide immediate housing security; the other may provide taxable, inflation-linked income for life. The trade-off needs careful analysis.

It can. NHSBSA explains that the McCloud remedy relates to the remedy period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. Affected members are asked to choose whether they want legacy scheme or reform scheme benefits for that period. In divorce, this may affect projected retirement income, lump sums, Annual Allowance history, Scheme Pays and how pension figures are understood.

The remedy period is the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022. NHSBSA explains that this is the period being corrected under the public service pensions remedy.

Scheme Pays is where NHS Pensions pays some or all of an Annual Allowance tax charge on behalf of the member, in return for a future reduction to NHS pension benefits. NHS Pensions describes this as a notional negative defined contribution account, which is later converted into a permanent reduction to pension benefits at retirement.

Yes. If Scheme Pays has been used, future NHS pension benefits may be reduced. In the 1995 Section, both pension and retirement lump sum may be reduced proportionately. In the 2008 Section and 2015 Scheme, the pension is reduced. This can matter in divorce because the pension may look simpler on paper than it feels in retirement.

It can. NHS doctors and higher earners may have Annual Allowance issues, especially where pension growth has been high. NHS Pensions explains that the Annual Allowance applies across all pension schemes, not separately to each scheme, and that members may receive pension savings statements where growth exceeds the relevant limits.

A Remediable Pension Savings Statement is connected to the McCloud remedy and Annual Allowance position. It helps affected members understand whether their pension input amounts or Annual Allowance tax position have changed because of the remedy. In divorce, it may be relevant where tax charges, Scheme Pays or pension growth history form part of the wider pension picture.

No. We do not tell you what divorce settlement to accept. We help you understand the NHS pension issues, translate complex pension language, identify questions to raise with your solicitor or PODE, and prepare for better-informed conversations.

No. We do not provide legal advice. Divorce settlements, court orders, Pension Sharing Orders and financial remedy decisions should be dealt with by your solicitor or legal adviser.

No. We do not act as a Pension on Divorce Expert and we do not prepare actuarial PODE reports. Where actuarial calculations are required, these should be obtained from a suitably qualified pensions-on-divorce expert.

Seven Medical provides NHS pension education, coaching, guidance and modelling. It does not provide regulated financial advice, investment advice or pension transfer advice. Where regulated financial advice is required, this should be provided by an FCA-authorised adviser.

This service is for NHS doctors and professionals who are going through divorce or financial settlement discussions and need help understanding NHS pension issues before speaking with their solicitor, PODE, tax adviser or financial adviser.

Ideally, before settlement terms are agreed. It is often easier to ask better questions before the Pension Sharing Order is finalised than to try to unpick the position later. This is particularly important where McCloud, Scheme Pays, offsetting, pension credits, pension debits or PODE report assumptions are involved.

Useful documents may include your NHS Total Reward Statement, Annual Benefit Statement, pension savings statements, Remediable Pension Savings Statement if received, any Scheme Pays elections, CETV information, PODE report, solicitor correspondence and any draft Pension Sharing Order. You should remove or protect any unnecessary personal data before sending documents.

Yes, where appropriate. Some clients find it helpful for their solicitor or other professional adviser to attend part of a session so the pension issues can be discussed clearly and practical questions can be identified. This does not replace legal advice or actuarial advice.

Yes. We can help you understand the language, assumptions and pension issues in a PODE report so you can have a clearer conversation with your solicitor. We do not replace the PODE, recalculate the actuarial figures or tell you what settlement to accept.