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<p>Special Class Status is a reserved right that permits eligible members of the 1995
NHS Pension Scheme to retire from age 55 with an unreduced pension. The right is available
for nurses, physiotherapists, midwives, health visitors and mental health officers
who joined the scheme before 6 March 1995 and have not subsequently had a break in
membership of over five years. It is a conditional right, which in the case of nurses
requires the individual to be employed continuously in a nursing role for the five
years immediately preceding the date of retirement.</p><p> </p><p>The right was withdrawn
for new members from 6 March 1995. Staff in the 1995 NHS Pension Scheme who did not
acquire or satisfy the conditions for Special Class Status have a normal scheme retirement
age of 60. Subsequent reforms saw new NHS Pension Schemes introduced in 2008 and 2015
with a later retirement age of 65 and state pension age respectively for all staff
in those schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Upon introduction of the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme,
transitional arrangements permitted staff closest to retirement to continue accruing
pension in the closed 1995 Scheme. A small number of 1995 Scheme members with Special
Class Status were too young to benefit from this protection and therefore transferred
to the 2015 Scheme for future service. Such members can claim their 1995 Scheme pension
accrued prior to transfer, on a Special Class basis from age 55 should they satisfy
the conditions. The pension built up under the 2015 has a retirement age equal to
the member’s state pension age.</p>
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