If you’ve recently checked your NHS Total Reward Statement (TRS), the eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed something new: two different pension figures for the same period of service. Don’t worry, this isn’t a mistake. We are not seeing this across all TRS’s at the moment, but it is expected for those impacted.
While it may make the statement look more complicated than before, the change is simply part of the ongoing McCloud remedy adjustments to the NHS pension scheme.
In this article, we explain:
- Why does your statement now show two calculations?
- Why they exist and what they mean.
- And what (if anything) you need to do.
Why are there two pension calculations?
First, a very brief (I promise) synopsis of the McCloud remedy.
The dual figures arise from changes to the NHS pension scheme in April 2015, when the scheme moved from the older final-salary arrangements (1995 and 2008) to the newer 2015 career‑average scheme.
At the time, doctors closer to retirement were allowed to remain in the legacy schemes, while younger members were moved into the 2015 scheme.
However, the courts later ruled that this arrangement amounted to age discrimination.
To correct this, the government introduced the McCloud remedy, which aims to put members back into the position they would have been in had this discrimination not occurred.
Who is affected?
You are likely affected if you:
- were a member of the NHS pension scheme before 31 March 2012, and
- had pensionable NHS service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022.
This includes many consultants, GPs, senior clinicians and in GDP.
What is the “remedy period”?
The remedy period runs from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022
For this period only, affected members will ultimately be allowed to choose whether their pension benefits are treated as if they:
- remained in the legacy scheme (1995 or 2008), or
- accrued benefits in the 2015 scheme.
The two figures on your statement now show what your pension might look like under each option.
What are the two options shown?
From August 2025 onwards, many NHS pension statements began showing two versions of pension benefits, often labelled:
Option A – Standard benefits
This assumes your service during the remedy period is treated as though it remained in the legacy scheme (1995 or 2008), with service after April 2022 continuing in the 2015 scheme.
Option B – Alternative benefits
This assumes your remedy‑period service is treated as though it accrued in the 2015 scheme instead.
Seeing these figures side-by-side helps illustrate how different scheme rules affect the outcome.
Do you need to choose now?
No, and this is an important key point.
Under the ‘Deferred Choice Underpin (DCU)’, you are not being asked to make a decision today.
Instead, the choice will be made when you take your pension (for example, at retirement), using fully updated and accurate figures, not estimates at that time. So this is a reflection rather than an exact set of figures.
At that point:
- The figures will be fully updated and accurate (not estimates).
- The NHS pension scheme will apply the option that produces the better outcome for you.
The figures you see now are illustrative, designed to support planning and understanding, not to trigger immediate action.
Why the numbers can differ
The legacy and 2015 schemes work very differently.
For example:
The 1995 NHS scheme has an earlier normal retirement age of 60 and an automatic lump sum. This could mean more money in your pocket at an earlier age. This also allows some doctors to draw on their pension while continuing to work (subject to a few conditions).
The 2015 NHS scheme is based on career‑average earnings, with revaluation each year and a retirement age linked to the state pension age.
Depending on your career path, pay progression, and intended retirement age, one option may be more valuable than the other, which is precisely why the remedy exists.
What should you do now?
For most doctors, the right approach is:
- Don’t panic….nothing has been lost or changed overnight.
- Don’t try to optimise based on the estimates alone; there are other variables further down the line that may influence your decision.
- Use the statement as a planning tool, not something to make big decisions about now.
Your TRS is a snapshot based on today’s information, and many factors could change before retirement.
Why advice can help
As you move closer to retirement, the interaction between the two options and other factors becomes more important. This includes things such as:
- retirement age.
- tax‑free cash decisions.
- Lifetime and annual tax considerations, and
- wider retirement planning, become increasingly important.
Specialist advice from someone who understands how the NHS pension scheme can help ensure these benefits are considered alongside your wider life goals and plans.
Final thoughts
Seeing two pension figures can be unsettling and a bit confusing at first.
In reality, it’s simply the system showing two potential outcomes under the McCloud remedy, with the intention of ensuring you ultimately receive the better one.
For now, treat the figures as informational rather than actionable. However, used properly, it can be a helpful planning tool – particularly when combined with specialist advice.
This article does not provide specific advice. We would always suggest that you get specialist advice in this area.