{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-pension-scheme-regulations-2015/regulation-81",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-pension-scheme-regulations-2015/regulation-81.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2015/94",
  "legislation_title": "The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2015",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/national-health-service-pension-scheme-regulations-2015",
  "path": "regulation/81",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "81",
  "heading": "Premature retirement in the interests of efficiency",
  "text": "(1) A relevant member (M) is entitled to payment of a premature retirement pension from the entitlement day if—\n(a) M has reached normal minimum pension age but has not reached normal pension age;\n(b) M is qualified for retirement benefits;\n(c) M's pensionable employment has been terminated by M's employing authority in the interests of the efficient discharge of the functions of M's employing authority;\n(d) M's employing authority gives written notice to the scheme manager pursuant to paragraph (2);\n(e) the scheme manager certifies that M's employment is terminated in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employing authority's functions;\n(f) M has ceased to be employed in NHS employment; and\n(g) not later than 6 months after M's employment is terminated, M applies under paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 for payment of a premature retirement pension.\n(2) The notice must state that—\n(a) M's pensionable employment was terminated in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employing authority's functions;\n(b) M has at least 2 years' continuous employment determined in accordance with any terms and conditions applying to the employment;\n(c) the employing authority agrees that a premature retirement pension should become payable to M; and\n(d) M has not unreasonably refused—\n(i) to seek suitable alternative employment; or\n(ii) to accept an offer of such employment.\n(3) A certificate under paragraph (1)(e) may be given only with the agreement of M's employing authority.\n(4) A premature retirement pension is payable for life.\n(5) A relevant member is a member who is not—\n(a) a practitioner;\n(b) a non-GP provider; or\n(c) practice staff.\n(6) Part 4 of Schedule 13 has effect in respect of the calculation of the amount of a premature retirement pension.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/94/regulation/81",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T23:49:26.680467+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}