Pensioners and Dependants

This section has been created to provide our pensioners with information that is most relevant to them.

• Pension Payment Dates 2023/2024

  Pension payment dates will normally fall on the last banking day of each month, with the only exception being December when we aim to arrange payment before the annual holidays. The payment dates are as follows:

  Thursday 21st December 2023
  Wednesday 31st January 2024
  Thursday 29th February 2024
  Friday 29th March 2024
  Tuesday 30th April 2024
  Friday 31st May 2024
  Friday 28th June 2024
  Wednesday 31st July 2024
  Friday 30 August 2024
  Monday 30th September 2024
  Monday 31st October 2024
  Friday 29 November 2024

• Pension Pay Slips

  HSC Pension Service no longer issue pay advices by post.  Pensioners can view their payslips on Member Self Service.  To register or sign in please visit our HSC Member Self Service section.

• Change of Circumstances

  Please inform us of any changes to any of the following details:

  • Address
  • Bank or building society account
  • Name or marital status
  • Beneficiaries
  • Re-employment

  We would need to know as far as possible in advance of the next payment date. Usually we would stop inputting changes onto our payroll system approximately two weeks before the stated payday.

  We can accept changes of bank or building society details in writing or via email but please remember that your normal signature will be required to authenticate the change.

  Please remember to quote your pension reference number or your national insurance number on all correspondence, to enable us to trace you on our payroll system.

• Pension Increases

  Public service pensions will be increased by a maximum of 6.7% from 8 April 2024 in line with the September-to-September increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

• P60s

  P60s for 2023/24 will be available to view and print on MSS by 31st May 2024.

• Pensioners Living Overseas

  We will write to our overseas pensioners every year asking them to complete and return a Declaration of Entitlement.

• NHS Retirement Fellowship

  The NHS Retirement Fellowship is a registered charity, created for the benefit of all retired health service employees and their partners. The main objective is to provide the opportunity for retired health service staff to continue friendships formed during employment and to make new friends and enjoy the companionship of people from a shared health and social services background.

  If you are interested in becoming a member or would like some more information please contact:

  Janet Hassard
  NHS Retirement Fellowship (N.I.)
  c/o Bangor Community Hospital
  Castle Street
  Bangor
  BT20 4TA

  Telephone: 028 9066 4000

  Membership can be paid through a monthly deduction of £0.50 from your Health Service pension or by an annual payment.

• Child Allowance

  If the payment you receive from us is a child allowance you must inform us immediately when a child ceases full time education or training, or if there are any changes in circumstances that may affect payment of the allowance. Any overpayment will have to be repaid.

• Pension Rules

  Different rules and benefits apply to pensioners (and therefore their dependants) depending on whether they retired (or died) on or before 1 April 2008, or after this date.

  Pre 1 April 2008 Retirements

  If you were drawing an HSC Pension on or before 31 March 2008, the changes to the HSC Pension Scheme effective from 1 April 2008 do not affect you, or the entitlements of any dependants’ you may have. The same rules and benefits will continue to apply to your pension as those described in the booklet ‘A guide for pensioners and their dependants’ that you were given when you retired.

  Post 1 April 2008 Retirements

  Spouses or partners of deceased Pension Scheme members who retired after 1 April 2008 will continue to receive benefits for life, regardless of whether they remarry or enter into another qualifying partnership.

  These changes will not apply to those people who are already receiving a pension from the scheme at 31 March 2008.

• Re-Employment

  Re-Employment

  Many of our pensioners take up other employment after their original retirement from work. This may be with the same employer, or with a different company or body.

  It is important that you should contact us before doing so, as re-employment may have an impact upon the rate of your pension.

• National Fraud Initiative

  HSC Pension Service has a duty to protect the public funds which it administers and is required by the Northern Ireland Audit Office to participate in an anti-fraud initiative called the National Fraud Initiative.  To this end the data you have provided to enable your pension or other entitlements to be paid correctly may be used for the prevention and detection of fraud. HSC Pension Service may also share this information for this purpose with other public bodies who administer public funds. Further information is available on the Northern Ireland Audit Office website at:

  National Fraud Initiative

• Pensioner Newsletters

  Pensioner Newsletters