The HSC Pension Scheme is one of the most important elements of the financial package on offer to employees of the HSC.
As an employee of the Health and Social Care Service in Northern Ireland, your employer will automatically enroll you into the HSC Pension Scheme.
The HSC Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme and an important and valuable staff benefit for people working in the health service. Being a member of the HSC Pension Scheme is one of the ways in which you can prepare financially for your retirement.
As a scheme member, you get an excellent package of pension benefits, index linked and guaranteed by the Government.
This is good value for money, especially when you know your benefits are secure and will be there when you need them.
If you join the scheme, you will receive life insurance cover of twice your pensionable or reckonable pay from the day you join.
Membership of the scheme is voluntary; however, you will be entered into the scheme automatically and will have to choose to opt out.
For more information about HSC pensions, please visit the HSC Pensions Website
Below are links to important pages on the pensions website:
Employer Contribution Rate
HSC employers will contribute a generous 22.5% of your pensionable pay.
Employee Contribution Rates
Pension contributions are taken from your pay before tax so you receive tax relief on any amount you pay. This can reduce the actual amount that you pay depending on your contribution rate, earnings level and personal rate of tax.
Note: A new member contribution structure is currently being phased in over the next 2 years. The pension contribution rates are set out in the tables below:
Contribution rate from 1 November 2022 until introduction of phase 2
| Tier | Pensionable Earnings |
Contribution rate - Phase 1 |
| 1 | £0.00 - £13,231.99 |
5.1% |
| 2 | £13,232.00 to £15,431.99 |
5.7% |
| 3 | £15,432.00 to £21,478.99 |
6.1% |
| 4 | £21,479.00 to £22,548.99 |
6.8% |
| 5 | £22,549.00 to £26,823.99 |
7.7% |
| 6 | £26,824.00 to £27,779.99 |
8.8% |
| 7 | £27,780.00 to £42,120.99 |
9.8% |
| 8 | £42,121.00 to £47,845.99 | 10% |
| 9 | £47,846.00 to £54,763.99 | 11.6% |
| 10 | £54,764.00 to £70,630.99 | 12.5% |
| 11 | £70,631.00 and over | 13.5% |
Contribution rates effective in phase 2 from 2023 (date to be confirmed)
| Tier | Pensionable Earnings |
Contribution rate - Phase 2 |
| 1 | £0.00 - £13,231.99 |
5.2% |
| 2 | £13,232.00 to £22,548.99 | 6.5% |
| 3 | £22,549.00 to £27,779.99 |
8.3% |
| 4 | £27,780.00 to £42,120.99 |
9.8% |
| 5 | £42,121.00 to £54,763.99 |
10.7% |
| 6 | £54,764.00 and above | 12.5% |