After a request from NASGP, the GP Locum NHS Pension Form A 10 week rule is being relaxed in England and Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic .
With GP practices under extreme pressure, we’re hearing from our GP locum members and LocumDeck users that some locums are being paid later than usual. As well as potentially causing financial difficulties for this vital part part of the workforce, it’s going to get very complicated if this delay breaches the NHS Pension Scheme 10 week rule for submitting completed Form As in time.
So we’ve been speaking to our colleagues at NHS Pensions who have agreed to relax this rule. We don’t have full details yet, but will update you as soon as we know more.
Update
Official advice from NHS Pensions received 2nd April 2020
Although the [2020/21 freelance GP locum Forms A and B] and guidance state that GP locum work that is more than 10 weeks old cannot be ‘pensioned’ this rule is being temporarily removed during the current Coronavirus pandemic to give GP locums more time to complete their forms. The removal of the ’10 week window’ takes effect from 1 April 2020 until further notice. This means that, for example, a freelance GP locum can declare work performed in April 2020 on their August 2020 Form B subject to the Form A being validated at the time. NHS England/PCSE and Local Health Boards in Wales have been made aware of this.
In addition, during the current pandemic there is no need for the commissioning Practice to enter the ‘Practice stamp’ at Part 2 of Form A so long as the name of the Practice is entered and the form is signed and dated. A digital/electronic signature is acceptable.
With effect from 1 April 2020 where a freelance GP locum has overpaid their monthly NHS Pension Scheme contributions they will not be reimbursed if the amount is less than £1.00. Similarly if they have underpaid an amount of less than £1.00 they will not be required to pay the shortfall.
