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Written question asked by Zubir Ahmed (Labour) on Friday, 11 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Monday, 21 September 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ambulance Services: Retirement

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits for reducing the normal pension age for ambulance workers under the NHS Pension Scheme to bring it into line with the retirement age for police and fire service workers.

Answer

Police and fire service workers generally pay higher pension contributions than ambulance staff. Giving ambulance workers the same normal pension age as police and fire service workers would require higher contributions from all NHS Pension Scheme members, and there are currently no plans for such a change.

Under flexible retirement options, ambulance workers can retire before normal pension age with an actuarially reduced pension or access the Early Retirement Reduction Buy Out option to retire up to three years earlier without a reduction, with costs that may be shared with their employers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
29271
Session
2026-27
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Age Ambulance services Workplace pensions Retirement
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk