National Insurance for employees who are paid permanent injury benefit: FOI release

Information requested

Do NHSGGC pay the National Insurance for employees who are paid Permanent injury benefit and had to retire on the basis of injuries sustained wholly or partially as a result of injuries sustained at work?

Is the National Insurance paid (by NHSGGC) up until full and maximum state pension contributions have been achieved?

Response

NHS injury benefits are non-taxable and are not classed as salary so do not attract National Insurance deductions. If a recipient/member is subsequently disadvantaged for state pension they can potentially proceed with a damage claim, i.e. take their former employer to court with future loss of pension both NHS and state as part of the claim.

Depending on their employment history they may already qualify for a state pension. They can also apply for National Insurance credits from the Department for Work and Pensions to top up their National Insurance contributions. However, recipients/members should also keep in mind that a Permanent Injury Benefit (PIB) is payable for life, and does not take state pension into account, so they are receiving their PIB as well as state pension.

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