If you’re a locum GP working independently, understanding how NHS pension contributions work can be confusing. Between Form A/B, GP SOLO, and the PCSE portal, it’s easy to miss something important — or even lose pensionable income.
This guide breaks down exactly what you need to know and how to manage your pension forms quickly using airGP.
What Is the NHS Pension Scheme for Locum GPs?
Locum GPs who work in NHS-funded practices are usually eligible to contribute to the NHS Pension Scheme.
You (the locum) and the practice both contribute a percentage of your income toward your pension.
Your pensionable work includes:
- Sessions carried out at NHS GP practices or OOH services
- CCG or ICB-commissioned work
- NHS-funded clinics in community settings
Private work (e.g. insurance medicals, non-NHS clinics) is not pensionable.
The Two Main Pension Forms for Locums
Form A and Form B
These apply when you’re working directly for GP practices (not through an agency or federation).
- Form A is completed by the practice each time you work there. It records your session details and their employer contribution.
- Form B is completed by you (the locum) every month. It summarises all Form As and calculates your total employee and employer contributions.
Once you’ve filled in Form B, you pay both contributions (your share and the practice’s share) into the NHS Pension scheme via PCSE Online.
🕒 Deadline: Form B must be submitted and paid within 10 weeks of the work being done.
GP SOLO Form
This applies when you’re paid by an organisation other than a GP practice, such as:
- Out-of-Hours (OOH) provider
- GP Federation
- ICB or NHS Trust
- Walk-in Centre
The employer completes the GP SOLO form, not you. They deduct both pension contributions at source and send them to NHS Pensions.
You simply keep a copy for your records — no need to pay the employer share yourself.
Key Differences Between Form A/B and GP SOLO
| Feature | Form A/B | GP SOLO |
|---|---|---|
| Who you work for | GP practice directly | OOH, Federation, ICB, or NHS Trust |
| Who fills the form | You + the practice | The employing organisation |
| Who pays employer contribution | You (then reclaim via invoice) | Employer pays directly |
| How submitted | Through PCSE Online | Sent by the organisation |
| Deadline | Within 10 weeks | Usually handled monthly by employer |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the 10-week deadline — late Form B submissions are rejected.
- Pensioning private sessions — only NHS-funded work counts.
- Forgetting to log Form A to PCSE before completing Form B.
How airGP Makes Pension Logging Simple
With airGP, you don’t need to remember which form applies or chase paperwork manually:
- Automatically marks sessions as Form A/B or GP SOLO based on the organisation type
- Generates and emails pension forms directly from your invoice
- Keeps a record of which sessions have been entered into PCSE Online
- Includes your total employee and employer contributions on reports
Final Thoughts
Pension forms may sound tedious, but they make a huge difference to your long-term NHS pension benefits.
By understanding when to use Form A/B vs GP SOLO, you can make sure every eligible session is properly pensioned.
👉 Try airGP — it automatically generates the correct pension form for every session you log.