PART 1 INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL

CHAPTER 1.A INTRODUCTION

1.A.1    Citation and commencement

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2008.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2008.

1.A.2    Application of remaining Parts

(1) Part 2 of these Regulations provides for benefits to be payable in relation to service as an officer (as defined in that Part).

(2) Part 3 of these Regulations provides for benefits to be payable in relation to service as—

(a) a practitioner, or

(b) an OOH provider,

(both as defined in that Part).

(3) Part 4 of these Regulations modifies Parts 2 and 3 where a member has pensionable service under both Parts 2 and 3.

CHAPTER 1.B SCHEME REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS

1.B.1    Actuarial reports and accounts

(1) The following paragraphs apply to the National Health Service Pension Scheme as set out in these Regulations and the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995(4).

(2) The Secretary of State shall keep accounts of all income and expenditure of the scheme in a form approved by the Treasury.

(3) The accounts shall be open to examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

(4) The Scheme actuary (as defined in Parts 2 and 3) must—

(a) prepare an actuarial report of the scheme liabilities and benefits under these Regulations and the scheme liabilities and benefits under the provisions of the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995, at the 31st March 2012 and at the expiration of every period of 4 years after that date, and

(b) send a copy of that actuarial report of the scheme to the Secretary of State and the Treasury.

1.B.2    Cost Sharing

(1) The actuarial report referred to in regulation 1.B.1 (accounts and actuarial reports) shall specify—

(a) a recommended contribution rate (RCR), and

(b) a projected yield from members’ contributions (PYM).

(2) Paragraphs (3) to (10) apply in respect of the actuarial report covering the period commencing on 1st April 2004 and ending on 31st March 2008 (“the 2004-2008 Report”) and, unless otherwise stated, references to the RCR in those paragraphs are to the RCR specified in the 2004-2008 Report.

(3) Where the RCR differs from 20.5%, that difference shall be the cost change element (CCE).

(4) The Secretary of State shall, having taken advice from the scheme actuary determine—

(a) that part of the CCE which shall not be shared between the members and the employing authorities (the un-shared element (USE)), and

(b) that part of the CCE which shall be shared between the members and the employing authorities (the shared element (SE)),

but before making such a determination, the Secretary of State shall consider any advice relating to the elements referred to in (a) and (b) from such employee and employer representatives as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(5) Where RCR minus PYM is less than 14%, contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to 14%.

(6) Where RCR minus PYM is equal to or greater than 14% but less than or equal to 14.2%, contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to RCR minus PYM.

(7) Where—

(a) RCR minus PYM is greater than 14.2%, and

(b) USE is greater than 0.0%,

contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to the lower of—

(i) RCR minus PYM, and

(ii) 14.2% + USE.

(8) Where—

(a) RCR minus PYM is greater than 14.2%, and

(b) USE is less than or equal to 0.0%,

contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to 14.2%.

(9) If RCR is greater than the sum of—

(a) the rate payable by employing authorities as determined under paragraphs (5) to (8), and

(b) PYM,

the Secretary of State may—

(i) after consultation with such representations of employees and employing authorities as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate, and

(ii) with the consent of the Treasury and on the advice of the scheme actuary,

amend member contributions and or benefits so that the rate payable by employing authorities is equal to amount A as determined under paragraphs (5) to (8).

(10) For the purposes of paragraph (9)—

(a) amount A is the difference between the adjusted RCR and the adjusted PYM, and

(b) adjusted RCR and adjusted PYM mean the RCR and PYM that would have been specified in the 2004-2008 Report had that Report been drawn up on the basis that any amendment to member contribution rates and scheme benefits made by the Secretary of State pursuant to paragraph (9) had already taken place.

(11) Paragraphs (12) to (17) apply in respect of the actuarial report covering the period commencing on 1st April 2008 and ending on 31st March 2012 and subsequent reports and, unless otherwise stated, references to RCR in those paragraphs are to the RCR recommended in the actuarial report for the relevant period.

(12) Where the RCR specified in the current actuarial report differs from 20.5%, that difference shall be the cost change element (CCE).

(13) The Secretary of State shall, having taken advice from the scheme actuary determine —

(a) that part of the CCE which shall not be shared between the members and the employing authorities (the un-shared element (USE)), and

(b) that part of the CCE which shall be shared between the members and the employing authorities (the shared element (SE)),

but, before making such a determination, the Secretary of State shall consider any advice relating to the elements referred to in (a) and (b) from such employee and employer representatives as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(14) Where RCR is equal to or greater than 20.5% + USE, contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to 14% + USE.

(15) Where RCR is less than 20.5% + USE, contributions paid by employing authorities shall be equal to—

Where—

X = and, where X is not a multiple of 0.1%, X is rounded to the nearest odd multiple of 0.1%.

(16) If RCR is not equal to the sum of—

(a) the rate payable by employing authorities as determined under paragraphs (14) and (15), and

(b) PYM,

the Secretary of State may—

(i) after consultation with such representations of employees and employing authorities as appear to the Secretary of State to be appropriate, and

(ii) with the consent of the Treasury and on the advice of the scheme actuary,

amend member contributions and or benefits so that the rate payable by employing authorities is equal to amount B as determined under paragraphs (14) to (15).

(17) For the purposes of paragraph (16)—

(a) amount B is the difference between the adjusted RCR and the adjusted PYM, and

(b) adjusted RCR and adjusted PYM mean the RCR and PYM that would have been specified in the 2004-2008 Report had that Report been drawn up on the basis that any amendment to member contribution rates and scheme benefits made by the Secretary of State pursuant to paragraph (16) had already taken place.

(18) In this regulation—

(a) RCR, PYM, CCE, USE and SE shall be expressed as percentages to the nearest 0.1 per cent,

(b) USE may include changes to RCR resulting from changes in—

(i) the financial assumptions, and

(ii) the actuarial methodology,

used to calculate RCR for the purposes of the immediately preceding actuarial report under regulation U3 where the current report is not the 2004-2008 Report, or where the 2004-2008 Report is the current report, that Report,

(c) SE may include changes to RCR resulting from changes in—

(i) the underlying membership data, and

(ii) the demographic assumptions,

used to calculate RCR for the purposes of the immediately preceding actuarial report under regulation U3 where the current report is not the 2004-2008 Report, or where the 2004-2008 Report is the current report, that Report,

(d) CCE, USE and SE may be positive or negative.

1.B.3    Provision of information relevant for tax purposes

(1) A person who is entitled to a benefit under these Regulations must give the Scheme administrator such information as will enable the Scheme administrator to determine—

(a) whether a lifetime allowance charge arises on the person becoming entitled to the benefit, and

(b) if any such charge arises, the amount of the tax payable.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies whether or not the person intends to rely on having given notice under any of the provisions specified in section 256(1) of the 2004 Act (enhanced lifetime allowance regulations).

(3) If a person applying for a benefit under these Regulations intends to rely on entitlement by virtue of any such notice, in addition to the information mentioned in paragraph (1) the person must give the Scheme administrator the reference number issued by the Commissioners under the Registered Pension Schemes (Enhanced Lifetime Allowance) Regulations 2006(5) in respect of that entitlement.

(4) The information that a person is required to give under this regulation must be given—

(a) at the time the person makes a claim for a benefit, or

(b) within such period ending after that time as the Scheme administrator specifies in writing.

(5) If a person fails to comply with paragraph (4)(b), the Scheme administrator may calculate and pay tax due in respect of the lifetime allowance charge on the basis that the whole benefit is chargeable.

PART 2 BENEFITS FOR OFFICERS

CHAPTER 2.A INTRODUCTION

General interpretation

2.A.1    Interpretation: general

(1) In this Part—

“the 1993 Act” means the Pension Schemes Act 1993(6);

“the 1995 Act” means the Pensions Act 1995(7);

“the 1995 Regulations” means the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995(8);

“the 1997 Act” means the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997(9);

“the 1999 Act” means the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999(10);

“the 2003 Act” means the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003(11);

“the 2004 Act” means the Finance Act 2004(12);

“the 2003 Order” means the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003(13);

“the 2004 Order” means the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions Order 2004(14);

“the 2006 Act” means the National Health Service Act 2006(15);

“the 2006 (Wales) Act” means the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006(16);

“active member” has the meaning given in section 124(1) of the 1995 Act and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of the Scheme (but see regulation 2.D.5(9));

“additional pension”, in relation to a member, except where the context otherwise requires, means so much of any pension payable to a member as is payable by virtue of contributions made under regulations 2.C.8, 2.C.10 and 2.C.11;

“additional services” has the meaning given in regulation 3.A.1;

“APMS contract” means arrangements under section 80(2)(b) of the 2006 Act or section 41(2)(b) of the 2006 Wales Act (primary medical services) between a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board and an APMS contractor;

“APMS contractor” means a person—

“bank holiday” means any day that is specified or proclaimed as a bank holiday, pursuant to section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(17);

“base rate” means the Bank of England base rate—

“buy-out policy” means a policy of insurance or annuity contract that is appropriate for the purposes of section 19 of the 1993 Act (extinguishment of liability of scheme for pensions secured by insurance policies or annuity contracts) and “buy-out” must be read accordingly;

“capped transferred-in service”, must be read in accordance with regulation 2.F.12;

“cash equivalent” is to be construed in accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act;

“CCT” means a Certificate of Completion of Training awarded under article 8 of the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003(19), including any such certificate awarded in pursuance of the competent authority functions of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board specified in article 20(3)(a) of that Order;

“certification services” means services related to the provision of medical certificates listed in Schedule 4 to the GMS Contracts Regulations;

“collaborative services” means primary medical services provided by a GP performer, a GMS practice, a PMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider under or as a result of an arrangement between—

“commissioned services” means medical services provided under a contract between—

(2) “contracting-out requirements” means the requirements mentioned in section 9(2) of the 1993 Act;

“the contribution option period” has the meaning given in regulation 2.C.8(8);

“corresponding health service scheme” has the meaning given in regulation 2.F.11(7);

“deferred member” has the meaning given in section 124(1) of the 1995 Act, except where the context requires otherwise, refers to membership of the Scheme (but see paragraph (3) and regulation 2.D.5(9));

“dentist performer” means a dental practitioner—

“dependent child” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 2.E.9;

“dispensing services” means the provision of drugs, medicines or appliances that may be provided as pharmaceutical services by a registered medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under regulation 20 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992(20);

“employing authority” means—

“employment” includes an office or appointment (other than an honorary office or appointment), and related expressions are to be read accordingly;

“enhanced services” with regard to—

“essential services” means the services described in regulation 15(3), (5), (6) and (8) of the GMS Contracts Regulations, whether provided by a GMS practice, a PMS practice or an APMS contractor;

“GMS Contracts Regulations” means—

“GDS contract” means a general dental services contract under section 100 of the 2006 Act or section 57 of the 2006 (Wales) Act (general dental services contracts: introductory);

“GDS contractor” means a person who is a party to a GDS contract, other than a Primary Care Trust or a Local Health Board;

“GMS contract” means—

“GMS practice” means—

“GP performer” means a registered medical practitioner, other than a GP Registrar or a locum practitioner, whose name is included in a medical performers list and who performs essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, collaborative services, commissioned services, OOH services or certification services (or a combination of those services)—

“GP Registrar” means a medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice—

“GP trainer” means a registered medical practitioner who is approved by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board under article 4(5)(d) of the 2003 Order for the purposes of providing training to a GP Registrar under article 5(1)(c)(i) of that Order;

“the guarantee date” has the meaning given in regulation 2.F.2(2);

“guaranteed cash equivalent transfer value payment” has the meaning given in regulation 2.F.3(3);

“guaranteed minimum pension” means guaranteed minimum pension, or accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pension, under section 14 of the 1993 Act;

“host Trust or Board”—

“lifetime allowance”, in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 218 of the 2004 Act(26);

“locum practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner (other than a GP Registrar) whose name is included in a medical performers list and who is engaged, otherwise than in pursuance of a commercial arrangement with an agent, under a contract for services by—

“lower earnings limit” must be read in accordance with section 5 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(27);

“lump sum rule” has the meaning given in section 166 of the 2004 Act;

“lump sum death benefit rule” has the meaning given in section 168 of the Finance Act 2004;

“member”, except where the context otherwise requires, means an active member, a deferred member, a pensioner member or a pension credit member;

“medical performers’ list” means a list of registered medical practitioners prepared and published—

“NHS employment” means employment with an employing authority;

“the NHS Pension Scheme 1995” means the scheme set out in the National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995(30);

“non-GP provider” means—

“occupational pension scheme” means an occupational pension scheme within the meaning of section 1 of the 1993 Act which—

“officer” means a person (other than a GP performer or dentist performer) employed by an employing authority and includes a GP Registrar and a non-GP provider;

“officer service” means pensionable service as an officer under this Part;

“OOH provider” has the meaning given by regulation 2.A.15;

“OOH services” means services which are required to be provided in the out of hours period and which, if provided during core hours by a GMS practice or PMS practice to patients to whom the practice is required by its GMS contract or PMS agreement to provide essential services, would be or would be similar to essential services;

“opting-out” and related expressions are to be construed in accordance with regulation 2.B.5;

“pay period” means—

“PDS agreement” means an agreement for the provision of primary dental services pursuant to section 64 arrangements or section 107 arrangements;

“PDS contractor” means a person who—

“pensioner member” has the meaning given in section 124(1) of the 1995 Act and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of the Scheme (but see paragraphs (3) and (4) and regulation 2.D.5(9));

“pensionable earnings” has the meaning given in regulation 3.A.7 (read with regulation 3.A.8);

“pensionable employment” means employment as an officer which is pensionable under this Part;

“pensionable pay” has the meaning given in regulation 2.A.8 (read with regulation 2.A.9);

“pensionable service” has the meaning given by regulations 2.A.2 and 2.A.3 (read with regulation 2.A.4);

“pension credit” means a credit under section 29(1)(b) of the 1999 Act and includes a credit under corresponding Northern Ireland legislation;

“pension credit benefit” has the meaning given by section 101B of the 1993 Act;

“pension credit member” has the meaning given by section 124(1) of the 1995 Act;

“pension credit rights” has the meaning given by section 101B of the 1993 Act;

“pension sharing order or provision” means such an order or provision as is mentioned in section 28(1) of the 1999 Act;

“personal pension scheme” means a personal pension scheme which—

“PMS agreement” means an agreement for the provision of primary medical services pursuant to —

“PMS practice” means—

with whom, or with whose members, a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board has entered into a PMS agreement under which primary medical services are provided (otherwise than by the Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board);

“practice staff” means a person who—

“practitioner” means—

“preservation requirements” means the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act relating to the preservation of benefits under occupational pension schemes;

“public sector transfer arrangements” means arrangements approved by the Secretary of State as providing reciprocal arrangements for the payment and receipt of transfer values between the Scheme and other occupational pension schemes;

“qualifying service” has the meaning given in regulation 2.A.5 (read with regulation 2.A.6);

“recent leaver” has the meaning given in regulation 2.E.6(3);

“reckonable pay” has the meaning given in regulation 2.A.10 (read with 2.A.11 to 2.A.14);

“registered” means registered under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the 2004 Act;

“retail prices index” has the meaning given in section 989 of the Income Tax Act 2007(32);

“safeguarded percentage” has the meaning given by section 68A(3) of the 1993 Act;

“safeguarded rights” has the meaning given by section 68A(1) of the 1993 Act;

“the Scheme” means the scheme the rules of which are set out in this Part of the Regulations;

“the Scheme actuary” means the actuary appointed by the Secretary of State for the time being to provide a consulting service on actuarial matters relevant to the Scheme;

“scheme year” means a period of one year beginning with 1st April and ending with 31st March;

“section 50 arrangements” has the meaning given by the 2006 (Wales) Act;

“section 64 arrangements” has the meaning given by the 2006 (Wales) Act;

“section 92 arrangements” has the meaning given by the 2006 Act;

“section 107 arrangements” has the meaning given by the 2006 Act;

“specialist” means a consultant, other than a nurse consultant, a senior hospital medical officer or senior hospital dental officer;

“State pension age” means pensionable age, as defined in section 181(1) of the 1993 Act;

“tax year” means a year of assessment for income tax purposes;

“temporary additional session” has the meaning given in regulation 2.A.8(5);

“tier 1 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 2.D.8;

“tier 2 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 2.D.8;

“trade dispute” has the meaning given in section 35(1) of the Jobseekers Act 1995(33);

“type 1 medical practitioner” has the meaning given in regulation 3.A.1;

“whole-time”, in relation to an employment that is comparable to one or more part-time employments, has the meaning given by paragraph (4).

(3) In determining whether a person who is an active member or a pensioner member of the Scheme is also a deferred member of it, the fact that the person is an active member or a pensioner member and the person’s rights as such are to be disregarded.

(4) In determining whether a person is a pensioner member of the Scheme, the fact that the person is not entitled to payment of pension because of Chapter 2.H (abatement) is to be disregarded.

(5) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) an employment that is comparable to a part-time employment that is not held concurrently by a person with any other such employment is “whole-time” if it is employment for such number of hours or sessions as in the opinion of the Secretary of State amounts to whole-time employment in the case of an employment for services of the kind performed in the part-time employment, and

(b) an employment that is comparable to two or more part-time employments that are held concurrently by a person is “whole-time” if it is employment for such number of hours or sessions as in the opinion of the Secretary of State amounts to whole-time employment in the case of an employment for services of the kind performed in the two or more part-time employments.

Pensionable service

2.A.2    Meaning of “pensionable service”

(1) In this Part, references to a member’s pensionable service, are references to the aggregate of the following periods–

(a) any period of service in respect of which the member contributes to the scheme under regulation 2.C.1 (contributions by members),

(b) any period of absence from service which counts as pensionable service under regulation 2.A.4, and

(c) any period of service credited to the member as pensionable service under Chapter 2.F (transfers from other pension arrangements).

This is subject to paragraph (2).

(2) A member’s pensionable service does not include—

(a) any period of service in respect of which the Secretary of State has paid contributions to another occupational pension scheme in respect of the member,

(b) in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member, any period taken into account—

(i) in determining the member’s entitlement to the pension in payment or, as the case may be, the deferred pension, or

(ii) in calculating the amount of that pension,

but, in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.5 (partial retirement) subject to paragraph (6),

(c) any period of service in respect of which the Secretary of State’s liability to provide benefits is discharged—

(i) by the payment of a contributions equivalent premium under section 55(2) of the 1993 Act,

(ii) under regulation 2.C.18 (repayment of contributions), or

(iii) by the payment of a transfer value payment on transfer out under Chapter 2.F (transfers), or

(d) any period of service which would result in the aggregate mentioned in paragraph (1) exceeding 45 years.

(3) A member’s pensionable service must not exceed 45 years unless—

(a) the member gives notice in writing to the Secretary of State and the member’s employing authority of an intention to remain in pensionable service beyond 45 years, and

(b) that notice is received by the Secretary of State and the member’s employing authority—

(i) not earlier than three months before the member reaches 45 years pensionable service, and

(ii) by the end of the pay period during which the member reaches the 45 year limit.

(4) If the notice required by paragraph (3) has been properly received and the member has pensionable service in excess of 45 years—

(a) benefits under this Part shall be calculated by reference to a maximum of 45 years of pensionable service, and

(b) the Secretary of State shall select the years by reference to which the benefits are to be calculated, selecting the years which produce the most favourable result to the member.

(5) If, when the employment in which a person is an active member ceases, a payment is made in respect of untaken leave, for the purpose of this Part—

(a) the member’s pensionable service is treated as continuing for a period equal to the period of leave in respect of which payment is made, and

(b) the payment is treated as the member’s pensionable pay for that period.

(6) In the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.5 (partial retirement), paragraph (2)(b) only applies to so much of the member’s pensionable service as is mentioned in regulation 2.D.5(8)(a) (the specified percentage of the pensionable service as respects which the member is an active member on the option day).

(7) Regulation 2.A.3 makes further provision where service is in part-time employment.

2.A.3    Meaning of “pensionable service”: part-time service

(1) The number of days of a member’s pensionable service in part-time employment for a period is calculated by multiplying the total hours of employment during the period by 7, and dividing by the number of hours of employment per week for a comparable whole-time employment.

This is subject to paragraphs (2) to (6).

(2) If the part-time employment is for a specified number of sessions per week—

(a) paragraph (1) does not apply, and

(b) the number of days of the member’s pensionable service in the part-time employment for the period is calculated by multiplying the number of sessions of employment during the period by 7, and dividing by the number of sessions per week of the length of the specified sessions for a comparable whole-time employment.

This is subject to paragraphs (3) to (6).

(3) If during the period for which a part-time employment is held there is an alteration—

(a) in the case of an employment to which paragraph (1) applies, in the number of hours of employment per week for a comparable whole-time employment, or

(b) in the case of an employment to which paragraph (2) applies, in the number of specified sessions per week or the length of those sessions for a comparable whole-time employment,

separate calculations must be made under paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, paragraph (2) for the periods before and after the alteration.

(4) If, apart from this paragraph, a member’s pensionable service in respect of the part-time employments held for a period, calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2), would exceed that period, the excess is ignored.

(5) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply for the purposes of regulation 2.A.2(3) (45 year limit), and for those purposes part-time employments held concurrently are treated as a single employment.

(6) Temporary additional sessions are ignored in calculating a member’s pensionable service in a part-time employment.

2.A.4    Pensionable service: breaks in service

(1) Paragraph (2) applies if a member is absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(c) adoption leave,

(d) paternity leave, or

(e) parental leave.

(2) The period of absence counts as pensionable service if the member contributes to the scheme under regulation 2.C.1 in respect of the period of absence.

(3) If—

(a) a member is on leave of absence for a period not exceeding 6 months but does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) to (e), and

(b) the member contributes to the scheme under regulation 2.C.1 by contributions made at the same intervals as those made by the member before the absence,

so much of the period of absence beginning with the first day of absence as is a period in respect of which the conditions in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) are met counts as pensionable service.

(4) This paragraph applies if a person—

(a) ceased to be an active member because of—

(i) ceasing to be employed in an employment in which the person is eligible to be such a member, or

(ii) exercising the option under regulation 2.B.5 (opting out of the Scheme), and

(b) less than 12 months after the date on which the person ceased to be an active member becomes such a member again.

(5) If paragraph (4) applies, the person’s pensionable service before the person ceased to be an active member and after the person became such a member again is treated as a single continuous period of pensionable service, unless paragraph (6) applies.

(6) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the person does not become a deferred member in respect of the pensionable service before the break in which the person was an active member,

(b) the person has received a repayment of contributions under regulation 2.C.18 in respect of that service (but see paragraph (8)), or

(c) the person’s rights under the Scheme in respect of that service have been extinguished under regulation 2.F.7 because a transfer value payment has been made in respect of them.

(7) In the case of a member who leaves pensionable service whilst the person is absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(c) adoption leave,

(d) paternity leave, or

(e) parental leave,

this regulation applies as if the reference to 12 months in paragraph (4)(b) were a reference to 3 years.

(8) Paragraph (6)(b) does not apply if the person repays to the Secretary of State any contributions repaid to the person as mentioned in that paragraph, together with any interest paid to the person on those contributions, before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the person becomes an active member again.

(9) For the regulations where paragraph (5) applies in respect of the service in which the person was an active member and becomes an active member again, see Chapter 2.G (re-employment and rejoining the Scheme).

Qualifying service

2.A.5    Meaning of “qualifying service”

(1) In this Part, references to a member’s qualifying service, are references to the aggregate of the following periods—

(a) the member’s pensionable service under this Part other than such pensionable service as is referred to in regulation 2.A.2(1)(c) (transferred-in service),

(b) in the case of a person in respect of whom a transfer value in respect of his rights under another pension arrangement has been accepted under Chapter 2.F (transfers), a period equal to the person’s period as an active member in any occupational pension scheme in respect of which the rights accrued,

(c) in the case of a person who—

(i) became an active member on the transfer of the person’s employment to a new employer as the result of a transfer of an undertaking to that employer, and

(ii) has rights under another occupational pension scheme to which the person was eligible to belong in the person’s employment with the former employer, in respect of which no transfer payment has been accepted under regulation 2.F.10,

the period of employment that qualified the member for those rights,

(d) any period treated as qualifying service under paragraph (3), (5) or (6) or under regulation 2.A.6, and

(e) where the member ceased to be an active member under Part 3 not more than 12 months before becoming a member under this Part, any period of qualifying service under Part 3.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies if a member who is employed on a casual basis—

(a) ceases to pay contributions because of a break in the employment in which the member is an active member of a period not exceeding three months, and

(b) re-enters employment in which the member is eligible to be an active member on the same basis after the break.

(3) For the purposes of this Part the member is treated—

(a) as continuing to be in qualifying service during the break, and

(b) as not being required to rejoin the scheme on re-entering the employment.

(4) For the other rules applying where there is a short break in service, see regulation 2.A.6.

(5) If—

(a) a pension becomes payable to a member under regulation 2.D.11 (early retirement on termination of employment by employing authority) in a case where regulation 2.D.13(5) applies, and

(b) the member has elected to take benefits under regulation 2.D.11 only in respect of the old employment and to continue to accrue rights to benefits in respect of any continuing employments in which the member is an active member,

the pensionable service in respect of which that pension is calculated is treated as qualifying service in relation to any employment in respect of which rights to benefits continue to accrue.

(6) In determining the service that is pensionable service for the purposes of this regulation, regulation 2.A.3 (meaning of “pensionable service”: part-time service) does not apply, but for those purposes part-time employments held concurrently are treated as a single employment.

2.A.6    Qualifying service: disregard of breaks in service

(1) This regulation applies for the purpose of calculating the qualifying service of a member whose pensionable service ceases for an interval (other than in circumstances where regulation 2.A.5(2) applies).

(2) If the interval—

(a) does not exceed one month, or

(b) is due to a trade dispute,

the member’s qualifying service before and after the interval is treated as continuous for the purpose of calculating the member’s qualifying service after the interval (but the period of the interval is ignored).

This is subject to paragraph (6).

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) it does not matter if the member’s pensionable service before the interval is treated separately from that after the interval for the purpose of calculating the member’s benefits.

(4) If—

(a) a person who is an active member ceases to be employed in the employment that qualifies the person to belong to the Scheme and becomes a deferred member, but not a pensioner member, in respect of the service in that employment, and

(b) after a period not exceeding 12 months the person becomes employed again in such an employment and becomes an active member again in that employment,

qualifying service in the earlier employment is treated as a single continuous period of qualifying service with that in the later employment.

This is subject to paragraph (6).

(5) If—

(a) a person who is an active member in an employment opts to cease to be such a member whilst continuing to be employed in the employment and becomes a deferred member, but not a pensioner member, in respect of that service, and

(b) after a period not exceeding 12 months the person becomes such an active member again in that employment,

qualifying service in the earlier period of active membership is treated as a single period of qualifying service with that in the later period of such membership.

This is subject to paragraph (6).

(6) Paragraphs (2), (4) and (5) do not apply if—

(a) the person has received a repayment of contributions under regulation 2.C.18 in respect of the earlier period (but see paragraph (7)), or

(b) the person’s rights under the Scheme in respect of that period have been extinguished under regulation 2.F.7 because a transfer value payment has been made.

(7) Paragraph (6)(a) does not apply if the person repays to the Secretary of State any contributions repaid to the person as mentioned in that paragraph together with any interest on those contributions, before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the member becomes a member again.

(8) If—

(a) a member is a deferred member or pensioner member in respect of the period of pensionable service before pensionable service ceases for an interval, and

(b) the periods of pensionable service before and after pensionable service ceases for an interval are not treated as a single period of continuous service under regulation 2.A.4(5) or regulation 2.G.3(2)(a),

the period of pensionable service in respect of which the member is a deferred member or a pensioner member is treated as qualifying service in relation to the period after the interval.

Calculating service

2.A.7    Calculation of periods of membership or service

(1) References in this Part to any period expressed in days are references to the period in question ignoring 29th February, expressed in days.

(2) For the purposes of the Scheme, and except where provided otherwise in this Part, periods of service are to be expressed in the first instance in complete days or fractions of a day, and the initial aggregation of periods that require to be aggregated is done in the first instance by reference to periods so expressed.

(3) If, when all periods of service that require to be aggregated have been aggregated, there is any excess part day over the number of whole days, that excess is rounded up to a full day.

(4) If service is referred to as service in years and days—

(a) the days referred to in paragraph (2), and

(b) the full days referred to in paragraph (3),

are converted into years and days on the assumption that a year contains 365 days.

(5) If service is referred to as service in years—

(a) the days referred to in paragraph (2), and

(b) the full days referred to in paragraph (3),

are converted into years by dividing the number of days by 365, and using the result to four decimal places.

Pensionable pay

2.A.8    Meaning of “pensionable pay”

(1) In this Part, subject to the following provisions of this regulation, “pensionable pay” means all salary, wages, fees and other regular payments made to a person in respect of employment in which the person is an active member of the Scheme.

(2) In the case of a member who, in addition to one or more such employments, holds an honorary office or appointment, any distinction award payable to the member as a consequence of holding the honorary office or appointment, is treated—

(a) in the case of a member in one such employment, as pensionable pay of that employment, and

(b) in the case of a member in two or more such employments, as pensionable pay of such of those employments as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3) “Pensionable pay” does not include—

(a) bonuses,

(b) payments made to cover expenses, or

(c) payments for overtime.

(4) If—

(a) a person is an active member in respect of two or more part-time employments, and

(b) in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the total pensionable pay for the employments (apart from this paragraph) exceeds the amount that would be the pensionable pay for a comparable whole-time employment, not held concurrently with any other employment under which services of the kinds performed in the two or more part-time employments are performed,

the excess pensionable pay is ignored for the purposes of this Part.

(5) In the case of a non-GP provider who is not in receipt of any salary, wages, fees or any other regular payment, pensionable pay means practitioner income less any sum on account of practice expenses (for these purposes, contributions payable under regulation 2.C.1(5) or (6) are neither practitioner income nor practice expenses).

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, the practitioner income of a non-GP provider means income that accrues to the non-GP provider which is derived from—

(a) a GMS contract;

(b) a PMS agreement;

(c) an APMS contract;

(d) payments from, or to, a practitioner who is a GMS practice, a PMS practice or an APMS contractor in respect of the performance of certification services, commissioned services or collaborative services.

(7) In the case of a non-GP provider who is in partnership with a type 1 medical practitioner practising in partnership, the pensionable earnings of each non-GP provider who is a partner in a partnership shall be calculated by aggregating the pensionable earnings of each partner (including for this purpose, any amount that would constitute pensionable earnings in the case of any of them who are not included in the scheme) and, subject to paragraph (8), dividing the total equally by reference to the number of such partners.

(8) If the non-GP providers and any type 1 medical practitioners who are partners in a partnership do not share equally in the partnership profits, they may elect that each partner’s pensionable earnings shall correspond to each partner’s share of the partnership profits.

(9) The calculations described in paragraph (8) will be made by the Local Health Board or Primary Care Trust to which the partners are required to give notice of their election in accordance with paragraph (10).

(10) Non-GP providers and any type 1 medical practitioners who are partners in any partnership must exercise the election described in paragraph (8) by giving notice in writing to their host Trust or Board in accordance with paragraph (11).

(11) A notice given under this regulation—

(a) must be signed by all the non-GP providers and type 1 medical practitioners in the partnership and must state as a fraction each non-GP provider’s and practitioner’s share in the partnership profits;

(b) will take effect—

(i) from the date agreed between the partners and the Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board concerned; or

(ii) if no agreement is reached, a date decided by the Secretary of State;

(c) will continue in effect until cancelled or amended by a subsequent notice in writing signed by all the partners in the partnership;

(d) will be automatically cancelled upon a change in the members of the partnership.

2.A.9    Pensionable pay: breaks in service

(1) Paragraph (2) applies if a member is absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(c) adoption leave,

(d) paternity leave, or

(e) parental leave,

and the earnings used to calculate the member’s pensionable pay under regulation 2.A.8 are reduced or cease.

(2) For the purposes of this Part (apart from regulations 2.C.1 and 2.C.2), and subject to paragraph (3), amounts equal to the pensionable pay that the member would have received if those circumstances had not applied are treated as having been paid to the member.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to a member falling within paragraph (1)(a) as respects any period after the earnings used to calculate the member’s pensionable pay under regulation 2.A.8 have ceased to be paid to the member.

(4) For the purposes of regulations 2.C.1 and 2.C.2, if for any period whilst the member falls within—

(a) paragraph (1) the earnings used to calculate the member’s pensionable pay under regulation 2.A.8 are reduced, amounts equal to the reduced earnings are treated as pensionable pay, and

(b) paragraph (1)(b) to (e) the earnings used to calculate the member’s pensionable pay under regulation 2.A.8 are reduced, during any period following that period whilst the member continues to fall within that paragraph and no such earnings are paid, amounts equal to the reduced earnings are treated as pensionable pay.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), any pay received by a woman on maternity leave in respect of any days during which the member returns to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace is to be ignored.

(6) For the purposes of this Part, during any period of absence which counts as pensionable service under regulation 2.A.4(3) (up to 6 months’ leave of absence with full contributions) amounts equal to the rate of the member’s pensionable pay immediately before the absence are treated as pensionable pay.

(7) In the case of a non-GP provider who—

(a) is one of a number of non-GP providers or practitioners who have elected as described in regulation 2.A.8(9), each non-GP provider’s or practitioner’s pensionable earnings will be calculated as if the partnership’s aggregate pensionable pay were equal to the amount of the partnership’s aggregate pensionable earnings during the 12 month period ending immediately before the member’s earnings were reduced or ceased;

(b) except where the non-GP provider’s pensionable pay falls to be calculated as described in sub-paragraph (a), the non-GP provider will be treated as having continued to receive the same average rate of pensionable earnings as during the 12 month period ending immediately before his earnings were reduced or ceased.

(8) If the earnings used to calculate a non-GP provider’s pensionable pay cease during a period of absence to which this regulation applies, a non-GP provider falling within paragraph 1(b) to (e) of this regulation who paid contributions on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (7)(a) will, subject to paragraph (9), continue to pay contributions at that rate, except that no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the non-GP provider actually leaves pensionable employment.

(9) For the purposes of paragraph (8), the rate of contributions payable shall be the rate that would have been payable on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (4)(a) had the non-GP provider’s reduced earnings excluded any earnings for a day during which the non-GP provider, whilst on maternity leave, returned to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.

(10) If a non-GP provider fails to pay any contributions which are required to be paid to the Scheme in respect of a period of absence to which this regulation applies, the non-GP provider will be treated as having left pensionable employment except that no refund of contributions or other benefit shall be payable unless the non-GP provider actually leaves pensionable employment.

(11) If a non-GP provider to whom paragraph (7) of this regulation applies leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (7)(a) or (8), is treated as having left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, then if the non-GP provider later returns to pensionable employment regulation 2.A.4(4) will apply as if the reference to 12 months were a reference to 3 years.

(12) The benefits payable on the death of a non-GP provider whose earnings ceased during a period of absence to which paragraph (7) applies will be calculated as if the non-GP provider had died in pensionable employment on the day before the non-GP provider’s earnings ceased.

Reckonable pay

2.A.10    Meaning of “reckonable pay”: general

(1) This regulation applies for the purpose of determining the meaning of “reckonable pay” in relation to—

(a) a member whose active membership ceases, or

(b) a member becoming entitled to the immediate payment of a pension during the member’s active membership period—

(i) on the exercise of the option under regulation 2.D.5 (partial retirement: members aged at least 55), or

(ii) under regulation 2.D.1(1)(b)(ii).

(2) This regulation is subject to regulations 2.A.11 to 2.A.14.

(3) A member’s “reckonable pay” is determined by the formula—

where—

• IRP is the interim reckonable pay determined in paragraph (6) or (7), as appropriate,

• RPa is the annual rate of retirement pension that the member would be entitled to if the interim reckonable pay included the adjustment for inflation described in regulation 2.A.11, and

• RPi is the annual rate of retirement pension the member would be entitled to if the interim reckonable pay did not include the adjustment for inflation described in regulation 2.A.11 but instead had been increased by the amount that it would have been increased if it had been the annual rate of an official pension within the meaning of section 5(1) of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971(34).

(4) If the period of the member’s pensionable service ending with the relevant day equals 365 days, “interim reckonable pay” means the member’s pensionable pay for that period.

(5) In this regulation—

(a) “the relevant day” means—

(i) in a case within paragraph (1)(a), the day on which the member’s active membership ceases, and

(ii) in a case within paragraph (1)(b), the day before that on which the member becomes entitled to the pension;

(b) “the best consecutive 1095 day period” shall be determined by comparing—

(i) the period of 1095 days immediately preceding the relevant day (Period 1);

(ii) the period of 1095 days which overlaps Period 1 by 730 days (Period 2);

(iii) the period of 1095 days which overlaps Period 2 by 730 days,

and so on.

(6) Except where paragraph (4) or (7) applies, in this regulation “interim reckonable pay” means one-third of the member’s pensionable pay for the period of 1095 days—

(a) that begins—

(i) during the member’s pensionable service, and

(ii) within the period of 10 years ending with the relevant day, and

(b) for which the member’s pensionable pay was the highest (“the best consecutive 1095 day period”).

(7) If the member’s pensionable service within the period of 10 years ending with the relevant day—

(a) is less than 365 days, or

(b) exceeds 365 days but is less than 1095 days,

“interim reckonable pay” means the member’s pensionable pay for the period of the member’s pensionable service, divided by the number of days in that period and multiplied by 365.

(8) If two or more periods of pensionable service are treated as a single continuous period of pensionable service under—

(a) regulation 2.A.4(5) (pensionable service: breaks in service), or

(b) regulation 2.G.3(2) (exception to general rule in regulation 2.G.2),

the references in—

(i) paragraph (4) to a period of pensionable service equalling 365 days,

(ii) paragraph (5) to a period of 1095 days,

(iii) paragraph (7) to the period of pensionable service less than 365 days or more than 365 days but less than 1095 days,

are references to periods together amounting to periods of that length, disregarding any breaks during the single period.

(9) Paragraph (8) does not apply if the other employment is an employment in respect of which the member continues to accrue benefits in accordance with regulation 2.D.13 despite being entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.11.

(10) If—

(a) a person’s reckonable pay in respect of an employment that the person has left falls to be determined under this regulation by reference to the person’s pensionable pay for any period in respect of an employment, and

(b) the person held that employment concurrently during that period with another employment in which the person was an active member,

the member’s pensionable pay for that period in the other employment must be taken into account in that determination.

2.A.11    Adjustments for inflation in determining reckonable pay under 2.A.10

(1) In determining—

(a) the pensionable pay for the period of pensionable service referred to in 2.A.10(4),

(b) the period of 1095 days for which the member’s pensionable pay was the highest for the purposes of regulation 2.A.10(6), or

(c) the pensionable pay for either of the periods of pensionable service referred to in regulation 2.A.10(7),

the amount of pensionable pay is adjusted for inflation.

(2) The reference in paragraph (1) to adjusting the amount of pensionable pay for inflation, is a reference to increasing the member’s pensionable pay (for a specified period or periods) by an amount equal to the amount by which, at the relevant day, an official pension within the meaning of section 5(1) of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 first qualifying for an increase under that Act on the same day as the specified period, or periods, ended, would have been increased (if at all).

(3) In this regulation—

(a) “specified period” means any single scheme year falling in the period, or periods, referred to in 2.A.10(4), (6) or (7), and

(b) “the relevant day” has the meaning given in regulation 2.A.10(5).

2.A.12    Restriction on pensionable pay used for calculating benefits in respect of capped transferred-in service

(1) This regulation applies for determining the amount of a member’s pensionable pay for the purposes of calculating so much of any benefit under the Scheme as falls to be calculated by reference to capped transferred-in service.

(2) If a member’s pensionable pay exceeds the permitted maximum, the excess is disregarded for the purposes of any such calculation as is mentioned in paragraph (1).

(3) In this regulation “permitted maximum” means–

(a) in relation to the tax year 2008-09, £117,600, and

(b) in relation to any later tax year, the figure found for that year under paragraphs (5) and (6).

(4) If the retail prices index for the month of September preceding the tax year 2009-10 or any later tax year is higher than it was for the previous September, the figure for that year is an amount arrived at by—

(a) increasing the figure for the previous tax year by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the retail prices index, and

(b) if the result is not a multiple of £600, rounding it up to the nearest amount which is such a multiple.

(5) If the retail prices index for the month of September preceding the tax year 2009-10 or any later tax year is not higher than it was for the previous September, the figure for that year is the same as for the previous tax year.

(6) In this regulation—

(a) “capped transferred-in service” has the meaning given by regulation 2.F.12; and

(b) “pensionable pay” has the meaning given by regulation 2.A.8.

2.A.13    Meaning of “reckonable pay”: non-concurrent part-time employment

(1) This regulation applies if a member’s reckonable pay falls to be determined under regulation 2.A.10 by reference to the member’s pensionable pay for any period for a part-time employment that was not held concurrently with any other such employment in which the member was an active member.

(2) The member’s reckonable pay for that period in respect of the part-time employment is the amount that would have been paid in respect of that employment for that period if it had been a whole-time employment not held concurrently with any other employment.

This is subject to paragraph (4).

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) it is assumed that the same rate of pay per hour or session (or part of an hour or session) is paid for the whole-time employment as is paid per hour or session (or part of an hour or session) for the part-time employment.

(4) If, in a case where, apart from this paragraph, paragraph (2) would apply, it appears to the Secretary of State that, by reason of exceptional circumstances, the application of the assumptions in paragraph (3) for the purposes of paragraph (2) would result in an excessive amount being given by paragraph (2), that amount must be reduced by such amount as is in the opinion of the Secretary of State appropriate having regard to what would have been paid for that period in respect of a comparable whole-time employment.

(5) This regulation does not apply to the calculation of the reckonable pay of an active member or a pensioner member for the purposes of regulation 2.E.17(1) or (2) (lump sum payable on death of active or pensioner member).

2.A.14    Meaning of “reckonable pay”: concurrent part-time employments

(1) This regulation applies if under regulation 2.A.10(10) a member’s reckonable pay falls to be determined by reference to the member’s pensionable pay for any period for two or more part-time employments held concurrently during that period.

(2) The member’s reckonable pay for that period is calculated as follows—

Step 1

Calculate the reckonable pay for each of the employments under regulation 2.A.13 as if it were not held concurrently with any other such employment.

Step 2

Find the appropriate fraction for each of the employments (see paragraph (3)).

Step 3

Add together the appropriate fraction of the reckonable pay for each of the employments as calculated at Step 1.

(3) Except where paragraph (4) applies, the appropriate fraction for an employment is—

where—

• HPW is the number of hours per week of the employment, and

• THPW is the total hours per week of both or all the employments.

(4) The appropriate fraction for an employment for a specified number of sessions per week is—

where—

• SPW is the number of sessions per week of the employment, and

• TSPW is the total sessions per week of both or all the employments.

(5) If—

(a) one or more of the employments is an employment for a specified number of sessions per week, and

(b) one or more of the employments is not such an employment,

the denominator for the fractions given in paragraph (3) and (4) is calculated on the basis that a session is 3.5 hours or such number of hours as the Secretary of State may in any particular case determine.

2.A.15    Out of hours providers

(1) For the purposes of these Regulations, an OOH provider is—

(a) a company limited by guarantee (which is not otherwise an employing authority)—

(i) in which all the members of the company are registered medical practitioners, APMS contractors, GMS practices or PMS practices, and the majority of those members are—

(aa) APMS contractors, GMS practices or PMS practices whose APMS contracts, GMS contracts or PMS agreements require them to provide OOH services; or

(bb) registered medical practitioners who are partners or shareholders in an APMS contractor, a GMS practice or a PMS practice which is a partnership or a company limited by shares and which is required to provide OOH services under its GMS contract, PMS agreement or APMS contract,

(ii) which has a contract with a Primary Care Trust, a Local Health Board, an APMS contractor or a GMS or PMS practice for the provision of OOH services, and

(iii) in respect of which a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board appointed by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly of Wales to act on his or its behalf—

(aa) is satisfied that the provision of OOH services by the company is wholly or mainly a mutual trading activity;

(bb) is satisfied that the company has met all the conditions for being an OOH provider in this regulation; and

(cc) has, pursuant to a written application made by the company to it for that purpose, approved the company as an employing authority; or

(b) some other body corporate (which is not otherwise an employing authority) which—

(i) operates in the interests of those who are the recipients of the primary medical services it provides or of the general public;

(ii) operates on a not-for-profit basis;

(iii) is not an associated company in relation to another person;

(iv) has memorandum or articles or rules that—

(aa) prohibit the payment of dividends to its members; and

(bb) require its profits (if any) or other income to be applied to promoting its objects, and

(cc) require all the assets which would otherwise be available to its members generally to be transferred on its winding up either to another body which operates on a not-for-profit basis and whose purpose is to provide health or social care for the benefit of the community or to another body the objects of which are the promotion of charity and anything incidental or conducive thereto,

(v) has at least one member who is—

(aa) an APMS contractor, a GMS practice or a PMS practice; or

(bb) a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor, a GMS practice or a PMS practice; or

(cc) a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is an APMS contractor, a GMS practice or a PMS practice,

(vi) has a contract with a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board, an APMS contractor, a GMS practice or a PMS practice, for the provision of OOH services, and

(vii) is approved as an employing authority by a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board appointed by the Secretary of State to act on his behalf—

(aa) pursuant to a written application made by the body to it for that purpose; and

(bb) that Trust or Board being satisfied that the body has met all the conditions for being an OOH provider in this regulation.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iii)—

(a) a body corporate is to be treated as another person’s associated company if that person has control of it, except if that person is an employing authority; and

(b) a person shall be taken to have control of a body corporate if he exercises, or is able to exercise, or is entitled to acquire, direct or indirect, control over its affairs.

(3) A company limited by guarantee or other body corporate which provides or is to provide OOH services and which wishes to be approved as an employing authority must make a written application to a Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board appointed by the Secretary of State to act on the Secretary of State’s behalf (“the appointed Trust or Board”).

(4) An application referred to in paragraph (3) may specify the date from which approval by the appointed Trust or Board (if given) shall have effect (“the nominated date”).

(5) If a company limited by guarantee or other body corporate makes an application and—

(a) the appointed Trust or Board is satisfied that the company or other body corporate meets the conditions for approval or will do so at any nominated date which is later than the approval date; and

(b) it approves that application,

that approval shall take effect on the later of the nominated date and the approval date.

(6) If paragraph (5) applies, NHS employment shall be treated as commencing on the later of the nominated date (if any) and the approval date.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation the conditions for approval are those referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) as the case may be.

(8) The appointed Trust or Board may give an OOH provider a notice in writing terminating its participation in the scheme where that provider—

(a) does not have in force a guarantee, indemnity or bond as required by the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 2.C.7;

(b) has ceased to satisfy the conditions for approval;

(c) has notified the Trust or Board that any one of the following events has occurred in respect of it—

(i) a proposal for a voluntary arrangement has been made or approved under Part I of the Insolvency Act 1986(35) (“the 1986 Act”); or

(ii) an administration application has been made, or a notice of intention to appoint an administrator has been filed with the court, or an administrator has been appointed under Schedule B1 to the 1986 Act; or

(iii) a receiver, manager, or administrative receiver has been appointed under Part III of the 1986 Act; or

(iv) a winding-up petition has been presented, a winding-up order has been made or a resolution for voluntary winding-up has been passed under Part IV or Part V of the 1986 Act or an instrument of dissolution has been drawn up in accordance with section 58 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965(36); or

(v) notice has been received by it that it may be struck off the register of companies, or an application to strike it off has been made, under Part XX of the Companies Act 1985(37).

(9) An OOH provider—

(a) must give the appointed Trust or Board notice in writing upon the occurrence of any of the events referred to in paragraph (8)(c) and must give such notice on the same day as that event;

(b) that wishes to cease to participate in the scheme must give the appointed Trust or Board and its employees not less than 3 months notice in writing (to commence with the date of the notice) of that fact.

(10) An OOH provider must cease to participate in the scheme on—

(a) such date as the appointed Trust or Board may specify in a notice under paragraph (8);

(b) the day upon which the period referred to in paragraph (9)(b) expires if a notice under that provision has been given.

CHAPTER 2.B MEMBERSHIP

2.B.1    Eligibility: general

(1) A person is eligible to be an active member of the Scheme if conditions A to C are met and the person is not prevented by regulation 2.B.2, 2.B.3 or 2.B.6.

(2) Condition A is that the person is in NHS employment.

(3) Condition B is that the person—

(a) enters NHS employment on or after 1st April 2008, or

(b) entered NHS employment before that date and on that date was not an active member of the NHS Pension Scheme 1995 in that employment or any other NHS employment,

and meets any one of the “other scheme conditions” (see paragraph (5)).

(4) Condition C is that the person has not reached the age of 75.

(5) The “other scheme conditions” are that—

(a) the person has not previously been an active member of the NHS Pension Scheme 1995,

(b) the person ceased to be an active member of NHS Pension Scheme 1995 at least 12 months before entering the employment mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) without becoming a pensioner member or a deferred member of that Scheme,

(c) the person ceased to be an active member of NHS Pension Scheme 1995 less than 12 months before entering the employment mentioned in paragraph 3(a) or (b) without becoming a pensioner member or a deferred member of that Scheme and has received a repayment of contributions in respect of that membership, or

(d) the person ceased to be an active member of the NHS Pension Scheme 1995 on or after 1st April 2008 on leaving NHS employment and before the person re-entered such employment—

(i) a transfer payment was made in respect of the person under Part M of that Scheme, or

(ii) the person made an application under regulation M2 of that Scheme (exercising a right to transfer or buy-out) from which the person may not withdraw,

but sub-paragraph (d) will not apply if the Secretary of State has permitted such a person to rejoin the NHS Pension Scheme 1995 in the circumstances described in regulation B2(3) of the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations 1995.

(6) This regulation shall apply to any person who has previously been an active member of a corresponding health service scheme as though in paragraph (3) and (5) any reference to—

(a) “NHS Pension Scheme 1995” includes a reference to that corresponding health service scheme, and

(b) “NHS employment” includes a reference to—

(i) employment with an employer in respect of whom a direction has been made under section 7 of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967(38),

(ii) employment to which regulations made under section 10 of the Superannuation Act 1972(39) and having effect in Scotland apply,

(iii) employment to which regulations made under Article 12 of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(40) apply,

(iv) employment to which a scheme made under section 2 of the Superannuation Act 1984 (an Act of Tynwald)(41) applies, and

(v) employment with an employer with whom an agreement has been made under section 235 of the 2006 Act.

2.B.2    Restrictions on eligibility: general

(1) A person who is entitled to the immediate payment of a pension under the Scheme under a regulation that requires the person not to be in NHS employment may only be an active member in accordance with—

(a) regulation 2.D.5 (parital retirement (members aged at least 55)),

(b) regulation 2.G.4 (effect of re-employment on tier 2 ill-health pensions),

(c) regulation 2.D.13 (exceptions to requirement that NHS employment must have ceased), or

(d) Chapter 2.G.

(2) A person is not eligible to be an active member of the Scheme if the person—

(a) became a pensioner member of the NHS Pension Scheme 1995 before 1st April 2008, or

(b) became a pensioner member or a deferred member of that Scheme on or after that date.

(3) A person is not eligible to be an active member of the Scheme in respect of service in an employment if the person is an active member of a superannuation scheme established under section 1 or 9 of the Superannuation Act 1972 in respect of service in that employment.

(4) A person who is employed by a GDS or PDS contractor (other than a dentist performer) is not eligible to be an active member of the Scheme in respect of service in that employment.

(5) A person who holds an honorary appointment and does not at the same time hold any other employment which entitles him to be a member of the Scheme is not eligible to be an active member of the Scheme.

(6) A person is not eligible to be an active member of the Scheme in any further employment if the person—

(a) becomes entitled to a tier 2 pension under regulation 2.D.8, and

(b) opts to exchange that pension for a lump sum in accordance with regulation 2.D.15.

2.B.3    Concurrent employments

(1) This regulation applies if for any period a person holds two or more employments in respect of which the person is (or apart from this regulation would be) eligible to be an active member of the Scheme.

(2) The person may only be such a member in respect of so many hours or, as the case may be, sessions in each such employment as, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, do not, taken together, exceed a comparable whole-time employment not held concurrently with any other employment.

(3) If the person is such a member in respect of two or more employments which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, when taken together exceed a comparable whole-time employment not held concurrently with any other employment, the person is not eligible to be an active member in respect of any employment (or part of an employment) which exceeds a comparable whole-time employment not held concurrently with any other employment.

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), two or more employments taken together exceed a comparable whole-time employment if the total number of hours or sessions under the employments exceeds the number of hours or sessions that would, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, constitute a comparable whole-time employment under which services of the kinds performed in the two or more employments were performed.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation an employment is “whole-time” if it is employment for such number of hours or sessions as in the opinion of the Secretary of State amounts to whole-time employment in the case of an employment for services of the kind performed in the two or more employments.

(6) A person may participate in the Scheme in respect of employment as an officer even if he also participates in Part 3 in respect of concurrent employment as a practitioner.

Joining and leaving the Scheme

2.B.4    Joining the Scheme

(1) A person entering employment with an employing authority in which the person is eligible to be an active member of the Scheme becomes such a member, unless regulation 2.B.5(4) applies (opting out in the first pay period).

(2) A person who is eligible to be such a member by virtue of falling within regulation 2.B.1(3)(b) may opt to become such a member by giving notice in writing to the employing authority.

(3) A person who whilst an active member in any employment has exercised the option to opt out of the Scheme under regulation 2.B.5(1) and is eligible to be an active member—

(a) in that employment, or

(b) in a later employment to which paragraph (1) does not apply because of regulation 2.B.5(5),

may opt to become an active member in the employment in which the member is eligible to be such a member by giving notice in writing to the employing authority in such form as the Secretary of State requires.

(4) A notice under paragraph (3) takes effect—

(a) from the beginning of the first pay period to begin after the notice is received by the employing authority, or

(b) if the notice specifies a date that is the first day of a later pay period, from that date.

(5) A notice under paragraph (3) may not be given by a person who is absent from work for any reason.

(6) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulation 2.B.5(5).

2.B.5    Opting out of the Scheme

(1) A person who is an active member of the Scheme in any employment may opt at any time to cease to be such a member by giving notice in writing to the person’s employing authority.

(2) A person who so opts ceases to be such a member on the date the notice takes effect.

(3) The notice takes effect—

(a) from the beginning of the first pay period to begin after the notice is received by the employing authority, or

(b) if the notice specifies a later date, from the beginning of the first pay period after that in which the specified date falls.

(4) A person within regulation 2.B.4(1) (automatic membership on entering employment) in respect of an employment who gives notice in writing under paragraph (1) before the end of the person’s first pay period in the employment is treated as not having become an active member by virtue of that regulation.

(5) Regulation 2.B.4(1) does not apply to a person entering an employment with an employing authority (“the later employment”) if—

(a) the person has previously given notice under paragraph (1) in respect of an employment with the same authority that has ceased (“the earlier employment”), and

(b) either—

(i) the period beginning with the day following that on which the earlier employment ceased and ending with the day before the later employment begins, or

(ii) the period beginning with the day following that on which a relevant intermediate employment ceased and ending with the day before the later employment begins,

is less than 12 months.

(6) An employment is a relevant intermediate employment for the purposes of paragraph (5) if—

(a) regulation 2.B.4(1) did not apply to the person on entering it because of paragraph (5), and

(b) the person did not opt to become a member of the Scheme in that employment under regulation 2.B.4(3).

2.B.6    Restriction on further participation in the Scheme

(1) A person who ceases to meet any of conditions A to C in regulation 2.B.1 in an employment or is prevented by regulation 2.B.2 or 2.B.3 from continuing to be an active member in an employment must cease to be an active member of the Scheme in that employment.

(2) Accordingly—

(a) a person within paragraph (1) may not make any further contributions to the Scheme under Chapter 2.C, and

(b) any further service of the person is not pensionable service for the purposes of the Scheme.

CHAPTER 2.C CONTRIBUTIONS

Basic contributions by members

2.C.1    Contributions by members

(1) Each active member must make contributions to the Scheme in respect of the member’s pensionable pay in accordance with regulation 2.C.2—

(a) until the member completes 45 years’ pensionable service, or

(b) where the notice required by regulation 2.A.2(3) has been properly received, until the member ceases officer service.

(2) The member’s employing authority in respect of the employment must deduct the member’s contributions from the member’s earnings for the period and pay them to the Secretary of State not later than the 19th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid.

(3) A non-GP provider shall pay C1 contributions to the host Trust or Board.

(4) If a non-GP provider is engaged under a contract of service or for services by an employing authority or is a partner or shareholder in an employing authority that is not an OOH provider, that authority shall—

(a) deduct C1 contributions from any pensionable pay it pays that person, and

(b) if it is not also the host Trust or Board, pay those contributions to that Trust or Board.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), if a non-GP provider is—

(a) an employing authority which is a GMS practice, a PMS practice or an APMS contractor, or

(b) a shareholder or partner in such an employing authority,

that employing authority must pay C5 contributions to the host Trust or Board.

(6) If a non-GP provider is a shareholder or partner in more than one employing authority referred to in paragraph (5), each employing authority must pay C5 contributions on any pensionable pay it pays to the non-GP provider or, as the case may be, on the non-GP provider’s share of the partnership profits, to the host Trust or Board.

(7) If paragraph (4) applies (but paragraph (5) does not) and the employing authority referred to in that paragraph—

(a) is not the host Trust or Board, that authority must pay C5 contributions to the host Trust or Board;

(b) is the host Trust or Board, that Trust or Board must pay C5 contributions to the Secretary of State in respect of any pensionable pay it pays to the non-GP provider.

(8) Contributions which are required to be paid to the host Trust or Board in accordance with this regulation must be paid to that Trust or Board not later than the 7th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid.

(9) It shall be a function of the host Trust or Board to pay the contributions—

(a) paid to it by a non-GP provider;

(b) paid to it by another employing authority;

(c) it is liable to pay by virtue of paragraph (7)(b),

in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, to the Secretary of State not later than the 19th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid.

(10) Without prejudice to any other method of recovery, if in respect of C1 contributions—

(a) a non-GP provider has failed to pay contributions; or

(b) an employing authority has failed to deduct such contributions,

in accordance with this paragraph, the Secretary of State may recover any sum that remains due in respect of those contributions by deduction from any payment by way of benefits to, or in respect of, the member entitled to them if—

(a) the member agrees to such a deduction; and

(b) the deduction is to the member’s advantage.

(11) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) “C1 contributions” means contributions payable under regulation 2.C.1 by a non-GP provider under the scheme;

(b) “C5 contributions” means contributions payable under regulation 2.C.5 by an employing authority in respect of a non-GP provider.

(12) If an employing authority fails to deduct contributions payable by a member in respect of an employment from the member’s earnings and the member agrees, the Secretary of State may recover any sum that remains due in respect of those contributions by deduction from any payment by way of benefits to, or in respect of, the member.

(13) Paragraph (12) does not affect any other right of recovery the Secretary of State may have.

(14) A member who is absent from service in circumstances within regulation 2.A.4(1) to (3) may make contributions to the Scheme in respect of the member’s pensionable pay in accordance with those regulations and regulation 2.C.2.

2.C.2    Members’ contribution rate

(1) Contributions under regulation 2.C.1(1) must be paid at the member’s contribution rate for the period in question.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a member’s contribution rate for that period is the percentage specified in column 2 of the following table in respect of the corresponding pensionable pay range specified in column 1 of the table into which the member’s pensionable earnings fall.

(3) The Secretary of State may make a determination substituting any or all of the pensionable pay amounts or contribution rates specified in the table in paragraph (2) with effect from a date specified in the determination.

(4) Before making a determination under paragraph (3), the Secretary of State must consider—

(a) the advice of the Scheme Actuary; and

(b) in accordance with regulation 1.B.2 (cost sharing), advice from such employee and employer representatives as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

2.C.3    Employees

(1) If, at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year and having no earlier officer service or practitioner service, a member commences pensionable employment (including a zero hours contract) under this Part of these regulations—

(a) that member’s pensionable pay shall be calculated according to the formula—

where—

• EPP is the amount of pensionable pay that the member’s employing authority estimates will be payable to the member in respect of that employment during the 2008-2009 scheme year if that member is in employment on a whole-time basis; and

• NDPE is the number of days of pensionable employment from the date employment commences to the end of the 2008-2009 scheme year, and

(b) contributions payable for the 2008-2009 scheme year shall be those specified in column 2 of the table in paragraph (2) in respect of the amount of pensionable pay referred to in column 1 of that table corresponding to the member’s estimated pensionable pay for the 2008–2009 scheme year calculated in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) If a member holds two or more pensionable employments under this Part of these regulations at the same time, each of those employments shall be treated separately for the purposes of calculating and paying contributions.

(3) If a member who is in employment under this Part of these regulations (“the earlier employment”) which is not a zero hours contract—

(a) commences a further employment (“the later employment”) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year which is not a zero hours contract; and

(b) that later employment is held concurrently with the earlier employment,

the member shall pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the rate specified in column 2 of the table in paragraph (2) in respect of the amount of pensionable pay referred to in column 1 of that table corresponding to the member’s estimated pensionable pay for the 2008–2009 scheme year calculated in accordance with paragraph (1).

(4) If a member—

(a) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year, ceases pensionable employment that is not a zero hours contract (“the earlier employment”) and is not held concurrently with another pensionable employment which is not a zero hours contract; and

(b) after so ceasing, the member next commences a further pensionable employment that is not a zero hours contract (“the later employment”) and is not held concurrently with another pensionable employment which is not a zero hours contract,

the member shall continue to pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the same rate as that which applied to the earlier employment.

(5) If a member—

(a) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year, ceases to be in two or more employments that were not zero hours contracts and were at one time held concurrently with each other (“the earlier employments”);

(b) those earlier employments did not all cease on the same day; and

(c) that member next commences a further pensionable employment that is not a zero hours contract (“the later employment”),

the member shall continue to pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the same rate as that which applied to whichever of the earlier employments was the last to cease.

(6) If a member—

(a) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year, ceases to be in two or more employments that were not zero hours contracts and were at one time held concurrently with each other (“the earlier employments”);

(b) the last two or more of those earlier employments ceased on the same day; and

(c) that member next commences a further pensionable employment that is not a zero hours contract (“the later employment”),

the member shall pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the rate specified in column 2 of the table in paragraph (2) in respect of the amount of pensionable earnings referred to in column 1 of that table corresponding to the member’s pensionable pay for the 2008–2009 scheme year calculated in accordance with paragraph (1).

(7) If a member—

(a) commences pensionable employment (other than a zero hours contract) under this Part of these regulations at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year (“the later employment”);

(b) has previous service under Part 3 of these regulations during that scheme year in respect of which he was liable to pay contributions to the scheme under that Part and that service was—

(i) as a practitioner (other than a dentist performer), or

(ii) as a dentist performer, or

(iii) both as a practitioner and as a dentist performer (one of which ceased before the other), and

(iv) all the previous Practitioner service ceased prior to the commencement of the later service,

that member shall pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the rate determined under Part 3 of these regulations for that earlier service that ceased immediately prior to the commencement of the later employment.

(8) If a member—

(a) commences pensionable employment (other than a zero hours contract) under this Part of these regulations (“the later service”) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year;

(b) has previous service under Part 3 of these regulations during that scheme year in respect of which he was liable to pay contributions to the scheme under that Part and that service was both as a practitioner and as a dentist performer, but

(c) all such Practitioner service had ceased on the same day and prior to the commencement of the later employment,

the member shall pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the rate specified in column 2 of the table in paragraph (2) in respect of the amount of pensionable pay referred to in column 1 of that table corresponding to the member’s pensionable pay for the 2008–2009 scheme year calculated in accordance with paragraph (1).

(9) If, in respect of a member, none of the foregoing paragraphs of this regulation apply, for the purpose of determining a member’s relevant contribution rate, the Secretary of State must determine the amount of the member’s pensionable pay to be attributed to the 2008-2009 scheme year and, in doing so, shall (in addition to the matters referred to in paragraph 2.C.2(4)) have regard to that pensionable pay attributable to pensionable employment comparable to the member’s pensionable employment, prevailing pay scales and prevailing rates of pensionable allowances.

(10) If a non-GP provider commences pensionable employment for the first time (having no earlier employment or service under Parts 2 or 3) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year—

(a) that non-GP provider’s pensionable pay in respect of that scheme year shall be the amount agreed between the host Trust or Board on the one hand and the provider on the other hand as representing their estimate of the provider’s pensionable pay from all provider sources for that year; and

(b) contributions payable for that part year shall be those specified in column 2 of the table in paragraph (2) in respect of the amount of pensionable earnings referred to in column 1 of that table which corresponds to those estimated earnings.

(11) If a non-GP provider—

(a) commences further pensionable employment (“the later employment”) at any time during the 2008-2009 scheme year;

(b) at the time of commencing that later employment—

(i) has other pensionable employment as a non-GP provider in respect of which he is liable to pay contributions in accordance with paragraph (10) of this regulation, or

(ii) had previously been, but no longer is, in other pensionable employment in respect of which he was liable to pay contributions in accordance with paragraph (10) of this regulation,

(“the earlier employment”),

the non-GP provider shall continue to pay contributions in respect of the later employment at the same rate as that which applied to the earlier employment.

(12) If paragraph (11) applies and the non-GP provider had two or more earlier pensionable employments, that non-GP provider shall continue to pay contributions in respect of the later employment—

(a) at the same rate as that which applied to whichever of the earlier employments was the last to cease, or

(b) if all of those earlier pensionable employments, or the last two or more of them, ceased on the same day, in accordance with paragraph (10) of this regulation.

(13) If paragraph (11) would apply but for the fact that the earlier officer service, or one or more of them in the case of multiple earlier officer services was a zero hours contract, the non-GP provider shall pay contributions in respect of the later employment referred to in paragraph (11)(a) at the rate determined in accordance with paragraph (10).

(14) In any case where paragraph (1) applies and it is apparent at the time when the person becomes an active member in an employment under this Part the person’s pensionable pay in that employment includes any amount that is variable, that amount is to be taken as such amount as the employing authority consider appropriate for the 2008/09 scheme year and, in the case of a member who works part time, is the variable amount that would be paid in respect of a comparable whole time employment.

(15) If a transfer payment from a corresponding health service scheme is accepted in respect of a person, the person is treated for the purposes of this regulation as if—

(a) the person was an active member of the Scheme during any period during which the person was an active member of that scheme, and

(b) the pay by reference to which the person’s benefits under that scheme were calculated were pensionable pay for the purposes of the Scheme.

(16) If, apart from this paragraph, the pensionable pay determined for a scheme year in respect of a member’s employment would not be a whole number of pounds, it must be rounded down to the nearest whole pound.

(17) In this regulation “a zero hours contract” means pensionable employment under this Part of the regulations under which—

(a) an employing authority does not guarantee to provide work for the member;

(b) there are no specified working hours or working patterns;

(c) the member is paid only for work actually done under it.

2.C.4    Part-time employees

(1) The pensionable pay for the 2008-2009 scheme year in respect of a member’s part-time employment is such amount as would, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, be the pensionable pay for a comparable whole-time employment under which services of the kinds performed in the part-time employment were performed on the assumption in paragraph (2).

(2) In forming that opinion, the Secretary of State must assume that the pensionable pay for the part-time employment is the part-time amount.

(3) In paragraph (2) “the part-time amount” means the amount that would be the pensionable pay for the part-time employment if it were determined in the same way as the pensionable pay for a whole-time employment is determined under regulation 2.C.3.

(4) If, apart from this paragraph, the pensionable pay for a scheme year in respect of a member’s part-time employment would not be a whole number of pounds, it must be rounded down to the nearest whole pound.

Contributions by employing authorities

2.C.5    Contributions by employing authorities: general

(1) Each employing authority must contribute to the scheme, in respect of each person who is an active member of the scheme in an employment with the authority, at such a rate as the Secretary of State specifies from time to time.

(2) In specifying such a rate, the Secretary of State must take account of the cost of providing for any increase in pensions under the Scheme as a result of orders made under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971(42) and section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975(43).

(3) Any contributions payable under this regulation must be paid to the Secretary of State on the same day as the member’s contributions under regulation 2.C.1.

(4) If for any period a person holds more than one employment with an employing authority in respect of which the person is an active member of the Scheme, this regulation and regulation 2.C.6 apply in respect of each of those employments as if it were the only employment held.

(5) The rate for the period commencing on 1^st April 2008 and ending on 31^st March 2009 is 14.0%.

2.C.6    Contributions by employing authorities: members becoming entitled to pensions under regulation 2.D.11

(1) If a pension becomes payable to a member under regulation 2.D.11 (early retirement on termination of employment by employing authority), the employing authority must make a contribution to the Secretary of State in respect of—

(a) the cost of providing the pension under that regulation for the period between the member leaving the employment in which the member was an active member and reaching the age of 65, and

(b) the cost of providing for any increase in the rate of the benefits referred to in sub-paragraph (a) for that period as a result of orders made under section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 (so far as not already met by contributions made under regulation 2.C.5(1)).

(2) If, on a pension under regulation 2.D.11 becoming payable to a member in respect of the termination of the member’s employment with an employing authority (“the first authority”), a pension also becomes payable to the member in respect of pensionable service with one or more other employing authorities, the first authority must also make any additional contributions due in accordance with paragraph (1) in respect of that other pension.

(3) An employing authority is not responsible for meeting any costs in respect of the early payment of benefits to the extent that the benefits are attributable to contributions made under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11.

(4) Any contributions payable under this regulation must be paid—

(a) except in a case within paragraph (b), by a single payment made within one month of the date on which the pension under regulation 2.D.11 became payable, or

(b) if the Secretary of State agrees, by not more than 5 equal annual instalments, the first of which is to be paid within one month of the date on which the pension under regulation 2.D.11 became payable and the others by 31 October in each of the following 4 scheme years.

(5) The following amounts must be determined by the Secretary of State on the advice of the Scheme actuary—

(a) the costs mentioned in paragraph (1),

(b) the amount of the payment mentioned in paragraph (4)(a), and

(c) the amount of each of the instalments payable under paragraph (4)(b).

2.C.7    Guarantees, indemnities and bonds

(1) This regulation applies if—

(a) an employing authority fails to pay contributions in accordance with regulation 2.C.5 or 2.C.6, and

(b) the authority is—

(i) a GMS practice;

(ii) a PMS practice;

(iii) an APMS contractor; or

(iv) an OOH provider.

(2) The Secretary of State may require the authority to have in force a guarantee, indemnity or bond which provides for payment to the Secretary of State, should that authority fail to meet them, of all future liabilities of the authority under—

(a) this Part, or

(b) the National Health Service Pension Scheme (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations 2000(44).

(3) The guarantee, indemnity or bond must be in such form, in respect of such an amount and provided by such a person as the Secretary of State approves for the purpose.

Additional contributions to purchase additional pensions

2.C.8    Member’s option to pay additional periodical contributions to purchase additional pension

(1) An active member may opt to make additional periodical contributions by monthly instalments during the contribution option period—

(a) to increase by a specified amount the benefits payable to the member under Chapter 2.D (retirement benefits for members)(including if a member dies after a pension becomes payable, the benefits paid to a surviving partner and dependent children at the same rate as the member’s pension for three or six months under Chapter 2.E (death benefits)), or

(b) to increase by a specified amount those benefits and to increase the benefits otherwise payable in respect of surviving partners and dependent children under Chapter 2.E (death benefits) in respect of the member.

(2) A member may exercise the option under paragraph (1) more than once.

(3) If a member exercises an option under paragraph (1), the member’s employing authority must —

(a) deduct the member’s contributions from the member’s earnings, and

(b) pay them to the Secretary of State not later than the 19th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid.

(4) The annual amount of the periodical contributions payable at the beginning of the contribution option period must not be —

(a) an amount less than the minimum amount, or

(b) an amount other than a multiple of the minimum amount.

(5) In paragraph (4) “the minimum amount” means the amount that would, in accordance with tables prepared for the Secretary of State by the Scheme actuary for the scheme year in which the contributions are paid, be the amount of the contributions required to secure an increase in the member’s pension of—

(a) £250, or

(b) such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine,

assuming that the contributions are made in accordance with the option for the remainder of the option period.

(6) The tables referred to in paragraph (5)—

(a) may specify different amounts for different descriptions of members, and

(b) may be amended during a scheme year,

but no such amendment affects the contributions payable during that year under any option, except an option under which contributions begin to be paid after the date on which the amendment takes effect.

(7) The total increase in the member’s pension as a result of contributions made under this regulation, taken together with any increase as a result of—

(a) contributions made under regulation 2.C.10 (member’s option to pay additional lump sum contributions to purchase additional pension), or

(b) contributions made under regulation 2.C.11 (payment of additional lump sum contributions by employing authority),

may not exceed £5000 or such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine (taking into account any increase in the member’s pension as a result of the exercise of an option in accordance with regulations 3.C.6 to 3.C.15).

(8) In this Part “the contribution option period”, in relation to an option under this regulation, means a period of whole years, that—

(a) is specified in the option,

(b) begins with the pay period in respect of which the first contribution is made under the option,

(c) is not less than 1 year nor more than 20 years, and

(d) does not end later than the member’s 65th birthday.

2.C.9    Effect of member being absent or leaving and rejoining the Scheme during the contribution option period

(1) This paragraph applies if during the contribution option period a member who has exercised the option under regulation 2.C.8—

(a) is absent from work because of illness or injury,

(b) is on maternity leave,

(c) is on adoption leave,

(d) is on paternity leave,

(e) is on parental leave, or

(f) is on a leave of absence of the kind mentioned in regulation 2.A.4(3).

(2) If paragraph (1) applies—

(a) the contributions under the option continue to be payable unless the member ceases paying contributions under regulation 2.C.1, and

(b) where the member does so cease, the member may continue to make contributions in accordance with the option if the member resumes making contributions under regulation 2.C.1 before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the member first ceased to pay those contributions.

(3) This paragraph applies if—

(a) a member exercises the option under regulation 2.C.8,

(b) the member ceases to be an active member during the contribution option period, and

(c) the member becomes an active member again before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the member ceased to be an active member.

(4) If paragraph (3) applies, the member may continue to make contributions in accordance with the option after becoming an active member again unless a repayment of contributions has been made to the member under regulation 2.C.18.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4) it does not matter whether the member has paid any of the repaid contributions back to the Secretary of State.

2.C.10    Member’s option to pay lump sum contribution to purchase additional pension

(1) An active member may opt to make a single lump sum contribution—

(a) to increase by a specified amount the benefits payable to the member under Chapter 2.D (retirement benefits for members) (including if a member dies after a pension becomes payable, the benefits paid to a surviving partner and dependent children at the same rate as the member’s pension for three or six months under Chapter 2.E (death benefits)), or

(b) to increase by a specified amount those benefits and to increase the benefits otherwise payable in respect of surviving partners or dependent children under Chapter 2.E (death benefits) in respect of the member.

(2) A member may only make a contribution under this regulation of an amount that is—

(a) not less than the minimum amount, or

(b) in the case of an amount exceeding the minimum amount, a multiple of the minimum amount.

(3) In paragraph (2) “the minimum amount” means the amount that is, in accordance with tables prepared for the Secretary of State by the Scheme actuary, the amount of the single contribution required at the time that the option is exercised to secure an increase in the member’s pension of—

(a) £250, or

(b) such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine.

(4) A member may exercise the option under paragraph (1) more than once.

(5) If a member exercises an option under paragraph (1)—

(a) the additional contribution is payable by the member to the employing authority—

(i) by deduction from the member’s earnings or otherwise, and

(ii) before the end of the period of 1 month beginning with the day on which the member is notified by the Secretary of State that the option is accepted, and

(b) the employing authority must pay it to the Secretary of State not later than the 19th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid or, as the case may be, the authority received payment of the contribution.

(6) The total increase in the member’s pension as a result of contributions made under this regulation, taken together with any increase as a result of—

(a) contributions made under regulation 2.C.8 (member’s option to pay additional periodical contributions to purchase additional pension), or

(b) contributions made under regulation 2.C.11 (payment of additional lump sum contributions by employing authority),

may not exceed £5000 or such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine (taking into account any increase in the member’s pension as a result of the exercise of an option in accordance with regulations 3.C.6 to 3.C.15).

2.C.11    Payment of additional lump sum contributions by employing authority

(1) The employing authority of an active member may opt to make a single lump sum contribution—

(a) to increase by a specified amount the benefits payable to the member under Chapter 2.D (retirement benefits for members) (including if a member dies after a pension becomes payable, the benefits paid to a surviving partner and dependent children at the same rate as the member’s pension for three or six months under Chapter 2.E (death benefits)), or

(b) to increase by a specified amount those benefits and to increase the benefits otherwise payable in respect of surviving partners or dependent children under Chapter 2.E (death benefits) in respect of the member.

(2) An employing authority may only make a contribution under this regulation of an amount that is—

(a) not less than the minimum amount (as defined in regulation 2.C.10(3)), and

(b) in the case of an amount exceeding the minimum amount, a multiple of the minimum amount (as so defined).

(3) An employing authority may only exercise the option under paragraph (1) with the member’s consent, but may exercise it more than once in respect of the same member.

(4) The total increase in the member’s pension as a result of contributions made under this regulation, taken together with any increase as a result of—

(a) contributions made under regulation 2.C.8 (member’s option to pay additional periodical contributions to purchase additional pension), or

(b) contributions made under regulation 2.C.10 (member’s option to pay lump sum contribution to purchase additional pension),

may not exceed £5000 or such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine (taking into account any increase in the member’s pension as a result of the exercise of an option in accordance with regulations 3.C.6 to 3.C.15).

(5) A contribution under this regulation must be paid by the employing authority to the Secretary of State within one month of the date on which the authority gave the Secretary of State notice under regulation 2.C.12(2).

2.C.12    Exercise of options under regulations 2.C.8, 2.C.10 and 2.C.11

(1) A member exercising an option under regulation 2.C.8 or 2.C.10 must do so by giving notice in writing to the employing authority giving such information as may be required and must, at the same time, provide the Secretary of State with a copy of that notice.

(2) An employing authority exercising an option under regulation 2.C.11 must do so by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State, giving such information as may be required.

(3) An option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 may not be exercised during a period whilst the member is absent from work for any reason.

(4) For the purposes of this Part—

(a) a member is treated as exercising an option under regulation 2.C.8 or 2.C.10 on the date on which the employing authority receives the member’s notice under paragraph (1), and

(b) an employing authority is treated as exercising an option under regulation 2.C.11 on the date on which the Secretary of State receives the authority’s notice under paragraph (2).

(5) The Secretary of State may refuse to accept an option exercised under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 and must do so if not satisfied that—

(a) the member is in good health, and

(b) in the case of an option exercised under regulation 2.C.8, there is no reason why the member’s health should prevent the member from paying the contributions for the whole contribution period.

(6) If the Secretary of State refuses to accept such an option—

(a) the Secretary of State must give notice in writing of that fact—

(i) in the case of an option exercised under regulation 2.C.8 or 2.C.10, to the member, and

(ii) in the case of an option exercised under regulation 2.C.11, to the employing authority and the member, and

(b) this Part applies as if the option had not been exercised.

(7) This Part also applies as if an option under regulation 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 had not been exercised if—

(a) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.10, the payment is not received by the employing authority—

(i) before the end of the period of 1 month beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State notifies the member of the acceptance of the option, or

(ii) if it is earlier, on or before the member’s 65th birthday, and

(b) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.11, the payment is not received by the Secretary of State—

(i) before the end of the period of 1 month beginning with the day on which the authority gave the Secretary of State notice under paragraph (2), or

(ii) if it is earlier, on or before the member’s 65th birthday.

2.C.13    Cancellation of options under regulation 2.C.8

(1) A member may cancel an option under regulation 2.C.8(1) by giving the employing authority notice in writing.

(2) If a member cancels such an option, the additional periodical contributions cease to be payable for the first pay period beginning after the date on which the employing authority receives the notice and all subsequent pay periods.

(3) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the requirement in regulation 2.C.8(7) (overall maximum) will not be met if the member continues to makes periodical contributions under an option exercised under regulation 2.C.8, the Secretary of State may cancel the option by giving the member notice in writing.

(4) If the Secretary of State cancels such an option, the additional periodical contributions cease to be payable for the first pay period beginning after the date specified in the notice and all subsequent pay periods.

2.C.14    Effect of payment of additional contributions under this Chapter

(1) This regulation applies if—

(a) an option is exercised by a member under regulation 2.C.8 and all the contributions to be made under the option are made,

(b) an option is exercised by a member under regulation 2.C.10 or by a member’s employing authority under regulation 2.C.11 and the lump sum payment is made.

(2) Subject to paragraph (9), the member’s pension is increased by the full amount of the increase to be made in accordance with the terms of the option, after the final adjustment in that amount in accordance with regulation 2.C.17 (revaluation of increases bought under options).

(3) Paragraph (2) is without prejudice to any increase or reduction falling to be made in the total amount of the member’s pension under Chapter 2.D as a result of the member becoming entitled to payment of the pension before or after reaching the age of 65 (see regulations 2.D.3 to 2.D.5).

(4) In the case of an option under regulation 2.C.8(1)(b), 2.C.10(1)(b) or 2.C.11(1)(b), any pension payable under Chapter 2.E (death benefits) in respect of the member is increased by the appropriate amount.

(5) In paragraph (4), subject to regulations 2.C.15 and 2.C.16(3), “the appropriate amount” means—

(a) in the case of a pension under regulation 2.E.1 the amount of which is determined under regulation 2.E.3 (active members) or 2.E.5 (deferred members), 37.5% of the amount of the increase mentioned in paragraph (2) that would have applied in the member’s case if the member had become entitled to the increase on the date of death (disregarding paragraph (3)),

(b) in the case of a pension under regulation 2.E.1 the amount of which is determined under regulation 2.E.4 (pensioner members), 37.5% of the amount of the increase in the member’s pension as a result of the option,

(c) in the case of a pension under regulation 2.E.8 the amount of which is determined under regulation 2.E.10 (active members) or 2.E.12 (deferred members), the appropriate fraction (within the meaning of regulation 2.E.10 or, as the case may be, 2.E.12) of 75% of the amount of the increase mentioned in paragraph (2) that would have applied in the member’s case if the member had become entitled to the increase on the date of death (disregarding paragraph (3)), and

(d) in the case of a pension under regulation 2.E.8 the amount of which is determined under regulation 2.E.11 (pensioner members), the appropriate fraction (within the meaning of that regulation) of 75% the amount of the increase in the member’s pension as a result of the option.

(6) Except as provided in regulation 2.D.5, no separate claim is required as respects any additional pension payable by virtue of this regulation.

(7) This regulation is subject to regulation 2.C.15.

(8) For the effect of the options under 2.C.8 where this regulation does not apply, see regulation 2.C.16 (effect of part payment of periodical contributions).

(9) Paragraph (10) applies only to an option under regulations 2.C.8(1)(a), 2.C.10(1)(a) or 2.C.11(1)(a), where a pension is to be paid for either three or six months at the same rate as the member’s pension was being paid at the date of that member’s death.

(10) Any increase to the member’s pension shall be included only in a benefit payable to a surviving partner or a dependent child in respect of the member under these Regulations whilst it is being paid at the rate and for the duration of one of the periods referred to in paragraph (9).

2.C.15    Effect of death or early payment of pension after option exercised under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11

(1) If a member in respect of whom an option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 has been exercised dies before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the option was exercised—

(a) an amount equal to the contributions paid under the option must be paid—

(i) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.8 or 2.C.10, to the member’s personal representatives, and

(ii) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.11, to the employing authority which made the contribution, and

(b) regulation 2.C.14(4) does not apply.

(2) If a member in respect of whom an option under regulation 2.C.8 has been exercised dies after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the option was exercised and before the end of the contribution option period, regulation 2.C.14(4) applies as if all contributions due after the date of death had been made.

(3) If a member in respect of whom an option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 has been exercised becomes entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.8 as a result of a claim made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the option was exercised—

(a) regulation 2.C.14(2) and (4) does not apply, and

(b) an amount equal to the contributions paid under the option must be paid—

(i) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.8 or 2.C.10, to the member, and

(ii) in the case of an option under regulation 2.C.11, to the employing authority which made the contribution.

(4) If a member in respect of whom an option under regulation 2.C.8 has been exercised becomes entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.8 before the end of the contribution option period as a result of a claim made after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the option was exercised, regulation 2.C.14(2) and (4) applies as if all contributions under the option had been made.

(5) If a member in respect of whom an option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 has been exercised—

(a) becomes entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.4, 2.D.10, or 2.D.11, or

(b) becomes entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.5 before reaching the age of 65,

the increase in the member’s pension under Chapter 2.D which would otherwise be due under regulation 2.C.14(2) or regulation 2.C.16 is reduced.

(6) The amount of the reduction is such amount as the Secretary of State determines, after consulting the Scheme actuary, to be appropriate by reason of the payment of the increase before the member reaches 65.

(7) This regulation is subject to regulation 2.C.16.

2.C.16    Effect of part payment of periodical contributions

(1) This regulation applies if—

(a) the full number and amount of contributions due under an option under regulation 2.C.8 for the whole contribution option period are not made, and

(b) regulation 2.C.15(1) to (4) does not apply.

(2) The increase in the member’s pension under Chapter 2.D is the appropriate proportion of the increase that would have been made under regulation 2.C.14(2) if the full number and amount of contributions had been made (but taking account of regulation 2.C.15(5) if that applies).

(3) In the case of an option under regulation 2.C.8(1)(b), the increase in any benefit payable under Chapter 2.E (death benefits) in respect of the member is the appropriate proportion of the increase that would have been made under regulation 2.C.14(4) if the full number and amount of contributions had been made (but taking account of regulation 2.C.15(5) if that applies).

(4) For the purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), the appropriate proportion is calculated in accordance with such method as the Scheme actuary may determine and specify in guidance given to the Secretary of State.

(5) In making a determination under paragraph (4), the Scheme actuary must have regard to—

(a) the proportion that the total contributions paid bears to the full amount of contributions due under an option under regulation 2.C.8 for the whole contribution option period, and

(b) the preservation requirements.

2.C.17    Revaluation of increases bought under options: members’ pensions

(1) This regulation applies for the purposes of determining the final amount of the increase in a member’s pension as a result of the exercise of an option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11.

(2) The amount of that increase immediately before the beginning date for that pension is found as follows.

Step 1

Calculate the amount of the increase in accordance with regulations 2.C.14 to 2.C.16 immediately before that date to find “the basic amount”.

Step 2

Multiply the basic amount by the retail prices index for the second month before that in which the person becomes entitled to it, to find the Step 2 amount.

Step 3

Divide the Step 2 amount by the retail prices index for the month in which the option was exercised to find the Step 3 amount.

Step 4

Add to the Step 3 amount any amount by which the Step 3 amount would be increased under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 if it were the amount of the member’s pension, to find the Step 4 amount.

Step 5

Divide the Step 4 amount by the Step 3 amount to find the Step 5 factor.

Step 6

Divide the Step 3 amount by the Step 5 factor to find the adjusted basic amount.

(3) The amount of the increase in a member’s pension as a result of the exercise of an option under regulation 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 as at the beginning date for that pension is—

(a) if the adjusted basic amount is greater than the basic amount, the adjusted amount, and

(b) otherwise the basic amount.

(4) In this regulation “the beginning date”, in relation to a pension, means the date on which it is treated as beginning for the purposes of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (see section 8(2) of that Act).

Repayment of contributions

2.C.18    Repayment of contributions

(1) The contributions made by a member under this Chapter are not repayable in any circumstances except if—

(a) paragraph (2) applies, or

(b) Chapter 5 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds) applies and the payment is made in accordance with that Chapter.

(2) This paragraph applies if—

(a) a person who is not a pensioner member ceases to be an active member and does not continue to be, or become, an active member for the purposes of Part 3 within 12 months of ceasing officer service,

(b) the person does not fall within sub-paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of regulation 2.D.1(2) (former members entitled to a pension),

(c) paragraph (1)(b) does not apply, and

(d) the person claims repayment of contributions under this regulation by applying in writing to the Secretary of State.

(3) If paragraph (1)(b) applies, the person is entitled to be paid the amount to which the person is entitled under Chapter 5 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act, less—

(a) such part of any contributions equivalent premium paid in respect of the person as is permitted by or under section 61 of the 1993 Act, and

(b) an amount equal to the income tax payable under section 205 of the 2004 Act (short service refund lump sum charge) as a result of the repayment.

(4) If paragraph (2) applies, the person is entitled to be paid an amount equal to the sum of the contributions made by the person under this Chapter, less the amounts mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) and (b).

(5) If a repayment is made under this regulation, the member’s rights under the Scheme are extinguished unless the person or the person’s spouse or civil partner is entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension under the Scheme and a contributions equivalent payment has not been paid.

(6) A person—

(a) who is entitled to a repayment of contributions under this regulation, and

(b) whose pensionable service did not cease because the person’s employment was terminated at the person’s request,

is entitled to interest on the amount of the repayment unless the person’s pensionable service ceased because the person’s employment was terminated by reason of misconduct or inefficiency.

(7) The interest is calculated on a compound basis at the rate of 2.5% per year, with yearly rests, for the period starting on 1st April after the contributions were paid and ending with the day the member leaves pensionable service.

This is subject to paragraphs (8) and (9).

(8) Paragraph (7) does not apply if paragraph (1)(b) applies and the person is entitled to a greater amount of interest under Chapter 5 of Part 4 of the 1993 Act.

(9) So far as the contributions were paid under another scheme and were included in a transfer payment to the Scheme—

(a) interest for the period before the transfer payment was made is calculated in accordance with the scheme making the transfer payment (subject to any provision made in any enactment applicable to the transfer), and

(b) paragraph (7) does not apply as respects that period.

CHAPTER 2.D MEMBERS’ RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Entitlement to pensions

2.D.1    Normal retirement pensions

(1) The general rule is that a member is entitled to a pension payable for life in respect of any period of pensionable service (“the relevant service”) if the member—

(a) has reached the age of 65, and

(b) either—

(i) has ceased to be employed in NHS employment and has claimed payment of the pension, or

(ii) will reach the age of 75 on the next day.

This is subject to paragraph (2), regulation 2.D.13 (exceptions to requirement that NHS employment must have ceased) and the following provisions of this Part.

(2) A person to whom paragraph (1) applies is not entitled to a pension under this regulation unless—

(a) the member is entitled to count at least 2 years of qualifying service in respect of the relevant service, or

(b) a transfer value payment has been accepted by the Scheme during the relevant service under Chapter 2.F (transfers), otherwise than from an occupational pension scheme,

(c) the member is entitled to a pension under this regulation in respect of any previous period of pensionable service, or

(d) the member has reached the age of 65.

(3) A pension to which a member is entitled under this regulation becomes payable immediately the member becomes entitled to it.

(4) The amount of the annual pension payable under this regulation (disregarding any additional pension) is given by the formula—

where—

• RP is the member’s reckonable pay, and

• LRS is the length of the member’s relevant service, expressed in days.

(5) A claim referred to in paragraph (1)(b)(i) and made in accordance with regulation 2.J.2, takes effect from the date the claim is received by the Secretary of State.

(6) This regulation does not apply to pensions derived from pension credit rights.

(7) In this Chapter “NHS employment” includes—

(a) employment with an employer in respect of whom a direction has been made under section 7 of the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967(45), and

(b) employment with an employer with whom an agreement has been made under section 235 of the 2006 Act.

2.D.2    Pension credit members

(1) The general rule is that a pension credit member is entitled to a pension for life derived from the member’s pension credit rights if the member has reached 65 and has claimed payment of the pension.

(2) The pension becomes payable—

(a) when the pension credit member reaches 65, or

(b) if it is later, when the pension sharing order under which the member is entitled to the pension credit takes effect.

(3) The pension must be of such an amount that its value is equal to the member’s pension credit, as calculated in accordance with regulations made under paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 5 to the 1999 Act.

(4) A claim under paragraph (1) must be made by notice in writing in such form as the Secretary of State requires and takes effect from the date specified in the claim as the date on which the pension is to become payable.

2.D.3    Late payment of pension with actuarial increase

(1) This regulation applies if a member becomes entitled to immediate payment of pension under regulation 2.D.1 after reaching the age of 65.

(2) So much of the amount of the pension to which the member would otherwise be entitled under that regulation (before any commutation under regulation 2.D.14) as is attributable—

(a) to the member’s pensionable service before that age; and

(b) to any contributions paid under regulations 2.C.8, 2.C.10 or 2.C.11 before that age,

is increased.

(3) The amount of the increase must be calculated in accordance with guidance and tables provided by the Scheme actuary to the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation.

(4) In preparing that guidance and those tables the Scheme actuary must use such factors as the Scheme actuary considers appropriate, having regard, in particular, to the period after reaching the age of 65 before the member becomes entitled to immediate payment of the pension and the life expectancy of the member.

2.D.4    Early payment of pensions with actuarial reduction

(1) A member who has not reached the age of 65 is entitled to immediate payment of a reduced pension payable for life if the member—

(a) has reached the age of 55,

(b) meets the condition in regulation 2.D.1(2)(a) or (b),

(c) has ceased to be employed in NHS employment, and

(d) has claimed payment of the pension.

(2) The amount of the annual pension under this regulation—

(a) is first calculated as mentioned in regulation 2.D.1(4) (and, if additional pension is payable, in accordance with regulation 2.C.14(2) or 2.C.16(2)), and

(b) then that amount is reduced by such amount as the Secretary of State determines, after consulting the Scheme actuary, to be appropriate by reason of the payment of the pension before the member reaches 65.

(3) A claim under paragraph (1) must be made by notice in writing in such form as the Secretary of State requires and takes effect—

(a) in the case of a deferred member, from the date specified in the claim as the date on which the pension is to become payable,

(b) in the case of an active member, from the day immediately following the day on which the member ceased to be employed in NHS employment.

(4) A member shall not be entitled to a pension under this regulation if the Secretary of State determines, having taken advice from the Scheme actuary, that the pension, as reduced under paragraph (1), would be insufficient to meet his liability to provide a guaranteed minimum pension.

2.D.5    Partial retirement (members aged at least 55)

(1) An active member may exercise an option under this regulation if—

(a) the member has reached the age of 55 and continues to be employed in the employment in which the member is an active member, or where the member has more than one such employment, in at least one of those employments;

(b) the member would be entitled to a pension for life, by virtue of regulation 2.D.1(1)(b)(i) and not regulation 2.D.1(1)(b)(ii), if the member had—

(i) reached the age of 65,

(ii) ceased to be so employed, and

(iii) claimed payment of the pension,

(c) the terms on which the member holds the employment or employments referred to in (a) change, and

(d) as a result the annual rate of the member’s pensionable pay is reduced to 90% or less of the amount of the member’s pensionable pay during the period of 12 months ending with the option day.

(2) If the member was not an active member during the whole of the period of 12 months mentioned in paragraph (1)(d), that paragraph applies as if the member’s pensionable pay during that period were—

where—

• PP is the member’s pensionable pay for the part of that period during which the member was an active member, and

• N is the number of days in that period on which the member was an active member.

(3) The option may only be exercised by notice in writing in such form as the Secretary of State requires and must be accompanied by a statement in writing by the employing authority, or employing authorities, that the conditions in paragraph (1)(c) and (d) are met.

(4) The option must specify—

(a) the percentage of the member’s pension (excluding any additional pension) in respect of which the member claims immediate payment (“the specified percentage”), and

(b) whether the member claims immediate payment of additional pension (if any).

(5) A member who duly exercises the option under this regulation is entitled—

(a) in the case of a member who has reached the age of 65, to immediate payment of the specified percentage of the pension to which the member would be entitled under regulation 2.D.1 if the member had ceased to be employed in one or more employments on the option day (disregarding any additional pension, but subject to any increase under regulation 2.D.3),

(b) in the case of a member who has not reached the age of 65, to immediate payment of the specified percentage of the pension to which the member would be entitled under regulation 2.D.4 if the member had ceased to be employed in one or more employments on the option day (disregarding any additional pension), and

(c) if the option specifies that the member claims immediate payment of additional pension, the additional pension—

(i) in a case within sub-paragraph (a), to an increase of the same percentage as would be made in that pension under regulation 2.D.3 if the member had ceased to be employed on the option day, and

(ii) in a case within sub-paragraph (b), to a reduction of the same amount as would have been made in that pension under regulation 2.D.4 if the member had so ceased.

(6) The specified percentage must be such that—

(a) the pension to which the member becomes entitled as a result of the option (before the exercise of the option under regulation 2.D.14 and disregarding any additional pension)—

(i) is not less than the amount of the pension payable by reference to 20% of the member’s pensionable service at the end of the option day (disregarding any additional pension), and

(ii) taken together with any such increase to which the member becomes entitled as a result of the option (before any such commutation), is not less than 0.05% of the member’s lifetime allowance on the option day,

(b) the percentage of the pension (other than additional pension) in respect of which the member does not require immediate payment is not less than the amount of the pension payable by reference to 20% of the member’s pensionable service at the end of the option day (disregarding any additional pension), and

(c) that pensionable service referred to in (b) is at least 1 year, within the meaning of regulation 2.A.3 in the case of a part-time member, at the end of that date.

(7) The option under this regulation may only be exercised on no more than two occasions and the Secretary of State shall take advice from the Scheme actuary regarding—

(a) any benefits to be paid after the exercise of the first option (but before the exercise of the second option);

(b) any benefits to be paid after the exercise of any second option, and

(c) the final payment.

(8) In this regulation “the option day” means the day before the reduction in pensionable pay by virtue of which the option is exercisable takes effect.

(9) For the purposes of this Part, a member who has exercised the option under this regulation—

(a) is a pensioner member as respects the pension to which the member is immediately entitled as a result of exercising the option and the specified percentage of the pensionable service that pension represents, as respects which the member is an active member on the option day,

(b) if the member continues in pensionable service after the option day, is an active member as respects—

(i) the pensionable service after that day in which the member continues, and

(ii) so much of the pensionable service as respects which the member is an active member on the option day as does not fall within sub-paragraph (a) (“the unspecified service”), and

(c) if the member does not continue in pensionable service after the option day, is a deferred member as respects the unspecified service.

2.D.6    Increase in pensionable pay following exercise of option under regulation 2.D.5

(1) This regulation applies if, in a case where a member has exercised the option under regulation 2.D.5—

(a) during the period of 12 months beginning with the day after the option day the terms on which the member holds the employment or employments referred to in 2.D.5(1)(a) change again, and

(b) as a result the member’s pensionable pay in that employment or those employments is increased to more than 90% of the member’s pensionable pay during the period of 12 months ending with the option day, or

(c) following an increase referred to in (b), the member’s pensionable pay in that employment or those employments is reduced to less than 90 per cent of the member’s pensionable pay during the period of 12 months ending with the option day.

(2) In the circumstances referred to in—

(a) paragraph (1)(b), the amount of the member’s pension mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of regulation 2.D.5(5) shall be abated to zero from the first pension day immediately following the day on which the level of the member’s pensionable pay increased;

(b) paragraph (1)(c), subject to any adjustments in accordance with (c), the member shall again be entitled to receive payment of the full amount of the pension mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of that regulation as from the first pension day immediately following the day on which the level of the member’s engagement reduced,

(c) where (b) applies, before restoring the payment of a pension the Secretary of State shall have regard to the advice of the Scheme actuary as to whether the amount of the pension should be adjusted in view of the length of time during which it was abated to zero in accordance with (a).

(3) If the member was not an active member during the whole of the period of 12 months mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), that paragraph applies as if the member’s pensionable pay during that period were—

where—

• PP is the member’s pensionable pay for the part of that period during which the member was an active member, and

• N is the number of days in that period on which the member was an active member.

(4) If, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, had the terms and conditions of the member’s employment remained the same after the option day (apart from pensionable pay), the annual rate of pensionable pay for the employment as at the time of the change mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) would have exceeded the annual rate referred to in paragraph (1)(b)—

(a) paragraph (2)(a) does not apply, and

(b) this regulation applies as if paragraph (1)(b) referred to that annual rate instead of the actual annual rate.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, if during the period of 12 months beginning with the day after the option day the member enters a further employment, or employments, in which the member is an active member of the Scheme—

(a) that event is treated as if the terms on which the member holds the employment in respect of which the option was exercised (“the option employment”) had changed again, and

(b) the member’s pensionable pay in the further employment is treated as an increase in the member’s pay in the option employment.

(6) In this regulation “the option day” has the same meaning as regulation 2.D.5 (see paragraph (8) of that regulation).

2.D.7    Application of regulations 2.D.5 and 2.D.6 where concurrent part-time employments held

(1) This regulation provides for the application of regulations 2.D.5 and 2.D.6 if a person is an active member in two or more part-time employments held concurrently on the option day.

(2) Those regulations apply in relation to each of the employments as if it were the only employment held by the member on that day, but subject to the following modifications.

(3) In regulation 2.D.5(1) for sub-paragraph (d) substitute—

“(d) as a result of that change the sum of the annual rate of the member’s pensionable pay in that employment and every other employment held by the member on the option day is reduced to 90% or less of the sum of—

(i) the member’s pensionable pay in the employment during the period of 12 months ending with the option day, and

(ii) the member’s pensionable pay during that period in every other employment held by the member on the option day.”

(4) In regulation 2.D.5(2)—

(a) after the words “paragraph (1)(d)” insert “in the employment or any other employment referred to in that paragraph”, and

(b) after the words “that period” insert the words “in that employment”.

(5) In regulation 2.D.6(1) for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) as a result the annual rate of the member’s pensionable pay in that employment is increased to more than 90% of the sum of—

(i) the member’s pensionable pay in the employment during the period of 12 months ending with the option day, and

(ii) the member’s pensionable pay during that period in every other employment held by the member on the option day.”.

(6) In regulation 2.D.6(3)—

(a) after the words “paragraph (1)(b)” insert “in the employment or any other employment referred to in that paragraph”, and

(b) after the words “that period” insert the words “in that employment”.

(7) For regulation 2.D.6(4) substitute—

“(4) If, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, had the terms and conditions of the member’s employment or any other such employment remained the same after the option day (apart from pensionable pay), the annual rate of pensionable pay for the employment as at the time of the change mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) would have exceeded the annual rate referred to in paragraph (1)(b) for that employment—

(a) paragraph (2)(a) does not apply, and

(b) this regulation applies as if paragraph (1)(b) referred to that annual rate instead of the actual annual rate.”.

(8) Where—

(a) a member’s pension is abated in accordance with regulation 2.D.6(2)(a), in the circumstances described in regulation 2.D.6(1)(b), and

(b) the member’s pensionable pay does not reduce in the manner described in regulation 2.D.6(1)(c),

the pension will (in any event) be payable by the Secretary of State when the member retires, or partially retires again, from pensionable employment or attains the age of 75 and in doing so the Secretary of State shall—

(i) have regard to any pensions already paid, including any lump sum paid as a result of the member exercising an option under regulation 2.D.14,

(ii) take advice of the Scheme actuary.

2.D.8    Early retirement on ill-health (active members)

(1) A pension payable under this regulation shall be known as an ill-health pension and may be paid at two different tiers known as a tier 1 ill-health pension and a tier 2 ill-health pension.

(2) An active member who has not reached the age of 65 and who has ceased to be employed in NHS employment is entitled to immediate payment of a tier 1 ill-health pension that is payable for life if—

(a) in the opinion of the Secretary of State the member suffers from physical or mental infirmity as a result of which the member is permanently incapable of discharging the duties of the member’s employment efficiently,

(b) the member’s employment is terminated because of that physical or mental infirmity,

(c) the member has at least 2 years of qualifying service, and

(d) the member has claimed the pension.

(3) An active member who has not reached the age of 65 is entitled to immediate payment of a 2 tier ill-health pension if—

(a) in addition to meeting the condition in paragraph (2)(a), in the opinion of the Secretary of State the member suffers from physical or mental infirmity as a result of which the member is permanently incapable of engaging in regular employment of like duration,

(b) the member’s employment is terminated because of that physical or mental infirmity,

(c) the member has at least 2 years of qualifying service, and

(d) the member has claimed the pension.

(4) The annual amount of a tier 1 ill-health pension (disregarding any additional pension) is calculated as specified in regulation 2.D.1(4).

(5) The annual amount of a tier 2 ill-health pension (disregarding any additional pension) is calculated as specified in regulation 2.D.1(4), but on the assumption that the member’s pensionable service—

(a) is increased by the enhancement period where the member has returned to pensionable employment 12 months or more after having a break in such service and it would be more favourable to the member to treat the member’s pensionable service before and after the break, and all such other breaks (if any), as continuous;

(b) is not increased by the enhancement period in the circumstances referred to in (a) if the member’s pensionable service before and after the break is treated separately.

(6) In this regulation “the enhancement period” means two-thirds of the member’s assumed pensionable service.

This is subject to paragraph (7).

(7) If the member’s pensionable service includes any period which, apart from this paragraph would be calculated in accordance with regulation 2.A.3 (meaning of “pensionable service”: part-time service), the enhancement period that would apply apart from this paragraph is reduced by multiplying it by the fraction—

where—

• TPSa is the member’s total pensionable service, applying that regulation in respect of any period in part-time employment, and

• TPSn is the member’s total pensionable service if that regulation were not applied.

(8) In this regulation “the member’s assumed service” means the further pensionable service that the member could have counted if the member had continued in service until reaching the age of 65.

This is subject to paragraph (9).

(9) To the extent that any increase under paragraph (5) would cause a member’s pensionable service to exceed the limit of 45 years provided for in regulation 2.A.2(3), the amount of any excess will be reduced accordingly.

(10) This regulation is subject to—

(a) regulation 2.G.4 (effect of re-employment on tier 2 ill-health pensions), and

(b) regulation 2.G.5 (re-employed tier 1 ill-health pensioners).

(11) A member does not qualify for a pension under this regulation if the member’s NHS employment has been terminated by the member—

(a) being dismissed from such employment (unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the member was dismissed because of the member’s infirmity); or

(b) retiring or resigning from such employment at a time when the member was the subject of disciplinary proceedings or had been notified that such proceedings were being contemplated; or

(c) otherwise retiring or resigning from such employment unless at the time of doing so the member’s employing authority has notified the Secretary of State in writing that the member’s physical or mental infirmity is the reason for the termination of that employment and the Secretary of State is satisfied that is the case.

(12) For the purposes of determining whether a member is permanently incapable of discharging the duties of the member’s employment efficiently under paragraph (2)(a), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the factors in paragraph (14) (no one of which shall be decisive) and disregard the member’s personal preference for or against engaging in that employment.

(13) For the purposes of determining whether a member is permanently incapable of engaging in regular employment of like duration under paragraph (3)(a), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the factors in paragraph (15) (no one of which shall be decisive) and disregard the factors in paragraph (16).

(14) The factors to be taken into account for paragraph (12) are—

(a) whether the member has received appropriate medical treatment in respect of the incapacity;

(b) the member’s—

(i) mental capacity; and

(ii) physical capacity;

(c) such type and period of rehabilitation which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity, irrespective of whether such rehabilitation is undergone; and

(d) any other matter which the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(15) The factors to be taken into account for paragraph (13) are—

(a) whether the member has received appropriate medical treatment in respect of the incapacity; and

(b) such reasonable employment as the member would be capable of engaging in if due regard is given to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity;

(ii) physical capacity;

(iii) previous training; and

(iv) previous practical, professional and vocational experience,

irrespective of whether or not such employment is actually available to the member;

(c) such type and period of rehabilitation which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity (irrespective of whether such rehabilitation is undergone) having due regard to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity; and

(ii) physical capacity;

(d) such type and period of training which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity (irrespective of whether such training is undergone) having due regard to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity;

(ii) physical capacity;

(iii) previous training; and

(iv) previous practical, professional and vocational experience; and

(e) any other matter which the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(16) The factors to be disregarded for paragraph (13) are—

(a) the member’s personal preference for or against engaging in any particular employment; and

(b) the geographical location of the member.

(17) For the purpose of this regulation—

“appropriate medical treatment” means such medical treatment as it would be normal to receive in respect of the incapacity, but does not include any treatment that the Secretary of State considers—

“permanently” means the period until age 65; and

“regular employment of like duration” means—

2.D.9    Re-assessment of entitlement to an ill-health pension determined under regulation 2.D.8

(1) This regulation applies if—

(a) in the opinion of the Secretary of State a member meets the condition in regulation 2.D.8(2)(a), and

(b) at the time the member is awarded a pension under that regulation the Secretary of State gives the member notice in writing that the member’s case may be considered once within a period of three years commencing with the date of that award to determine whether the member meets the condition in regulation 2.D.8(3)(a) at the date of such a consideration.

(2) A member to whom such a notice under paragraph (1)(b) has been given may apply to the Secretary of State for a review of whether he subsequently meets the condition in regulation 2.D.8(3)(a) if—

(a) the member makes the application in writing within three years of the date of issue of the notice,

(b) the request is accompanied by further written medical evidence—

(i) relating to whether the condition in regulation 2.D.8(3)(a) is satisfied at the date of the Secretary of State’s review;

(ii) that relates to the same physical or mental impairment as a result of which the member met the condition in regulation 2.D.8(2)(a), and

(c) no previous application has been made under this paragraph.

(3) If, after considering the further medical evidence provided by the member, the Secretary of State determines that the member meets the condition in 2.D.8(3)(a), then as from the date on which that determination is made the member—

(a) ceases to be entitled to a tier 1 ill-health pension; and

(b) becomes entitled to a tier 2 ill-health pension under regulation 2.D.8, which shall be calculated as if paragraph (8) of that regulation included the words “from the date of the Secretary of State’s determination under regulation 2.D.9” after “continued in service”.

2.D.10    Early retirement on ill-health (deferred members)

(1) A deferred member who has not reached the age of 65 is entitled to immediate payment of a pension that is payable for life if—

(a) in the opinion of the Secretary of State the member suffers from physical or mental infirmity as a result of which the member is incapable of engaging in regular employment of like duration, and

(b) the member has claimed the pension.

(2) A deferred member who is in NHS employment and has not reached the age of 65 is entitled to immediate payment of a pension that is payable for life if—

(a) in the opinion of the Secretary of State the member—

(i) does not fall within paragraph (1)(a), but

(ii) suffers from physical or mental impairment as a result of which the member is permanently incapable of discharging the duties of the member’s employment efficiently, and

(b) the member has left that employment and claimed the pension.

(3) The amount of the annual pension payable under this regulation (disregarding any additional pension) is calculated as specified in regulation 2.D.1(4).

(4) For the purposes of determining whether a member is permanently incapable of discharging the duties of the member’s employment efficiently under paragraph (2)(a)(ii), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the factors in paragraph (6) (no one of which shall be decisive) and disregard the member’s personal preference for or against engaging in that employment.

(5) For the purposes of determining whether a member is permanently incapable of engaging in regular employment of like duration under paragraph (1)(a), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the factors in paragraph (7) (no one of which shall be decisive) and disregard the factors in paragraph (8).

(6) The factors to be taken into account for paragraph (4) are—

(a) whether the member has received appropriate medical treatment in respect of the incapacity;

(b) the member’s—

(i) mental capacity; and

(ii) physical capacity;

(c) such type and period of rehabilitation which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity, irrespective of whether such rehabilitation is undergone; and

(d) any other matter which the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(7) The factors to be taken into account for paragraph (5) are—

(a) whether the member has received appropriate medical treatment in respect of the incapacity; and

(b) such reasonable employment as the member would be capable of engaging in if due regard is given to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity;

(ii) physical capacity;

(iii) previous training; and

(iv) previous practical, professional and vocational experience,

irrespective of whether or not such employment is actually available to the member;

(c) such type and period of rehabilitation which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity (irrespective of whether such rehabilitation is undergone) having due regard to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity; and

(ii) physical capacity;

(d) such type and period of training which it would be reasonable for the member to undergo in respect of his incapacity (irrespective of whether such training is undergone) having due regard to the member’s—

(i) mental capacity;

(ii) physical capacity;

(iii) previous training; and

(iv) previous practical, professional and vocational experience;

(e) any other matter which the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(8) The factors to be disregarded for paragraph (5) are—

(a) the member’s personal preference for or against engaging in any particular employment; and

(b) the geographical location of the member.

(9) For the purpose of this regulation—

“appropriate medical treatment” means such medical treatment as it would be normal to receive in respect of the incapacity, but does not include any treatment that the Secretary of State considers—

“permanently” means the period until age 65; and

“regular employment of like duration” means—

2.D.11    Early retirement on termination of employment by employing authority

(1) A member other than a non-GP provider who has reached the age of 55, but not 65, is entitled to a pension payable for life if—

(a) the employment in which the member is an active member is terminated by the member’s employing authority and the member has ceased to be employed in NHS employment,

(b) the member has 2 years of qualifying service,

(c) the member’s employing authority certifies that the member—

(i) has at least 2 years of continuous employment determined in accordance with any terms and conditions applying to the employment, and

(ii) has not unreasonably refused to seek suitable alternative employment or accept an offer of such employment,

(d) the Secretary of State certifies that the member’s employment is terminated —

(i) by reason of redundancy, or

(ii) in the interests of the efficiency of the service in which the member is employed, and

(e) the member has claimed payment of the pension.

(2) A certificate under paragraph (1)(d)(ii) may only be given with the agreement of the employing authority.

(3) A pension to which a member is entitled under this regulation becomes payable immediately the member becomes entitled to it.

(4) The amount of the annual pension payable under this regulation (disregarding any additional pension) is given by the formula—

where—

• RP is the member’s reckonable pay, and

• LPS is the length of the member’s pensionable service, expressed in days.

This is subject to paragraph (6).

(5) A claim under paragraph (1)(e)—

(a) must be made in writing to the Secretary of State within 6 months of the employment terminating, and

(b) must contain such information as the Secretary of State may from time to time require.

(6) If the member—

(a) has received a related payment in respect of the cessation of the employment,

(b) the terms and conditions relating to the employment require that payment to be reduced to take account of the additional contributions the employing authority must make to the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 2.C.6, and

(c) that payment has not been so reduced,

the amount of that payment (or, if there is more than one such payment, the aggregate amount of those payments) is deducted from the amount of the pension.

(7) In paragraph (6) “related payment” means—

(a) a redundancy payment under the Employment Rights Act 1996(46),

(b) a corresponding payment under the arrangements of the Whitley Councils for the Health Services of Great Britain, or

(c) a payment made by virtue of any arrangement made pursuant to paragraph 26(3) of Schedule 4 to the 2006 Act or paragraph 26(3) of Schedule 3 to the 2006 (Wales) Act.

(8) This regulation does not apply to practice staff.

2.D.12    Option to have periods of service treated separately where pay is reduced

(1) This regulation applies if—

(a) the reckonable pay of an active member who has at least 2 years of qualifying service is reduced, and

(b) the reduction occurs in circumstances specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The circumstances are that—

(a) the member is transferred from one employment to another,

(b) the member leaves one employment and takes up another in circumstances approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation, or

(c) the member’s duties change while the member continues in the same employment, otherwise than at the member’s request or as a result of something done by the member.

(3) The member may opt to be treated for the purposes of the Scheme in accordance with this regulation as follows—

(a) the member is treated as a deferred member of the Scheme as respects the earlier service, and

(b) if the member is an active member of the Scheme in the later service, for the purposes of this Chapter the member is treated as respects the later service as if the member became an active member for the first time on the day that service began.

(4) But nothing in paragraph (3) prevents the member’s earlier service and later service counting as a single continuous period for the purposes of regulation 2.A.5 (qualifying service).

(5) If the member’s pensionable service is to be increased under regulation 2.D.8(5)—

(a) the member’s pensionable service will count as a continuous period for the purposes of calculating to what extent the pensionable service on which the pension is based should be increased, and

(b) the increase will apply only in respect of the pension attributable to the later service.

(6) If a member has duly exercised the option under this regulation, the member is treated as mentioned in paragraph (3) (but subject to paragraph (4) and (5)) unless paragraph (7) applies.

(7) This paragraph applies if—

(a) at the time that the member first becomes entitled to a pension under the Scheme in respect of the earlier service or the later service, or

(b) if it is earlier, at the time of the member’s death,

in the opinion of the Secretary of State the benefits payable to or in respect of the member would be more valuable if the option and any other options exercised by the member under this regulation were disregarded.

(8) The option under this regulation may only be exercised by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State in such form as the Secretary of State requires before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the first day of the later service.

(9) In this regulation—

“the earlier service” means—

“the later service” means—

2.D.13    Exceptions to requirement that NHS employment must have ceased

(1) A member is not prevented from becoming entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.1 in respect of relevant service because of continuing in NHS employment if paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the member is an active member in the NHS employment and that employment is employment into which the member has been transferred as a result of a transfer of an undertaking to the employing authority, and

(b) the member is a deferred member in respect of pensionable service that ceased before the member commenced the employment referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In paragraph (1), “relevant service” means the pensionable service referred to in paragraph (2)(b) in respect of which the member is a deferred member.

(4) A member is not prevented from becoming entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.11 in respect of pensionable service in an employment (“the old employment”) because of continuing in NHS employment if paragraph (5) applies.

(5) This paragraph applies if—

(a) before the termination of the old employment the member held two or more NHS employments concurrently, and

(b) the member elected to take benefits under regulation 2.D.11 only in respect of the old employment and to continue to accrue rights to benefits in respect of any continuing employments in which the member is an active member.

(6) For the effect of a pension becoming payable as a result of paragraph (2) applying, see—

(a) Chapter 2.G (re-employment and rejoining the Scheme),

(b) Chapter 2.H (abatement).

Options to exchange pension for lump sum

2.D.14    General option to exchange part of pension for lump sum

(1) A member other than a pension credit member may opt to exchange part of a pension to which the member would otherwise be entitled for a lump sum.

(2) If a member so opts, for every £1 by which the member’s annual amount of a pension is reduced, the member is to be paid a lump sum of £12.

(3) An option under paragraph (1) must relate to an annual amount of pension that is a whole number of pounds (and accordingly the lump sum will be exactly divisible by 12).

(4) In paragraphs (2) and (3) “annual amount”, in relation to a pension, means the amount of the annual pension to which the member would be entitled under this Chapter apart from the option, together with any increases payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971(47), calculated as at the time payment would first be due.

(5) A member may not exchange pension for lump sum under this regulation to the extent that it would result in a scheme chargeable payment for the purposes of Part 4 of the 2004 Act (see, in particular, section 241 of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 29 to, that Act).

(6) If the member has a guaranteed minimum under section 14 of the 1993 Act in relation to the whole or part of a pension, paragraph (1) only applies to so much of the pension as exceeds that guaranteed minimum, multiplied by such factor as is indicated for a person of the member’s description in tables provided by the Scheme actuary.

(7) The option under this regulation may only be exercised by giving notice in writing to the scheme administrator in such form as the Secretary of State requires—

(a) at the time of claiming the pension, or

(b) before such later time as the scheme administrator specifies in writing.

2.D.15    Option for members in serious ill-health to exchange whole pension for lump sum

(1) An active member, a deferred member or a pension credit member may opt to exchange a relevant pension for a lump sum if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the conditions for the lump sum to be a serious ill-health lump sum for the purposes of the 2004 Act will be met (see paragraph 4 of Schedule 29 to that Act).

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “relevant pension” is a pension payable to that member under regulation—

(a) 2.D.1 (normal retirement pensions),

(b) 2.D.2 (pension credit members’ pensions),

(c) 2.D.8 (early payment of pensions: ill-health), or

(d) 2.D.10 (early retirement on ill-health(deferred members)).

(3) The option may only be exercised—

(a) in the case of a pension payable under regulation 2.D.1 or 2.D.2, before or at the time when the pension becomes payable,

(b) in the case of a pension payable under regulation 2.D.8 or 2.D.10, before the pension becomes payable to the member.

(4) An active member aged 65 or over who exercises the option is to be paid, as soon as is reasonably practicable and before reaching the age of 75, an amount equal to the sum of—

(a) the maximum lump sum to which the member could have become entitled on exercising the option under regulation 2.D.14 if at the appropriate time the member had become entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.1, and

(b) the total annual amount of the pension to which the member would have been entitled under regulation 2.D.1 after exercising that option, multiplied by 5.

(5) A pension credit member who exercises the option is to be paid, as soon as is reasonably practicable and before reaching the age of 75, an amount equal to the annual amount of the pension to which the member would have been entitled under regulation 2.D.2, multiplied by 5.

(6) An active member entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.8 who exercises the option is to be paid, as soon as is reasonably practicable, an amount equal to the sum of—

(a) the maximum lump sum to which the member could have become entitled on exercising the option under regulation 2.D.14 at the appropriate time, and

(b) the total annual amount of the pension to which the member is entitled under regulation 2.D.8 after exercising that option, multiplied by 5.

(7) A deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.10 who exercises the option is to be paid, as soon as is reasonably practicable, an amount equal to the sum of—

(a) the maximum lump sum to which the member could have become entitled on exercising the option under regulation 2.D.14 at the appropriate time, and

(b) the total annual amount of the pension to which the member is entitled under regulation 2.D.10 after exercising that option, multiplied by 5.

(8) In this regulation “the appropriate time” means—

(a) for the purposes of paragraph (4) and (5) the time when the option under this regulation is exercised, and

(b) for the purposes of paragraphs (6) and (7) the time payment of the pension under regulation 2.D.8 or, as the case may be, 2.D.10 would otherwise first be due.

(9) In this regulation references to the “annual amount” of a pension are to the amount of the annual pension to which the member would be entitled, together with any increases payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, calculated as at the appropriate time.

(10) The option under this regulation may only be exercised by notice in writing to the Secretary of State in such form as the Secretary of State requires.

Pension debit members and pension credit members

2.D.16    Reduction in pension debit member’s benefits

The benefits to which a pension debit member is entitled under this Chapter are subject to the reduction to be made under section 31 of the 1999 Act.

2.D.17    Pension credit member’s rights

(1) If regulation 7(5) of the Pension Sharing (Pension Credit Benefit) Regulations 2000(48) (early or deferred retirement) applies, the Secretary of State must be reasonably satisfied that the requirements of that regulation have been met.

(2) Section 68A(2)(a) of the 1993 Act (safeguarded rights) applies to the safeguarded rights of pension credit members.

(3) Safeguarded rights must be identified as being the safeguarded percentage of the pension credit rights.

Allocation

2.D.18    Election to allocate pension

(1) A member may elect to allocate a part of the annual amount of the member’s pension under the Scheme for the provision of a pension after the member’s death for a single person who is the member’s spouse or civil partner or another person who is the member’s dependant within the meaning of paragraph 15 of Schedule 28 to the 2004 Act if conditions A and B are met.

(2) Condition A is that the member has not become entitled to the payment of any pension under the Scheme other than a pension payable under regulation 2.D.5 (partial retirement: members aged at least 55).

(3) Condition B is that in the case of a member who is not making the election on claiming the pension, the member—

(a) has reached the age of 65 and has completed 45 years of pensionable service, or

(b) the member has reached the age of 70.

(4) Any pension provided as a result of such an election must be calculated in accordance with tables prepared by the Scheme actuary.

(5) The member may not elect to allocate more than one-third of the member’s relevant annual pension.

(6) The member may not elect to allocate an amount that would result in—

(a) the allocated annual pension exceeding the member’s unallocated relevant annual pension,

(b) the allocated pension exceeding such amount as the Secretary of State may determine for the purposes of this paragraph, after consultation with the Scheme actuary, having regard to any restrictions imposed under Part 4 of the 2004 Act, or

(c) the value of the allocated annual pension being such that a lump sum could be paid under regulation 2.J.5 (commutation of small pensions) by way of commutation of a pension of that amount if the person entitled to the pension was not entitled to any other benefits under the Scheme.

(7) The annual pension that is allocated must be an exact number of pounds.

(8) If a member—

(a) elects to allocate a part of the member’s pension under paragraph (1) after reaching the age of 65 and whilst in pensionable service, and

(b) dies before the pension becomes payable,

for the purposes of paragraphs (5) to (7) the member is treated as entitled to the relevant pension to which the member would have been entitled if the member had become entitled to the pension immediately before death.

(9) References in this regulation to the member’s relevant pension, in relation to any pension, are references to so much of the pension as would be payable if the member had exercised the option under regulation 2.D.14 so as to obtain the maximum lump sum possible.

2.D.19    Procedure for election under regulation 2.D.18

(1) An election under regulation 2.D.18 in respect of a member’s pension must be made—

(a) at the time when the member claims the pension or, if the member does not become entitled to the pension at that time, when the member does become so entitled, or

(b) if the member is in pensionable service after reaching the age of 65, at any time after reaching that age and before reaching the age of 75.

(2) The election must be made by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of State.

(3) The notice must be in such form and contain such information as the Secretary of State requires.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), an election under regulation 2.D.18 takes effect once it has been accepted by the Secretary of State.

(5) The election may not be withdrawn, amended or revoked after it has taken effect.

(6) The election does not take effect if—

(a) the member or the person in whose favour the election was made (“the beneficiary”) dies on or before the day on which the Secretary of State accepts it, or

(b) the Secretary of State is not satisfied that at the time when the election is made the member is in good health.

(7) The election is treated as not having taken effect if the beneficiary dies before the member is notified in writing that the Secretary of State has accepted the election.

2.D.20    Effect of allocation

(1) If an election under regulation 2.D.18 for the allocation of a member’s pension to another person (“the beneficiary”) has taken effect—

(a) the member’s pension is reduced accordingly (even if the beneficiary predeceases the member), and

(b) if the beneficiary survives the member, on the member’s death the beneficiary becomes entitled to the payment of a pension for life of such amount as is determined in accordance with regulation 2.D.18.

(2) An allocation is disregarded for the purposes of this regulation if it would result in a pension being paid under this regulation to a beneficiary who is neither—

(a) the member’s spouse or civil partner on the date when the member becomes entitled to the pension or dies, nor

(b) a dependant of the member for the purposes of paragraph 15(2) or (3) of Schedule 28 to the 2004 Act when the member dies.

(3) References in this Part to pensions under this Chapter do not include pensions under this regulation except where the context otherwise requires.

(4) Any such pension is payable in addition to any pension payable to the beneficiary in respect of the member’s death under Chapter 2.E of this Part.

Dual capacity membership

2.D.21    Dual capacity membership

(1) This paragraph applies if a member is–

(a) a member of the Scheme of two or more of the kinds specified in paragraph (2),

(b) a pensioner member in respect of two or more pensions, or

(c) a deferred member in respect of two or more pensions.

(2) The kinds of member are–

(a) an active member,

(b) a deferred member,

(c) a pensioner member, and

(d) a pension credit member.

(3) If paragraph (1) applies, the general rule is that–

(a) benefits are payable to the member under this Chapter (or to any person to whom the member has opted to allocate pension under regulation 2.D.18) as if the member were two or more members of the kinds in question (so that two or more pensions or lump sums are payable in respect of the one member), and

(b) the amounts payable are determined accordingly.

(4) The rule in paragraph (3) is subject to any indication to the contrary and, in particular, does not affect the interpretation of—

(a) regulation 2.A.2(3) (45 year limit),

(b) regulation 2.D.5(9) in a case where a member is both an active member and a pensioner member by virtue of that regulation,

(c) regulation 2.D.12 (option to have periods of service treated separately where pay is reduced),

(d) regulation 2.G.3 (exception to general rule in 2.G.2 about separate treatment of pay and service),

(e) regulation 2.G.4 (effect of re-employment on tier 2 ill-health pensions),

(f) regulation 2.G.5 (re-employed tier 1 ill-health pensioners),

(g) regulation 2.G.6 (deferred pension becoming payable during NHS re-employment as a result of a transfer of undertaking), or

(h) Chapter 2.H (abatement).

(5) If a person who is a pension credit member is entitled to two or more pension credits—

(a) benefits are payable to the person under the Scheme (or to any person to whom the member has opted to allocate pension under regulation 2.D.18) as if the person were two or more persons, each being entitled to one of the pension credits (so that two or more pensions or lump sums are payable to the one pension credit member), and

(b) the amounts of those benefits are determined accordingly.

Contracting-out obligations (GMPs, etc.)

2.D.22    Guaranteed minimum pensions etc

(1) If a member has a guaranteed minimum under section 14 of the 1993 Act in relation to benefits under the Scheme—

(a) nothing in this Part permits or requires anything that would cause requirements made by or under that Act in relation to such a member and such a member’s rights under the Scheme not to be met in the case of the member,

(b) nothing in this Part prevents anything from being done which is necessary or expedient for the purposes of meeting such requirements in the case of the member, and

(c) the following provisions are without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph.

(2) If apart from this rule—

(a) no pension would be payable to the member under the Scheme, or

(b) the weekly rate of the pensions payable would be less than the guaranteed minimum,

a pension at a weekly rate equal to the guaranteed minimum is payable to the member for life from the date on which the member reaches State pension age or, as the case may be, pensions the aggregate weekly rate of which is equal to the guaranteed minimum are so payable.

(3) If—

(a) on reaching State pension age the member is still in employment (whether or not it is scheme employment), and

(b) if it is not scheme employment, the member consents to a postponement of the member’s entitlement under paragraph (2),

paragraph (2) does not apply until the member leaves employment.

This is subject to paragraph (4).

(4) If the member continues in employment for a further 5 years after reaching State pension age and does not then leave employment, the member is entitled from the end of that period to so much of the member’s pension under this Chapter as equals the member’s guaranteed minimum (or, as the case may be, to so much of the member’s pensions under this Chapter as together have a weekly rate equal to the member’s guaranteed minimum), unless the member consents to a further postponement of the entitlement.

(5) If paragraph (3) or (4) applies, the amount of the guaranteed minimum to which the member is entitled under this rule is increased in accordance with section 15 of the 1993 Act.

(6) If—

(a) before State pension age the member becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a pension, and

(b) the member has a guaranteed minimum under section 14 of the 1993 Act in relation to the whole or part of the pension,

the weekly rate of the pension, so far as attributable to that service, must not be less than that guaranteed minimum, multiplied by such factor as is indicated in tables provided by the Scheme actuary for a person of the member’s age and sex at the date on which the pension becomes payable.

(7) This paragraph applies if a person has ceased to be in employment that is contracted-out by reference to the Scheme, and either—

(a) all the person’s rights to benefits under the Scheme, except the person’s rights in respect of the person’s guaranteed minimum or rights under section 9(2B) of the 1993 Act (“the person’s contracting-out rights”), have been transferred under Chapter 2.F (transfers), or

(b) the person has no rights to benefits under the Scheme apart from the person’s contracting-out rights.

(8) If paragraph (7) applies—

(a) from the date on which the person reaches State pension age the person is entitled to a pension payable for life at a weekly rate equal to his guaranteed minimum, if any, and

(b) from the date on which the person reaches pension age the person is entitled to a pension in respect of his rights under section 9(2B) of the 1993 Act,

but a person falling within paragraph (7) is not to be regarded as a pensioner for the purposes of Chapter 2.E (death benefits).

(9) Paragraphs (2) to (8) do not apply to—

(a) a pension that is forfeited—

(i) as a result of a conviction for treason, or

(ii) in a case where an offence within regulation 2.J.7(2)(b) (Official Secrets Acts offences) is committed,

(b) a pension that is commuted under regulation 2.D.15 (option for members in serious ill-health to exchange whole pension for lump sum), or

(c) a pension that is commuted under regulation 2.J.5 (commutation of small pensions) where the conditions in regulation 60 of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996(49) are met,

but if any other provision of the Scheme is inconsistent with this rule, this rule prevails.

(10) In this regulation—

(a) “scheme employment”, in relation to a member, means employment in the employment by virtue of which the member is eligible for membership of the Scheme, and

(b) references to the amount of a pension are to its amount—

(i) disregarding any additional pension,

(ii) after the subtraction of any amount exchanged under regulation 2.D.14 (general option to exchange part of pension for lump sum), and

(iii) before the subtraction of any amount allocated under regulation 2.D.18 (election to allocate pension).

CHAPTER 2.E DEATH BENEFITS

Pensions for surviving adults

2.E.1    Surviving adult dependants’ pensions

(1) If an active member, a deferred member or a pensioner member dies leaving a surviving adult dependant, the surviving adult dependant is entitled to a pension that is payable for life.

(2) In this Part “surviving adult dependant”, in relation to a deceased member or former member, means the member’s or former member’s surviving spouse, civil partner or nominated partner.

(3) For the rate at which the pension referred to in paragraph (1) is payable see regulations 2.E.3 to 2.E.7 and, in any case where that pension includes additional pension, regulations 2.C.14(4) and 2.C.16(3).

2.E.2    Meaning of “surviving nominated partner”

(1) A person is a surviving nominated partner in relation to a member for the purposes of this Part if—

(a) the person and the member jointly made and signed a declaration in such form as the Secretary of State requires that remains effective at the member’s death, and

(b) the person satisfies the Secretary of State that for a continuous period of 2 years ending with the member’s death—

(i) the person and the member were living together in an exclusive relationship as if they were husband and wife or civil partners,

(ii) the person and the member were not prevented from marrying or forming a civil partnership, and

(iii) the person was financially dependent on the member or the person and the member were financially interdependent.

(2) A declaration for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) ceases to have effect if—

(a) it is revoked by the member or other person by a signed notice in writing to the Secretary of State in such form as the Secretary of State may require or is willing to accept,

(b) the member makes a further declaration for the purpose of paragraph (1)(a), or

(c) the person or the member marries or forms a civil partnership.

2.E.3    Amount of pensions under regulation 2.E.1: active members

(1) In the case of an active member, for the period of 6 months beginning with the day after the member’s death (“the initial period”) the rate of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to the rate of the member’s pensionable pay at the time of death if that amount is greater than the amount of the pension payable to the surviving adult under this Chapter apart from this paragraph.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), after the initial period, if the member dies with 2 or more years of qualifying service, the annual amount of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1—

(a) if the member has not reached the age of 65, is equal to 37.5% of the tier 2 ill-health pension under regulation 2.D.8 to which the member would have been entitled if on the date of death the member had become entitled to such a pension, and

(b) if the member has reached the age of 65, is equal to 37.5% of the pension under regulation 2.D.1 (normal retirement pensions) to which the member would have been entitled if on the date of death the member had become entitled to such a pension in respect of any period of pensionable service that the member is entitled to count.

(3) After the initial period, if the member dies with less than 2 years of qualifying service but after reaching the age of 65, the annual amount of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to 37.5% of the pension to which the member would have been entitled (disregarding any additional pension) if on the date of death the member had become entitled to a pension under regulation 2.D.1 (normal retirement pensions) in respect of any period of pensionable service that the member is entitled to count.

(4) After the initial period, if—

(a) the member dies with less than 2 year’s qualifying service and before reaching the age of 65, and

(b) the surviving adult has a guaranteed minimum under section 17 of the 1993 Act in relation to benefits in respect of the deceased member under the Scheme,

the annual amount of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to that guaranteed minimum, unless paragraph (5) applies.

(5) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State’s liability to provide a guaranteed minimum pension in respect of the surviving adult is discharged by the payment of a contributions equivalent premium under section 55(2) of the 1993 Act.

(6) This regulation is subject to regulation 2.E.7 (re-employed pensioners).

2.E.4    Amount of pensions under regulation 2.E.1: pensioner members

(1) In the case of a pensioner member, for the initial period the rate of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to the rate of the member’s pension in payment at the time of death if that amount is greater than the sum of—

(a) the amount of the pension payable to the surviving adult dependant under this Chapter apart from this paragraph, and

(b) the amount of the children’s pensions otherwise payable under this Part.

(2) At any time when the rate is not the rate mentioned in paragraph (1), the rate of the surviving adult dependant’s pension in the case of the death of a pensioner member is equal to 37.5% of the pension to which the member was entitled on the date of death (disregarding any additional pension).

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a) any reduction in the rate of the pension under Chapter 2.H (abatement), and

(b) if the member was in receipt of a pension payable under regulation 2.D.4 (early payment of pensions with actuarial reduction), any reduction made under that regulation by reason of the payment of the pension before the age of 65,

is ignored.

(4) In this regulation “the initial period” means—

(a) if the member leaves one or more dependent children who are dependant on the surviving adult dependant, the period of 6 months beginning with the day after the member’s death, and

(b) otherwise the period of 3 months beginning with that day.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4) a child born after the member’s death is treated as having been born before it.

(6) If a member who has had a tier 2 ill-health retirement pension under regulation 2.D.8 replaced by a tier 1 ill-health retirement pension (by virtue of regulation 2.G.4(2))—

(a) is in further NHS employment and dies before the end of the initial period (within the meaning of regulation 2.G.4(6)(c) and in accordance with regulation 2.G.4(2)); or

(b) is in further employment that is not NHS employment and dies within a period of one year beginning with the day on which that further employment ceased to be an “excluded employment” (within the meaning of regulation 2.G.4(6)(a)),

the member’s pension referred to in paragraph (1) means that member’s original tier 2 ill-health pension.

(7) This regulation is subject to regulation 2.E.7 (re-employed pensioners: adult survivor pensions in initial period).

(8) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), any reduction to the member’s pension under regulation 2.D.14 (general option to exchange part of pension for lump sum) will be ignored, except any reduction for the purposes of paragraph (1) where the benefits under this regulation form part of benefits payable under regulation 2.E.7.

2.E.5    Amount of pensions under regulation 2.E.1: deferred members

(1) In the case of a deferred member—

(a) who left pensionable service less than 12 months before the date of death, and

(b) whose surviving adult dependant would have been the member’s surviving adult dependant if the member had died on the member’s last day of pensionable service,

the rate of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to 37.5% of the tier 2 ill-health pension under regulation 2.D.8 to which the member would have been entitled if on the date the member’s pensionable service ceased the member had become entitled to such a pension under regulation 2.D.8 (but disregarding any additional pension).

(2) In the case of any other deferred member whose surviving adult dependant would have been the member’s surviving adult dependant if the member had died on the member’s last day of pensionable service, the rate of the pension payable under regulation 2.E.1 is equal to 37.5% of the pension under regulation 2.D.1 (normal retirement pensions) in respect of any period of pensionable service to which the member would have been entitled if on the date of death the member had become entitled to such a pension.

2.E.6    Recent leavers

(1) If—

(a) a recent leaver dies leaving a surviving spouse or civil partner who has a guaranteed minimum under section 17 of the 1993 Act in relation to benefits in respect of the recent leaver under the Scheme, and

(b) the member has died before reaching the age of 65,

the surviving spouse or civil partner is entitled to a pension that is payable for life of an amount equal to that person’s guaranteed minimum pension (disregarding any additional pension), unless paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies if the Secretary of State’s liability to provide a guaranteed minimum pension in respect of the surviving adult is discharged by the payment of a contributions equivalent premium under section 55(2) of the 1993 Act.

(3) In this Part “recent leaver” means a person—

(a) who left pensionable service less than 12 months before the date of death,

(b) who is not a deferred member or a pensioner member because of rights resulting from that employment, and