The Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Pensionable earnings — breaks in service N.I.

144.—(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(c) adoption leave,

(d) paternity leave, F1 ...

(e) parental leave [F2 , or]

[F3 (f) parental bereavement leave.]

(2) If the earnings used to calculate a member's pensionable earnings are reduced during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—

(a) for the purpose of calculating the member's contributions to [F4 this Section of] the scheme under [F5 regulations 160 and 161] , pensionable earnings for the period of absence will be calculated on the basis of the member's reduced earnings; and

(b) for all other purposes, the member's pensionable earnings for the period of absence will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) or (b).

(3) In the case of a member who—

(a) is one of a number of practitioners or non-GP providers who have elected as described in regulation 145(2), each practitioner's or non-GP provider's pensionable earnings will be calculated as if the partnership's aggregate pensionable earnings 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; and

(b) (except where the member's pensionable earnings fall to be calculated as described in sub-paragraph (a)), that member 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.

(4) If the earnings used to calculate a member's pensionable pay cease during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—

(a) a practitioner falling within paragraph (1)(a) will, subject to sub-paragraph (b), be treated as having continued in pensionable employment for a period of 12 months from the date on which the member's earnings ceased and the member will not be treated as having left pensionable employment until the end of that 12 month period;

(b) a member falling within paragraph (1)(b) to (e) who paid contributions on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (3) (a) will, subject to paragraph (6), continue to pay contributions at that rate, except that no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the member actually leaves pensionable employment.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a)—

(a) during the 12 month period, the member's pensionable earnings will be calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b);

(b) at the end of the 12 month period, when the member is regarded as having left pensionable employment, no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the member actually leaves employment.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), the rate of contributions payable shall be the rate that would have been payable on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (2)(a) had the member's reduced earnings excluded any earnings for a day during which the member, whilst on maternity leave, returned to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.

(7) If a member fails to pay any contributions which are required to be paid to [F6 this Section of] the Scheme in respect of a period of absence to which this regulation applies, the member will be treated as having left pensionable employment except that no refund of contributions or other benefit shall be payable unless the member actually leaves pensionable employment.

(8) If a member to whom this regulation applies leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (5)(b) or (7), is treated as having left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, then if the member later returns to pensionable employment regulation 142(4)(b) will apply as if the reference to 12 months was a reference to 3 years.

(9) The benefits payable on the death of a member whose earnings ceased during a period of absence to which this regulation applies will be calculated as if the member had died in pensionable employment on the day before his earnings ceased.

[F7 (10) For the purposes of making contributions to [F8 this Section of] the Scheme under regulations 160 and 162, during any period of absence which counts as pensionable service under regulation 140(3) or (3A), amounts equal to the rate of the member’s pensionable earnings calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) will be treated as pensionable earnings.]

[F9 (11) For the duration of any pilot scheme—

(a) a member who provides piloted services under a dental pilot scheme and who is absent from work by reason of illness or injury shall be treated as a practitioner whether or not his name is included on a dental list prior to the commencement of the pilot scheme; and

(b) a member who performs piloted services under a dental pilot scheme and who is absent from work by reason of illness or injury shall be treated as an officer whether or not his name is included on a dental list prior to the commencement of the pilot scheme.]

[F10 (12) Before a calculation of a member’s pensionable earnings can be made in accordance with paragraph (3), written notice of the length of the period of absence to which this regulation applies must be given to the Department by—

(a) the member, where the member is a principal practitioner or a non-GP provider; or

(b) in all other cases, the host Board.

(13) The notice referred to in paragraph (12) must be provided to the Department in such form and manner as the Department may stipulate from time to time.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in reg. 144(1)(d) omitted (6.4.2022) by virtue of The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/168), regs. 1, 15(10)(a)

F2 Word in reg. 144(1)(e) substituted for full stop (6.4.2022) by The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/168), regs. 1, 15(10)(b)

F3 Reg. 144(1)(f) inserted (6.4.2022) by The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/168), regs. 1, 15(10)(c)

F4 Words in reg. 144(2)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional Voluntary Contributions), and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/22), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

F5 Words in reg. 144(2)(a) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) and Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefits) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/65), regs. 1(2), 57(2) (with reg. 89)

F6 Words in reg. 144(7) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional Voluntary Contributions), and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/22), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

F7 Reg. 144(10) added (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) and Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefits) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/65), regs. 1(2), 57(3) (with reg. 89)

F8 Words in reg. 144(10) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional Voluntary Contributions), and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/22), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

F9 Reg. 144(11) added (29.3.2013) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme and Injury Benefits) and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/40), regs. 1(2), 16

F10 Reg. 144(12)(13) added (retrospective and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme and Additional Voluntary Contributions), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/259), regs. 1(2), 39