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

General option to exchange part of pension for lump sum

185.—(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 (Northern Ireland) 1971, 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 Finance Act 2004 (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 10 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 Department in such form as it requires—

(a) at the time of claiming the pension, or

(b) before such later time as the Department specifies in writing.