The Financial Assistance Scheme Regulations 2005

[F1 Ill health payments U.K.

17A.— (1) Except where the qualifying member is entitled to an annual payment under regulation 17(2)[F2 , (3) or (3C) or 17C], where the scheme manager is satisfied that a qualifying member is unable to work due to ill health and is likely to continue to be so unable to work until normal retirement age, that member shall be entitled to a payment (“an ill health payment”) F3 ... from—

(a) the day on which the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 come into force;

(b) subject to paragraph (2), the day on which the scheme manager is first notified that that member is unable to work due to ill health and is likely to continue to be so unable to work until normal retirement age; or

(c) the day on which the member attains the age which is 5 years less than normal retirement age,

whichever is the latest.

(2) Where the scheme manager—

(a) has been notified that a qualifying member is unable to work due to ill health and is likely to continue to be so unable to work until normal retirement age;

(b) is not so satisfied or the qualifying member withdraws the notification; and

(c) receives a further notification in relation to that qualifying member and is then so satisfied,

the day which is the day for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) is the day of the later notification.

(3) Where—

(a) a qualifying member of a qualifying pension scheme has died and leaves a survivor [F4 or a surviving dependant]; and

(b) that qualifying member was receiving an ill health payment or an interim ill health payment when he died,

the survivor [F5 and any surviving dependants] of that qualifying member shall be entitled to an ill health payment from the day after the day on which that qualifying member died.

(4) An ill health payment shall be made in respect of a year starting on the day on which [F6 an instalment] of the ill health payment or, as the case may be, an interim ill health payment, is first payable to a beneficiary by virtue of regulation 19 and in respect of subsequent years, on each anniversary of that day.

(5) In determining the amount of an ill health payment that is payable to, or in respect of, a beneficiary [F7 entitled to an ill health payment in accordance with Schedule 2A] for any previous year or years (“arrears payable”)—

(a) the total of all F8 ... instalments of an interim ill health payment that have been made to, or in respect of, the beneficiary for any previous year or years is to be deducted from the amount of arrears payable to that beneficiary; and

(b) if the total of all such F8 ... instalments is greater than that amount of arrears payable—

(i) the amount to be paid in respect of arrears payable is nil, and

(ii) the difference between that total and the amount of arrears payable is recoverable from the member in accordance with regulation 7 of the FAS Information and Payments Regulations (recovery of overpayments).

(6) Subject to paragraph (7)[F9 , regulation 17C(7) and paragraph 10 of Schedule 2A], ill health payments which are payable to a [F10 qualifying member or survivor] under this regulation shall continue for life.

[F11 (6A) Ill health payments which are payable to a surviving dependant under this regulation shall continue, subject to paragraph (7), until the surviving dependant—

(a) where neither sub-paragraph (b) nor (c) applies, attains the age of 18;

(b) where the surviving dependant is attending a qualifying course,—

(i) attains the age of 23; or

(ii) leaves the qualifying course

whichever is the earlier; or

(c) where the surviving dependant is incapable of engaging in full time paid employment due to having a disability within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, attains the age of 23.

(6B) Where an ill health payment ceases to be payable to a surviving dependant as a result of paragraph (6A)(a) or (b)(ii) and the surviving dependant subsequently—

(a) attends a qualifying course; or

(b) becomes incapable of engaging in full time paid employment due to having a disability within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995,

before attaining the age of 23, that surviving dependant shall be entitled to an ill health payment F12 ... from the day on which the scheme manager is satisfied that the surviving dependant satisfies sub-paragraph (a) or (b) until a day determined in accordance with paragraph (6A).]

[F13 (7) Where a beneficiary dies or otherwise ceases to be entitled to an ill health payment—

(a) subject to sub-paragraph (b), any further instalments of an ill health payment that would have been payable to that beneficiary, in respect of that year, cease to be payable;

(b) any instalment of an ill health payment which is payable in respect of a period which includes the day on which the beneficiary has died or otherwise ceased to be entitled to an ill health payment shall be payable.]

[F14 (8) Subject to paragraph (16), and until such time, if any, as regulation 17F applies, where a beneficiary is entitled to an ill health payment in accordance with this regulation, that ill health payment shall be determined in accordance with—

(a) Schedule 2A, where none of sub-paragraphs (b) to (i) nor paragraph (16) applies;

(b) Schedule 5, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a qualifying member who was not receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010; and

(iii) the sum of—

(aa) the product of C multiplied by the revalued notional pension in relation to the qualifying member; and

(bb) the total amount of any annual increases which the scheme manager considers could have been paid from the relevant date until the day on which the transfer notice is given, taking into account the determination under regulation 27(1)(d) and the revaluation amount determined in accordance with paragraph (11),

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which that qualifying member would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and sub-paragraphs (3A) to (3G) of paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 were omitted;

(c) Schedule 5, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant; and

(iii) the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary was entitled to an ill health payment in accordance with Schedule 5 immediately before the death of the member;

(d) Schedule 5, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant;

(iii) the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary—

(aa) was not receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010;

(bb) was entitled to an ill health payment immediately before the death of the qualifying member; and

(cc) died on or after the calculation date and before the day on which the transfer notice was given; and

(iv) the sum of—

(aa) the product of C multiplied by one half of the revalued notional pension in relation to the qualifying member;

(bb) one half of the total amount of any annual increases which the scheme manager considers could have been paid from the relevant date until the date on which the qualifying member died, taking into account the determination under regulation 27(1)(d) and the revaluation amount determined in accordance with paragraph (11); and

(cc) the total amount of any annual increases which the scheme manager considers could have been paid to a survivor from the day after the day on which the qualifying member died until the day on which the transfer notice is given, taking into account the determination under regulation 27(1)(d) and the revaluation amount determined in accordance with paragraph (11),

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which a survivor would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and paragraph 2(2A) of that Schedule and paragraph 2(3A) to (3G) of Schedule 2 were omitted;

(e) Schedule 5, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant;

(iii) neither the beneficiary nor the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010;

(iv) the beneficiary was entitled to an ill health payment immediately before the calculation date; and

(v) the sum of—

(aa) the survivor notional pension determined in respect of the beneficiary; and

(bb) the total amount of annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the survivor notional pension from the relevant date until the day on which the transfer notice is given,

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the beneficiary would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and sub-paragraphs (3A) to (3G) of paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 were omitted;

(f) Schedule 6, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a qualifying member who was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010; and

(iii) the sum of—

(aa) the notional pension in relation to that qualifying member; and

(bb) the total amount of annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the notional pension from the relevant date until the day on which the transfer notice is given,

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the qualifying member would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and paragraph 2(3A) to (3E) of Schedule 2 were omitted;

(g) Schedule 6, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant;

(iii) either—

(aa) the beneficiary was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules as a result of the death of a qualifying member; or

(bb) the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules,

before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010;

(iv) the beneficiary was entitled to an ill health payment immediately before the calculation date; and

(v) the sum of—

(aa) the survivor notional pension determined in respect of the beneficiary; and

(bb) the total amount of annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the survivor notional pension from the relevant date until the day on which the transfer notice is given,

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the beneficiary would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and paragraph 2(3A) to (3E) of Schedule 2 were omitted;

(h) Schedule 6, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant;

(iii) the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary—

(aa) was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010;

(bb) died on or after the calculation date, but before the day on which the transfer notice was given; and

(cc) was entitled to an ill health payment when the qualifying member died; and

(iv) the sum of—

(aa) the proportion of the notional pension which relates to the beneficiary;

(bb) the relevant proportion of the total amount of annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the notional pension from the relevant date until the date on which the qualifying member died; and

(cc) the total amount of any annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the relevant proportion of the notional pension from the day after the day on which the qualifying member died until the day on which the transfer notice is given,

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the beneficiary would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and paragraph 2(3A) to (3E) of Schedule 2 were omitted; and

(i) Schedule 6, where—

(i) a transfer notice has been given in respect of the qualifying pension scheme;

(ii) the beneficiary is a survivor or surviving dependant;

(iii) the qualifying member in respect of the beneficiary—

(aa) was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010;

(bb) died on or after the day on which the transfer notice was given; and

(cc) was entitled to an ill health payment when the qualifying member died; and

(iv) the sum of—

(aa) the proportion of the notional pension which relates to the beneficiary;

(bb) the relevant proportion of the total amount of annual increases which the scheme manager has determined under regulation 27 could be paid on the notional pension from the relevant date until the day on which the transfer notice was given; and

(cc) the relevant proportion of the total amount of any annual increases to which the qualifying member was entitled on the day on which the qualifying member died,

is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the beneficiary would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied and paragraph 2(3A) to (3E) of Schedule 2 were omitted.]

[F14 (9) For the purposes of paragraphs (8) and (16)—

(a) a qualifying member is treated as receiving a present payment from a pension scheme before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010, notwithstanding that no payment has been received, if, prior to the coming into force of those Regulations—

(i) the qualifying member was entitled to a payment under the scheme rules;

(ii) the trustees or managers of the scheme received confirmation from the qualifying member that payment should commence; and

(iii) the qualifying member’s entitlement became payable, as a result of paragraphs (i) and (ii) being satisfied; and

(b) a survivor or surviving dependant is treated as receiving a present payment from a pension scheme before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010, notwithstanding that no payment has been received, if, prior to the coming into force of those Regulations, the beneficiary was entitled to ongoing payments as a result of the death of the qualifying member.

(10) In paragraph (8)(b)(iii) and (d)(iv)—

“the revalued notional pension” means the aggregate of—

(a)

the notional pension; and

(b)

the revaluation amount for the period—

(i)

beginning on the calculation date; and

(ii)

ending on the earlier of—

(aa)

the day on which the qualifying member became entitled to an ill health payment; and

(bb)

the day on which the qualifying member began to receive a present payment from the scheme; and

“C” means—

(a)

1, where the qualifying member was—

(i)

entitled to an ill health payment on the calculation date; or

(ii)

receiving a present payment from the scheme on the calculation date; and

(b)

the actuarial factor to be applied in respect of the beneficiary in accordance with Schedule 5, where the qualifying member was not receiving a present payment from the scheme on the calculation date and became entitled to an ill health payment after the calculation date.

(11) The revaluation amount for the period referred to in the definition of “the revalued notional pension” in paragraph (10) is—

(a) where—

(i) that period is less than one month; or

(ii) the qualifying member became entitled to an ill health payment or began to receive a present payment from the scheme prior to the calculation date,

nil; or

(b) in any other case, the revaluation percentage of the notional pension.

(12) In paragraph (11), “the revaluation percentage” means the lesser of—

(a) the percentage increase in the general level of prices in Great Britain during the revaluation period determined in accordance with paragraph (10); and

(b) the maximum revaluation rate.

(13) The method for determining the percentage increase in the general level of prices in Great Britain during the revaluation period determined in accordance with paragraph (10) is—

where—

(a)

A is the level of the retail prices index for the month which falls two months before the month in which the day from which the qualifying member became entitled to an ill health payment or, as the case may be, began to receive a present payment from the scheme falls; and

(b)

B is the level of the retail prices index for the month which falls two months before the month in which the calculation date falls.

(14) In paragraph (12)(b), “the maximum revaluation rate” is—

(a) if that period is a period of 12 months, 5%; or

(b) in any other case, the percentage that would be the percentage mentioned in paragraph (12)(a) had the general level of prices in Great Britain increased at the rate of 5% compound per annum during that period.

(15) In paragraph (8), “relevant date” means—

(a) where the beneficiary began to receive a payment from the scheme after the calculation date and prior to becoming entitled to an ill health payment under these Regulations, the date on which the beneficiary began to receive a present payment from the scheme;

(b) where the beneficiary became entitled to an ill health payment after the calculation date and prior to receiving a payment from the scheme, the date on which the beneficiary became so entitled; and

(c) in all other cases, the date from which the notional pension or survivor notional pension could have been payable as determined in accordance with regulation 27(3) and (4).

(16) Where a qualifying member entitled to an ill health payment in accordance with this regulation is a qualifying member to whom regulation 17H applied, the ill health payment shall be determined in accordance with—

(a) Schedule 5, where—

(i) the qualifying member was not receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010; and

(ii) the payment which was payable to the qualifying member under Schedule 7, taking into account any reduction made to that payment under paragraph 1(2) or (5) of that Schedule, immediately before the qualifying member became entitled to an ill health payment under this regulation is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the qualifying member would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied; and

(b) Schedule 6, where—

(i) the qualifying member was receiving a present payment from the qualifying pension scheme under scheme rules before the coming into force of the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010; and

(ii) the payment which was payable to the qualifying member under Schedule 7, taking into account any reduction made to that payment under paragraph 1(2) or (5) of that Schedule, immediately before the qualifying member became entitled to an ill health payment under this regulation is higher than the amount of the ill health payment to which the qualifying member would be entitled in accordance with Schedule 2A if that Schedule applied.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 17A - Reg. 17B inserted (17.7.2008) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1903), regs. 1, 10

F2 Words in reg. 17A(1) substituted (27.3.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme and Incapacity Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/792), regs. 1(1), 5(2)

F3 Words in reg. 17A(1) omitted (2.4.2010) by virtue of The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1149), regs. 1, 9(a)

F4 Words in reg. 17A(3) inserted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(a)(i) (with reg. 37)

F5 Words in reg. 17A(3) inserted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(a)(ii) (with reg. 37)

F6 Words in reg. 17A(4) substituted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 17(3)(b) (with reg. 37)

F7 Words in reg. 17A(5) inserted (2.4.2010) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1149), regs. 1, 9(b)

F8 Word in reg. 17A(5)(a)(b) omitted (10.7.2009) by virtue of The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 17(2)(b) (with reg. 37)

F9 Words in reg. 17A(6) substituted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(b)(i) (with reg. 37)

F10 Words in reg. 17A(6) substituted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(b)(ii) (with reg. 37)

F11 Reg. 17A(6A)(6B) inserted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(c) (with reg. 37)

F12 Words in reg. 17A(6B) omitted (2.4.2010) by virtue of The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1149), regs. 1, 9(c)

F13 Reg. 17A(7) substituted (10.7.2009) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1851), regs. 1, 13(d) (with reg. 37)

F14 Regs. 17A(8)-(16) substituted for reg. 17A(8) (2.4.2010) by The Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1149), regs. 1, 9(d)