The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Regulations 2014

CHAPTER 4 Transfer of pension account entries to another scheme manager

Requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate

146.—(1) A scheme manager must provide an active member who has ceased to be employed by that employer in scheme employment and has taken up scheme employment with another authority, with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account, or pension accounts if more than one, at the date of the certificate;

(b) the period of pensionable service in the scheme employment, or employments, with the employer; and

(c) the date on which the certificate is given.

(2) Where a deferred member has taken up scheme employment with another authority after a gap in pensionable service not exceeding five years, that member must request the scheme manager in relation to the earlier period of pensionable service to provide the member with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account, or pension accounts if more than one, at the date of the certificate;

(b) the period of pensionable service in the scheme employment, or employments, with that employer;

(c) the date on which the member had ceased to be employed in scheme employment by that employer; and

(d) the date on which the certificate is given.

(3) Where a scheme manager is required to provide a certificate under paragraph (1), and the scheme manager had established an added pension account for that member that scheme manager must provide the member with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the added pension account at the date of the certificate;

(b) the date on which the certificate is given; and

(c) details of the member’s added pension election where the contributions period has not ended.

(4) Where a scheme manager is required to provide a certificate under paragraph (2), or where a deferred member intends to make an added pension election having taken up scheme employment after a gap in pensionable service exceeding five years, and the scheme manager in relation to a previous period of pensionable service had established an added pension account, that scheme manager must provide the member with a certificate, where the member requests one, stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account at the date of the certificate;

(b) the date on which the member had ceased to be employed in scheme employment by that employer; and

(c) the date on which the certificate is given.

(5) Where an active member has two or more active member’s accounts with two or more different scheme managers, and that member intends to make, or has made an added pension election, that member may request a certificate from the scheme manager who established the added pension account so that that certificate may be provided to another scheme manager (“B”) in respect of a different active member’s account so that the entries may be transferred to an added pension account established by B.

(6) The scheme manager must provide a certificate under this regulation—

(a) within three months of the date on which the active member leaves scheme employment; or

(b) within three months of the date on which the deferred member notifies the scheme manager of the new scheme employment.

Request to confirm details on certificate

147.  Where a member has been provided with a certificate under regulation 146 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) and is dissatisfied with the information stated on the certificate, that member may within the period of three months commencing on the date on which the certificate was received, request the scheme manager who provided the certificate to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in it or to provide an amended certificate.

Appeal concerning entries on the certificate

148.—(1) Where a member (P) is not satisfied with the entries on the certificate, or amended certificate, after P has made a request under regulation 147 (request to confirm details on certificate), P may, by written notice given to the scheme manager who provided the certificate within 28 days of the notification date, require the scheme manager to deal with the disagreement by means of arrangements implemented by it pursuant to the requirements of section 50 of the Pensions Act 1995(1) (resolution of disputes) and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008(2).

(2) In paragraph (1) “the notification date” is the date on which P is treated as having received from the scheme manager confirmation of the certificate provided or provision of an amended certificate following P’s request under regulation 147 (request to confirm details on certificate).

Transfer of pension account entries

149.—(1) A member who has been provided with a certificate under paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of regulation 146 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) must give the certificate to that member’s new scheme employer.

(2) The new scheme employer must request the scheme manager who gave the certificate to confirm that the member has provided certificates in respect of all pension accounts for which that employer was the scheme manager.

(3) After the confirmation has been provided by the scheme manager, the new scheme employer must transfer the appropriate entries from the certificate provided to the new active member’s pension account which has been established under regulation 31 (establishment of active member’s account) and where the member had an added pension account transfer the appropriate entries from the certificate provided in respect of that account to the new added pension account established under regulation 38 (establishment of added pension account).

(4) When the transfer of entries has been completed under paragraph (3), the new scheme manager must inform the former scheme manager that the transfer has taken place and the former scheme manager must close all pension accounts relating to the certificates provided in respect of that member.

(5) If the number of pension accounts in respect of which details have been provided by the former scheme manager under paragraph (1) or (2) of regulation 146 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) is greater than the number of active member’s accounts established by the new scheme manager, the member must decide, following consultation with the new scheme manager, from which pension account entries should be transferred to the new active member’s account or accounts and notify the former scheme manager of this.

(6) Where paragraph (5) applies and there are one or more pension accounts from which entries are not transferred, those accounts must be closed and the former scheme manager must establish a deferred member’s account in respect of each of those accounts.

(7) Where a member has taken up scheme employment with two or more employers and intends to make an added pension election, the member may choose to which scheme manager the certificate provided under paragraph (3) or (4) of regulation 146 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) is to be given.

(8) The scheme manager is not required to make any payment to the new scheme manager in connection with the transfer of a pension account.

(1)

1995 c.26.

(2)

S.I. 2008/649.