Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Payments to increase total membership

57.—(1) An active member may elect to make additional contributions to the Scheme to increase his total membership by an additional period.

(2) That period must not exceed the maximum addition under Schedule 4.

(3) The election must be made by giving notice in writing to the Committee earlier than the member’s 64th birthday.

(4) If –

(a) the Committee passes a resolution requiring a member to satisfy it that he is in good health by producing to it a report at his own expense provided by an independent registered medical practitioner approved by the Committee; and

(b) it is not so satisfied,

the election is void.

(5) The amounts of the additional contributions must be such percentage of the member’s pay for the time being as is shown as appropriate in guidance issued by the Government Actuary.

(6) A member’s pay for the time being is the pay received by him for the interval at the end of which the additional contribution falls to be paid.

(7) Where a member is away from work (otherwise than because of illness or injury) with reduced or no pay, for paragraph (6) he is treated as having received the pay he would have received if he had not been away (unless his contract of employment has ceased).

(8) For paragraph (6) any reduction in pay by reason of the actual or assumed enjoyment of any statutory entitlement during any period in which the member is away from work (other than a period of maternity absence) shall be disregarded.

(9) If a member continues paying the additional contributions until –

(a) his normal retirement date,

(b) or if earlier his last birthday before the date after his 60th birthday when the sum of the items referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of regulation 33(4) is 85 years or more,

the whole of the additional period may be counted as part of his total membership.

(10) Otherwise, the part of that period which may be so counted must be calculated as specified in regulation 84 (discontinuance of additional contributions).

(11) The additional contributions are payable from the member’s next birthday after his election.