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Teachers' Superannuation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998

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Part APreliminary

Citation and commencement

A1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and shall come into operation on 2nd November 1998.

Interpretation

A2.—(1) In these Regulations, any expression in the first column of Schedule 1 has the meaning specified opposite thereto in the second column of that Schedule.

(2) In these Regulations—

(a)any reference to, or to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of, any provision of these Regulations shall, if and so far as the nature of the reference permits, be construed as including, in relation to circumstances or purposes in relation to which the corresponding provision in any Regulations revoked by these Regulations, or in previous provisions, has or had effect, a reference to, or as the case may be to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of, that corresponding provision;

(b)any reference to the purchase of added years shall, in relation to previous provisions, be construed as including a reference to the payment of contributions by a person in respect of a period during which he was not in pensionable employment;

(c)any reference to contributions and benefits payable in respect of a person shall be construed as including a reference to contributions paid by him and benefits paid to him; and

(d)any reference to a transfer value paid or received shall be construed as including a reference to a transfer value which would have been paid or received but for arrangements made for the avoidance of payments between Departments.

(3) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a)a person is qualified, or qualified by service, for a benefit if, on the day following his ceasing to be employed in reckonable service, he is entitled to payment thereof or would be so entitled but for his age;

(b)a person shall be taken to have ceased to be employed in reckonable service on the last day he is so employed or, as the case may be, the last day on which the employment was pensionable.

Part BPensionable Employment

Employment — general

B1.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (4) and (5) and regulations B3 to B5, a person is in pensionable employment while he is in employment in a capacity specified in Schedule 2.

(2) Employment in a capacity described in Part II of Schedule 2 is not pensionable unless the person has elected that it is to be so.

(3) An election for the purposes of paragraph (2) shall not be made without the consent of the employer.

(4) A person who is in part-time employment is not in pensionable employment unless he has at some time made an election for the purposes of this regulation.

(5) A person who is employed as a temporary teacher or is in part-time employment is not in pensionable employment while he is entitled to be paid a teacher’s pension.

(6) An election for the purposes of this regulation—

(a)may be made at any time by giving written notice to the Department; and

(b)has effect from the first day of the month following that in which the Department notifies the person making it of its acceptance unless the Department specifies an earlier date.

Continuing employment

B2.  Subject to regulations B3 to B5, a person who immediately before 2nd November 1998 was in employment (“the first employment”) which was pensionable employment by virtue of regulation 3(2)(b) of the 1977 Regulations(1) (employment in continuation of employment treated as reckonable service for the purposes of the 1972 superannuation Regulations) is in pensionable employment—

(a)while he is in the first employment; and

(b)while he is in employment which is in continuation of the first employment.

Exclusion from pensionable employment

B3.—(1) A person is not in pensionable employment unless he is—

(a)18 years old or older and under the age of compulsory retirement; and

(b)entitled to be paid his salary in full, or on sick leave and entitled to be paid not less than half his salary, or on maternity leave and entitled to be paid any contractual remuneration or statutory maternity pay or in part-time employment and has made an election in accordance with regulation B1(4).

(2) A person is not in pensionable employment while he is in an employment which immediately before 2nd November 1998 by virtue of regulation 5(1) of the 1977 Regulations (employments treated as not being reckonable service by previous provisions) was not pensionable employment.

(3) A person is not in pensionable employment in respect of any employment which commenced on or after 2nd November 1998 while he is entitled to be paid a teacher’s pension, including cases where the annual rate of the pension has been reduced to zero in accordance with regulation E14 (abatement of retirement pension during further employment).

Election not to be pensionable

B4.—(1) A person who—

(a)is in pensionable employment; or

(b)is not in pensionable employment but expects to enter an employment which would otherwise but for this regulation be pensionable employment,

may at any time, by giving written notice to the Department, make an election under this regulation.

(2) As from the date from which the election has effect—

(a)where paragraph (1)(a) applies, the person ceases to be in pensionable employment for all purposes of these Regulations; and

(b)in any case, subject to regulation B5, no subsequent employment of his is pensionable employment.

(3) Where paragraph (1)(a) applies, an election under this regulation—

(a)if the notice is given within 3 months after the start of the person’s pensionable employment, has effect as from the first day of his pensionable employment; and

(b)in any other case, has effect from the first day of the month after that in which the notice was given.

(4) Where paragraph (1)(b) applies, the election has effect as from the day before that on which the person first enters any such employment as is there mentioned.

Election to rejoin pensionable service

B5.—(1) A person who has made an election under regulation B4, who has since been in employment which would otherwise have been pensionable employment (“excluded employment”), and who—

(a)is in excluded employment; or

(b)is not in, but expects to enter, excluded employment,

may at any time, by giving written notice to the Department, make an election under this regulation.

(2) As from the date on which the election has effect, subject to regulation B4 any employment on and after that date which would otherwise have been excluded employment is pensionable employment.

(3) Where paragraph (1)(a) applies, an election under this regulation—

(a)if the notice given within 3 months after the start of any period of excluded employment, has effect as from the first day of that employment; and

(b)in any other case, has effect from the first day of the month after that in which the notice was given.

(4) Where paragraph (1)(b) applies, the election has effect as from the day before that on which the person first enters any excluded employment.

Part CTeachers' Contributions

Salary on which contributions are payable

C1.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (12), a person’s contributable salary is the total of—

(a)the amounts payable by his employer, in respect of his pensionable employment—

(i)by way of salary; and

(ii)in satisfaction of any statutory liability arising out of sickness or maternity; and

(b)if the employer has satisfied the Department that it is expedient for residential accommodation to be provided free in connection with the employment, the money value as an allowance in kind of—

(i)the accommodation provided; and

(ii)any heating or lighting provided free in connection with such accommodation.

(2) Where a person’s contributable salary is reduced due to maternity leave or adoption leave the employee’s contributions shall be based on the actual rate of salary paid and the employer’s contributions shall be based on the notional rate as defined in paragraph (6).

(3) If the money value of any accommodation provided, as mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)(i), exceeds one sixth of the amounts mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), the excess is not part of the person’s contributable salary.

(4) A person’s contributable salary does not include—

(a)any allowance in kind not falling within paragraph (1)(b);

(b)any payment in respect of overtime;

(c)any payment by way of travelling or expense allowance; or

(d)any payment by way of bonus.

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

(a)a payment by way of bonus shall not include any payment calculated by reference to the performance of the person in question or the performance of the institution where he is employed;

(b)a payment by way of bonus shall not include any payment made to the person in question where such a payment is made as part of a pay settlement which applies to all persons, or to all persons of a particular class or description, employed at the institution;

(c)if at any time a payment is made to a person which is not part of his contributable salary then any subsequent payment of the same nature is a payment by way of bonus (whether or not it is described as such); and

(d)if at any time a payment is made to a person which is part of his contributable salary then any subsequent payment of the same nature is not a payment by way of bonus (whether or not it is described as such).

(6) A person who continues in full-time pensionable employment but whose contributable salary is reduced, otherwise than by reason of sick leave, adoption leave or maternity leave, may elect that it is to be treated as having continued at the rate applicable immediately before the reduction (“the notional rate”).

(7) An election for the purposes of paragraph (6)—

(a)shall be made by giving written notice to the Department within 3 months after the reduction;

(b)has effect from the day after the last day on which the person’s salary was payable at the rate applicable before the reduction; and

(c)subject to paragraph (9), continues to have effect until a relevant event occurs in relation to the person who made it.

(8) For the purposes of paragraph (7)(c) the relevant events in relation to any person are—

(a)the actual rate at which the salary is paid exceeds the notional rate;

(b)that person enters employment as a temporary teacher or part-time pensionable employment; and

(c)unless he elects to pay additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7, that person ceases to be in pensionable employment.

(9) An election made for the purposes of paragraph (6) may be cancelled by giving written notice to the Department at any time.

(10) Notice of cancellation under paragraph (9)—

(a)has effect from the first day of the month following that in which it was received; and

(b)is irrevocable.

(11) If, while an election made for the purposes of paragraph (6) has effect there is any further reduction during a period of sick leave, adoption leave or maternity leave, the notional rate shall, during that period, be treated as having been reduced in the same proportion as the actual rate.

(12) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (14), in the case of a person entering pensionable employment after 31st May 1989 with no right to count any period before 1st June 1989 as reckonable service, in any tax year in which the contributable salary calculated in accordance with paragraphs (1) to (11) exceeds the permitted maximum in terms of section 590C of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (earnings cap)(2), the excess does not form part of his contributable salary.

(13) Paragraph (12) shall not apply to a person—

(a)who was in pensionable employment before 1st June 1989 and who resumes pensionable employment following—

(i)an absence on maternity leave in respect of which she enjoyed a right to return to work under Articles 111 to 117 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996(3);

(ii)a period of secondment or additional period of absence necessarily attributable to that secondment; and

(iii)in any other case, a break in pensionable employment not exceeding one year; or

(b)who was in comparable service before 1st June 1989 and who enters pensionable employment provided there has not been a period of more than one year between cessation of employment in comparable service and entering pensionable employment.

(14) For the purpose of paragraph (13), “comparable service” does not include service which is pensionable under a superannuation scheme for teachers in public employment in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Ordinary contributions

C2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) a person who is in pensionable employment shall pay contributions of 6 per cent of his contributable salary for the time being.

(2) Contributions shall not be paid by any person whose reckonable service exceeds 45 years.

Contributions for past added years

C3.—(1) This regulation applies to a person who—

(a)is in pensionable employment; and

(b)first became employed in pensionable employment, or has been credited with reckonable service on the receipt of a transfer value in respect of comparable service that began, before he attained the age of 55; and

(c)has not become entitled to payment of retirement benefits under regulation E4(2) to (5).

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (13), a person to whom this regulation applies may elect to pay additional contributions in accordance with—

(a)Part I of Schedule 4 (“Method A”); or

(b)Part II of Schedule 4 (“Method B”),

in order to become entitled to count an additional period (“the past period”) as reckonable service.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4), (5), (7) and (13) the employer of a person to whom this regulation applies may elect to pay additional contributions in respect of the person in accordance with Part II of Schedule 4 (“Method B”).

(4) The past period shall not exceed the maximum calculated in accordance with Schedule 3, and shall—

(a)have begun after the person attained the age of 20;

(b)have ended—

(i)before he attained the age of 60;

(ii)before the date of the election under paragraph (2); and

(iii)if he has become entitled to payment of retirement benefits by virtue of regulation E4(7) (redundancy, etc), before the relevant termination of employment;

(c)be one during which he was not in full-time pensionable employment, unless—

(i)contributions in respect of the period have been repaid after 31st May 1973; or

(ii)the right to count reckonable service in respect of it has been extinguished by payment of a transfer value;

(d)if payment is to be made by Method A, satisfy paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 4; and

(e)unless payment is to be made by Method B and notice of the election is given no earlier than the date of applying for payment of retirement benefits, be a period of not less than 30 days.

(5) If the person is already entitled to count any reckonable service in respect of the past period, that period is for the purposes of payment under this regulation and those of regulation D1 (reckonable service) reduced by the length of that service.

(6) Where payment is to be made by Method A, the period during which additional contributions are to be paid (“the contribution period”) shall satisfy paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 4.

(7) Subject to paragraph (8) an election under this regulation may be made at any time.

(8) A person shall not simultaneously make different elections under this regulation, except that an election to make payment by Method A may be made at the same time as an election to make payment by Method B in respect of a different past period.

(9) An election under paragraph (2) shall be made by giving written notice to the Department, which—

(a)specifies the past period;

(b)specifies the method by which payment is to be made;

(c)where payment is to be made by Method A, specifies the length of the contribution period; and

(d)where payment is to be made by Method A, contains a declaration that the person has no reason to believe that his health may prevent him from continuing in pensionable employment until payment has been completed.

(10) Where the Department has notified the person in writing that his election under this regulation has been accepted, the person may at any time revoke the election by giving written notice to the Department but, in the case of such election being so revoked, any additional contributions paid up to that time shall not be refunded.

(11) Where payment is to be made by Method A and—

(a)within 12 months after the date of the election the person becomes incapacitated; and

(b)the declaration required by paragraph (9)(d) was not made in good faith,

the election shall be treated as not having been made and any additional contributions paid shall be refunded.

(12) An election under paragraph (3) shall be made by giving written notice to the Department which shall specify—

(a)the person in respect to whom it is made; and

(b)the past period.

(13) An election or a revocation of an election under this regulation has effect only if the Department notifies the person in writing that it has been accepted.

Contributions for past added years by family pensioner

C4.—(1) This regulation applies where a person dies and—

(a)if on the date of his death he had ceased to be in pensionable employment he would have become entitled under regulation E4 to payment of retirement benefits; and

(b)another person (“the pensioner”) is entitled under regulation E26 to a long-term pension in respect of him.

(2) Where this regulation applies the pensioner, or in the case of a child, a person acting on his behalf, may, by giving written notice to the Department within 3 months after the death, make any election which, on the hypothesis stated in paragraph (1)(a), the deceased person could have made under regulation C3.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), an election under this regulation has effect as if it had been made under regulation C3 by the deceased person.

(4) The additional contributions except to the extent that they are, with the consent of any person entitled to it, met out of a terminal sum, are payable by the pensioner.

Contributions for past added years under earlier provisions

C5.—(1) Paragraphs 1 to 6 of Schedule 5 have effect where immediately before [date of commencement] additional contributions remained to be paid by virtue of regulations 22 to 25 of the 1977 Regulations (elections made before 1st December 1982).

(2) Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 has effect where immediately before [date of commencement] additional contributions remained to be paid by virtue of regulation 26 of the 1977 Regulations (payments commenced before 1973).

Additional contributions for current period

C6.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (11) to (13), this regulation applies, to a person who—

(a)before attaining the age of 60 has ceased to be in pensionable employment, otherwise than by virtue of an election under regulation B4; and

(b)was not then incapacitated; and

(c)did not then become entitled to payment of retirement benefits; and

(d)has not become a member of another occupational pension scheme or is not engaged in full-time employment in a capacity described in Part II of Schedule 2.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3), (4) and (10), a person to whom this regulation applies may elect to pay additional contributions in order to become entitled to count as reckonable service a period (“the period”) beginning on the day after the cessation of the pensionable employment, or where paragraph (4)(a) applies, on the day after the last day of the earlier period.

(3) The period—

(a)shall end before his 60th birthday; and

(b)shall not in any case exceed the maximum calculated in accordance with Schedule 3; and

(c)if he has become employed as a teacher or supervisor in a school or educational service outside the British Islands, shall not exceed 6 years; and

(d)in any other case, shall not exceed 3 years.

(4) If the person has paid additional contributions under this regulation for an earlier period and—

(a)he has not since the end of that period been in pensionable employment; or

(b)he has since been in pensionable employment but for less than 12 months,

the earlier period shall be deducted from the maximum allowed by paragraph (3)(b).

(5) If before the end of the period the person—

(a)becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits; or

(b)becomes a member of another occupational pension scheme; or

(c)dies,

the period shall be treated as having ended on the day on which the relevant event occurred; and if before the end of the period he fails to pay an additional contribution, or a late payment is not accepted under paragraph (9), the period shall be treated as having ended on the day up to which contributions have been paid.

(6) An additional contribution is payable for each financial year and is a percentage of the notional salary for so much of the period as falls within that year.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)—

(a)the notional salary is an amount notified by the former employer or, where no such notification has been given, estimated by the Department as being what that person’s contributable salary would have been if pensionable employment had not ceased and the person had continued to be employed in the same post and on the same terms; and

(b)the percentage is (A + B), where A is the percentage specified under regulation G4(3) and B is any percentage specified under regulation G4(7) and (8).

(8) The contribution for a financial year shall be paid direct to the Department—

(a)where the period had not ended during the financial year, within 21 days after the end of the financial year; and

(b)in any other case, within 42 days after the end of the period or the date of a written notification by the Department that payment is due, whichever is the later.

(9) A late payment of a contribution may for special reasons be accepted by the Department; but if it is accepted the person shall pay interest on the amount of the contribution at 4 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests, from the due date of payment to the date of payment.

(10) An election under this regulation shall be made by the person by written notice to the Department, and shall specify the period and shall be given—

(a)if paragraph (3)(c) applies, within 6 months; and

(b)in any other case, within 3 months,

after the cessation of his pensionable employment or, if later, the end of a previous period for which he has paid additional contributions under this regulation.

(11) For the purposes only of this regulation a person remains in pensionable employment while he is absent from duty during and in consequence of a trade dispute.

(12) Paragraph (11) applies—

(a)even if the person was not participating in or financing or otherwise directly interested in the trade dispute; and

(b)even if his employer was not a party to the trade dispute.

(13) In this regulation “trade dispute” has the meaning given by Article 127 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(4).

Additional contributions for current period: service in a reserve force

C7.—(1) This regulation applies to a person who ceases to be in pensionable employment by virtue of being called out or recalled for permanent service in Her Majesty’s armed forces in pursuance of a call-out notice or call-out order or a recall order made under the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996(5), provided that—

(a)the person does not apply for payment of any retirement benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled on ceasing to be in such employment; and

(b)he does not accrue any reckonable service in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme or become a member of any other occupational pension scheme during his period of permanent service.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (11), a person to whom this regulation applies may elect to pay additional contributions in order to become entitled to count as reckonable service a period (“the period”) beginning on the day after the cessation of the pensionable employment and ending with the date on which he is released from permanent service or discharged.

(3) An additional contribution is payable for each financial year and is 6% of the notional salary for so much of the period as falls within that year.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the notional salary is the salary that would have been payable if pensionable employment had not ceased and the person had continued to be employed in the same post and on the same terms.

(5) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), an election under this regulation shall be made by giving written notice to the Department and shall be given at any time between the cessation of pensionable employment and 6 months after the return to pensionable employment after the end of the period.

(6) An election has effect only if any contribution under this regulation is paid by the person to the Department within three months of the date of a written notification by the Department that payment is due to it; and provided that the person pays all contributions and payments payable by him in respect of the period in accordance with an election or elections made by him under regulation C3 (taken with Schedule 4), regulation C8 (taken with Schedule 6) and regulation C13.

(7) Where an election is made before the end of the period it shall specify the day on which the period begins; and where an election is made after the end of the period it shall specify the period.

(8) Subject to paragraph (9), where the person dies during his service in a reserve force without having made an election under this regulation, he shall be deemed to have made such an election so that the period beginning with and including the day after the cessation of the pensionable employment and ending with the date of his death shall count as reckonable service.

(9) Any contribution due under this regulation at the date of such death shall be deducted from any benefits payable under these Regulations.

(10) Notwithstanding that a person to whom this regulation applies has not made an election under this regulation, he shall be entitled to count the period as reckonable service where during the period his service pay, when aggregated with any payments under Part V of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951(6), is less than the remuneration he would have received if he had during the period continued in the pensionable employment in which he was employed immediately before being called into service in a reserve force.

(11) For the purposes of paragraph (10), “service pay” means pay for performing service in a reserve force, and includes marriage, family and other similar allowances.

Contributions for family benefits

C8.—(1) Parts I and III of Schedule 6 have effect for enabling men and unmarried women to pay additional contributions (“family benefit contributions”) in order to secure, or to increase, family benefits in respect of reckonable service before 1st April 1972.

(2) Parts II and III of Schedule 6 have effect for enabling married women to pay family benefit contributions in respect of reckonable service before 6th April 1988.

Right to repayment of balance of contributions

C9.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), this regulation applies where a person has ceased to be in pensionable employment and—

(a)he is not qualified for retirement benefits; and

(b)no transfer value has since been paid or become payable in respect of him; and

(c)he has not since taken any right to a cash equivalent; and

(d)he did not re-enter pensionable employment within one month after ceasing to be in pensionable employment; and

(e)he has not elected to pay additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7 for any period which includes the period beginning when he ceased to be in pensionable employment and ending one month later.

(2) This regulation does not apply if—

(a)the person ceased to be in pensionable employment before 6th April 1980; and

(b)the salary on which contributions were payable by him under the 1977 Regulations or under previous provisions in any year had exceeded £5,000.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a woman who ceased to be in pensionable employment wholly or partly because of pregnancy or confinement shall be treated—

(a)as having remained in such employment while she enjoyed the right to return to work conferred by Articles 111 to 117 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996; and

(b)if she has exercised that right, as not having ceased to be in pensionable employment.

(4) Subject to regulation C12 (application for repayment), where this regulation applies the person is entitled to be repaid the balance of his contributions, calculated in accordance with regulation C10.

(5) The entitlement referred to in paragraph (4) takes effect one month after the person ceased to be in pensionable employment or on attaining the age of compulsory retirement if earlier.

Calculation of balance of contributions

C10.—(1) The balance of contributions referred to in regulation C9(4) shall be calculated as at the date of the calculation, or the age of compulsory retirement if earlier (“the calculation date”).

(2) The balance is

where—

  • A is the total of the amounts specified in paragraph (3);

  • B is the total of the deductions specified in paragraph (4); and

  • C is the amount of the tax chargeable on (A − B) under section 598 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988(7).

(3) The amounts are those of—

(a)all contributions paid, up to the date of receipt of the application for repayment, under regulations C2, C3, C6, C7 and C8, except—

(i)any treated for the purposes of regulation G2 as employers' contributions; and

(ii)any paid in respect of period of employment for which a short service incapacity grant under regulation E17 has been paid; and

(b)contributions paid in respect of any comparable service in respect of which the person is entitled to count as reckonable service by virtue of the receipt of a transfer value; and

(c)if the person was entitled to count any reckonable service by virtue of the receipt of a transfer value in respect of an employment that was not comparable service, either—

(i)any payment by way of repayment of contributions, and interest, that he would otherwise have been entitled to receive under the rules of the superannuation scheme to which he was subject in the employment; or

(ii)if that scheme made no provision for the repayment of contributions, the contributions he paid under it in respect of the employment; and

(d)interest to the calculation date, at 3 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests—

(i)on the contributions mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), from the first day of the financial year following that in which they were paid; and

(ii)where sub-paragraph (c) applies, from the first day of the financial year following that in which the transfer value was paid.

(4) The deductions are—

(a)the amount of any previous repayment of contributions;

(b)if the Department has made a payment in lieu of contributions, or the person is entitled to equivalent pension benefits, half the amount of the payment in lieu of contributions that was, or as the case may be would otherwise have been, made; and

(c)if the Department has paid a contributions equivalent premium, the amount recoverable by it under sections 57 to 59 of the Pensions Act(8).

Repayment of certain contributions paid for family benefits

C11.—(1) This paragraph applies where a member who has made no election under paragraph 3 of Schedule 6—

(a)becomes entitled under regulation C9 to the repayment of the balance of his contributions; or

(b)becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits, unless on his death family benefits would become payable.

(2) Subject to regulation C12, where paragraph (1) applies, the member is entitled to be repaid an amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (5).

(3) Where no family benefit would have been payable if the member had died before 1st April 1972, the amount includes the whole of his normal contributions and any additional contributions.

(4) Where paragraph (3) does not apply, the amount includes—

(a)half the normal contributions paid in respect of any period during which family benefits would have been payable in the event of his death; and

(b)the whole of the normal contributions paid in respect of any other period; and

(c)the whole of any additional contributions.

(5) The remainder of the amount consists of interest at 3 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests, from and including the first day of the financial year following that in which the contributions were paid to—

(a)the date of the calculation; or

(b)the person’s compulsory retirement date; or

(c)the date of his death,

whichever is the earliest.

(6) There shall be deducted from the amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (5) the tax chargeable on it under section 598 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

(7) Subject to regulation C12, where a member who has made no election under paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 dies and he was entitled under regulation C9 to be repaid the balance of his contributions or—

(a)a death grant is payable under regulation E20; and

(b)no family benefit other than a children’s pension is payable,

his personal representatives are entitled to be paid an amount calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (5) but with the interest referred to in paragraph (5) calculated to the date of his death.

Application for repayment

C12.  A person shall not be entitled to a payment under regulation C9 or C11 unless he—

(a)applies in writing to the Department for payment; and

(b)provides such relevant information as the Department may reasonably require.

Return of repaid contributions

C13.—(1) A person to whom contributions were repaid before 1st June 1973—

(a)who is in pensionable employment; or

(b)who is in comparable service and in respect of whom no transfer value has been paid since the end of his last pensionable employment,

may at any time, by giving written notice to the Department, elect to return the contributions, with interest, to it.

(2) Except where paragraph (3) applies, the return of contributions shall be made by a single payment, which shall be made within thirty working days of a notice given under paragraph (1).

(3) Where the amount of the contributions, together with the interest payable exceeds £500, the person may elect to make the return of contributions—

(a)if he is in full-time pensionable employment, by instalments under paragraph (5); or

(b)if he is in part-time pensionable employment or in comparable service, by instalments under paragraph (7).

(4) Interest is payable at the rate of 3.5 per cent per annum from the date on which the contributions were repaid to the date on which their return is completed, and—

(a)where the return of contributions is made by a single payment, is payable on the full amount of the contributions and is compounded with yearly rests; and

(b)where the return of contributions is made by instalments, is payable on the balance for the time being outstanding and is compounded with yearly rests on 31st March.

(5) Instalments payable under this paragraph are, subject to paragraph (6), payable by deduction from the person’s salary for a number of whole years, not exceeding 5 and ending before his 61st birthday, to be specified in the notice of the election.

(6) Where the total of—

(a)the instalments payable by a person under paragraph (5) in any year; and

(b)the other amounts to be deducted in that year under regulation C15,

would otherwise exceed 15 per cent of his contributable salary for that year, the instalments are payable for the smallest number of whole years that will secure that that total does not exceed 15 per cent of his annual contributable salary.

(7) Instalments under this paragraph are, subject to paragraph (8), payable—

(a)at equal intervals of not more than six months; and

(b)for a period,

determined by the Department after consulting the person making the election.

(8) Instalments are of equal amounts unless in any year the payment of an instalment of an amount equal to that paid in previous years would exceed the limit specified in paragraph (9) and in that event the instalments (and the corresponding period over which they are payable) shall be recalculated so that they do not exceed that limit.

(9) The annual amount of instalments paid under paragraph (7) shall be such that

A + B

does not exceed 15% of the annual rate of the person's contributable salary in the year where—

  • A is the annual amount of the instalments; and

  • B is the annual amount of other contributions paid under this Part (except any treated for the purposes of regulation G2 as employers' contributions) or towards the pension of a pension otherwise than under these Regulations.

(10) Where immediately before 2nd November 1998 instalments remained to be paid by virtue of regulation 16B(7) of the 1977 Regulations(9) (certain elections made before 27th March 1987), the person shall be treated as having elected to pay instalments under paragraph (5), but payment shall be completed no later than—

(a)the fifth anniversary of the first payment; or

(b)if earlier, his 60th birthday.

(11) For the purposes of this regulation, a person shall be treated as being in pensionable employment if he is paying additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7 and such person may, except where paragraph (3) applies, elect to make the return by instalments under paragraph (7).

Uncompleted return by instalments of repaid contributions

C14.—(1) This regulation applies where instalments are payable by a person under regulation C13(5) or (7).

(2) If before all the instalments have been paid—

(a)the person becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits; or

(b)a death grant becomes payable in respect of him,

the balance outstanding, adjusted for early payment, shall be deducted from the appropriate terminal sum and the return of the contributions shall be treated as having been completed.

(3) This paragraph applies where the instalments are payable under regulation C13(5) and before they have all been paid the person—

(a)ceases to be in full-time pensionable employment; and

(b)does not become entitled to payment of retirement benefits; and

(c)continues in part-time pensionable employment or in comparable service.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies—

(a)the person may elect to pay the balance outstanding by instalments under regulation C13(7); and

(b)if he does not so elect, he shall make a single payment of the balance outstanding, adjusted for early payment.

(5) This paragraph applies where before all the instalments have been paid—

(a)the person ceases to be in pensionable employment or in comparable service; and

(b)neither paragraph (2) nor paragraph (3) applies.

(6) Where paragraph (5) applies—

(a)the person may, if he elects to pay additional contributions for a current period under regulation C6 or C7, elect to pay the balance outstanding by instalments under regulation C13(7) (but payable at the same time as the additional contributions); and

(b)if he does not so elect, he shall make a single payment of the balance outstanding, adjusted for early payment.

(7) Where paragraph (3) or (5) applies and the person has not within 3 months after the end of the relevant employment—

(a)made a payment under paragraph (4)(b) or (6)(b); or

(b)made any election he could have made under paragraph (4)(a) or (6)(a),

the amount of the instalments already paid shall be repaid to him.

(8) Where—

(a)a person who has elected as mentioned in regulation C13(3)(b) is in part-time pensionable employment or in comparable service and an instalment has not been paid by the due date; or

(b)a person has made an election under paragraph (4)(a) and an instalment has not been paid by the due date; or

(c)a person has made an election under paragraph (6)(a) and an instalment is not paid by 21st April in the financial year following that in which it fell due,

then, unless within 3 months he makes a single payment of the balance outstanding, adjusted for early payment, the amount of the instalments already paid shall be repaid to him.

Deduction, payment and recovery of contributions

C15.—(1) The employer of a person in pensionable employment shall deduct from the employee’s salary each month—

(a)the contributions payable under regulation C2(1);

(b)any additional contributions payable in accordance with Part I of Schedule 4 as a result of an election under regulation C3;

(c)any additional contributions payable by virtue of regulation C5 or C8; and

(d)any instalments payable under regulation C13(5),

and any amount not so deducted in any month shall be deducted from the employee’s salary no later than 30th April next following the end of the financial year in which it ought to have been deducted.

(2) If and so far as deductions are not made under paragraph (1), any sum remaining due shall be paid by the employee to the Department on receipt of a written demand specifying that sum.

(3) If a sum is not paid within 6 weeks after the date of the written demand, made in accordance with paragraph (2), interest shall be payable on it at 4 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests, from the expiry of the 6 weeks to the date of payment.

(4) Without prejudice to any other means of recovery, any sum due to the Department under paragraph (2) or (3) may be recovered by deducting it from any benefits payable under Part E.

(5) Amounts due from a person under this Part which are not deductible under paragraph (1) shall be paid by him to the Department.

(6) If any amount to which paragraph (5) applies, except one due under regulation C6, C7, C13 or C14, is not paid within 6 months after the end of the period to which it relates, but remains payable, interest shall be payable on it at 4 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests, from the expiry of the 6 months to the date of payment.

Part DReckonable Service

Reckonable service generally

D1.—(1) Subject to regulation D2, a person is entitled to count as reckonable service—

(a)subject to paragraph (2), any period spent by him in pensionable employment;

(b)any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of regulations D3 and D4 or of regulation F4(8) (receipt of transfer value);

(c)any period which does not count by virtue of sub-paragraph (a) or (b) but which immediately before 2nd November 1998 counted as reckonable service under regulation 3(1) of the 1977 Regulations; and

(d)any period which immediately before 2nd November 1998, under regulations 4 and 67(1)(a) of the 1977 Regulations (war service), was capable of counting as reckonable service for the purpose of calculating benefits under Part III of those Regulations.

(2) Where during a financial year a person has spent one or more periods in part-time pensionable employment each such period counts as—

where—

  • A is the person’s contributable salary for the period; and

  • B is what his contributable salary for the whole of the financial year would have been if the employment had been full-time and had continued throughout the year.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)—

(a)a period of part-time employment ends, and another such period begins, when any change occurs in the rate of the person’s contributable salary;

(b)no account shall be taken of any reduction in contributable salary during a period of sick leave or maternity leave;

(c)if a half or any greater fraction of a day results it shall be taken as one day, and any smaller fraction resulting shall be left out; and

(d)if the calculation would result in more than 365 days' counting as reckonable service in respect of the financial year, the excess shall not so count.

(4) In calculating the length of reckonable service—

(a)no account shall be taken of a leap year day (29th February) except as provided in sub-paragraph (b); but

(b)where total reckonable service which includes part of a year ends in a leap year on or after the leap year day that day shall be included in the number of days of reckonable service.

Exclusion from reckonable service

D2.  The following shall not count as reckonable service—

(a)any contributions refund period; and

(b)any period in respect of which a transfer value has been paid under regulation F1 or a cash equivalent has been paid.

Past period for which additional contributions have been paid

D3.—(1) A person—

(a)who has paid additional contributions for a past period in accordance with Part II of Schedule 4; or

(b)in respect of whom payment of additional contributions for a past period in accordance with Part II of Schedule 4 has been made,

is entitled to count the past period as reckonable service.

(2) A person who—

(a)has paid any additional contributions for a past period in accordance with Part I of Schedule 4; or

(b)has continued to pay additional contributions for a past period in accordance with Schedule 5,

is entitled to count as reckonable service a period calculated in accordance with Schedule 7.

Current period for which additional contributions have been paid

D4.—(1) A person who has paid additional contributions for a current period in accordance with regulation C6 is entitled—

(a)if he was in full-time pensionable employment immediately before the start of the period, to count as reckonable service the period in respect of which they were paid; or

(b)if he was then in part-time pensionable employment, to count as reckonable service the proportion of the period that would have counted under regulation D1 if he had continued in that employment.

(2) A person who has paid additional contributions for a current period in accordance with regulation C7 is entitled to count as reckonable service the period specified in regulation C7(2).

Part EBenefits

Overriding provision as to guaranteed minimum pensions

E1.—(1) This regulation applies where a person’s pensionable employment is contracted-out employment.

(2) Where this regulation applies it overrides anything in these Regulations that is inconsistent with it, except regulation E14 (abatement on re-employment) and regulation E18 (deferment etc).

(3) Where this regulation applies and the person in relation to employment up to 6th April 1997, has a guaranteed minimum in relation to benefits under these Regulations—

(a)unless on the cessation of the pensionable employment he is entitled to a retirement pension at a higher rate, he is from the date on which he attains state pensionable age entitled to a pension at a weekly rate equal to his guaranteed minimum;

(b)if he attains state pensionable age while in pensionable employment, continues in the same employment for a further period of 5 years and does not then cease to hold it, he is (unless he consents to a postponement of the entitlement) entitled from the end of that period to so much of his retirement pension as equals his guaranteed minimum;

(c)in the case of a man who dies at any time and leaves a widow, unless she is entitled to a widow’s pension at a higher rate she is, during any such period as is mentioned in section 13 of the Pensions Act(10), entitled to a pension at a weekly rate equal to half his guaranteed minimum; and

(d)in the case of a woman who dies at any time leaving a widower who is not entitled to a widower’s pension at a higher rate, in circumstances prescribed under section 13(6) of the Pensions Act, the widower is entitled to a pension payable for the period so prescribed.

(4) The weekly rate of a widower’s pension payable under paragraph (3)(d) is half of that part of the deceased’s guaranteed minimum which is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1988-89 and ending with the tax year 1996-7.

(5) In paragraph (4) “earnings factors” means the earnings factors referred to in section 10(2) of the Pensions Act.

Nature of retirement benefits

E2.  Retirement benefits consist of—

(a)a retirement pension; and

(b)a retirement lump sum,

calculated in accordance with this Part.

Qualification for retirement benefits

E3.—(1) A person is qualified for retirement benefits if—

(a)immediately before 6th April 1988 he would but for his age have been entitled under regulation 48 of the 1977 Regulations to payment of an annual allowance and an additional allowance; or

(b)an appropriate qualifying period has been completed.

(2) A qualifying period, which may be discontinuous, comprises every period of a kind described in Schedule 8 excluding any contributions refund period.

(3) If the person—

(a)was in pensionable employment, or paying contributions for a current period under regulation 27 of the 1977 Regulations on 6th April 1988; or

(b)entered pensionable employment after 6th April 1988 without having been in such employment before that date,

any qualifying period of 2 years is an appropriate one.

(4) If paragraph (3) does not apply but the person was in pensionable employment before 6th April 1988 and subsequently entered pensionable employment again after that date, any qualifying period of—

(a)two years beginning on or after 6th April 1988; or

(b)such period beginning on or after 6th April 1988 as will, when taken with every period before 6th April 1988 of a kind described in Schedule 4 to the 1977 Regulations, amount to 5 years whichever is the shorter, is an appropriate one.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4) any period of the kind described in paragraph 3 of Schedule 8 (transfer value accepted) shall be treated as having begun after 5th April 1988.

(6) Notwithstanding that an appropriate qualifying period has not been completed, a person is qualified for retirement benefits—

(a)subject to paragraph (7), if he has a guaranteed minimum in relation to benefits under these Regulations; or

(b)if a transfer value was paid in respect of him by the Department to the superannuation scheme of the Commission of the European Communities and one has since been received by the Department from that scheme.

(7) If a contributions equivalent premium is paid by the Department, paragraph (6)(a) shall be treated as not having applied.

Entitlement to payment of retirement benefits

E4.—(1) Subject to regulation E33(2) (payment of benefits), a person qualified for retirement benefits becomes entitled to payment of them in any of the Cases described in this regulation.

(2) In Case A (normal age retirement) the person—

(a)has attained the age of 60;

(b)has ceased to be in pensionable employment; and

(c)is not within Case B, C, D, E or F.

(3) In Case B (female early age retirement) the person—

(a)has not attained the age of 60;

(b)has attained the age of 55;

(c)is female;

(d)first entered pensionable employment prior to 1st April 1972;

(e)has ceased to be in pensionable employment;

(f)has been in pensionable employment or employed in external service as defined in regulation 5 of the 1972 Regulations as originally made or qualifying service as defined in regulation 6 of the 1972 Regulations as originally made for a total of not less than 30 years of which not less than 10 years was reckonable service or employment in external service as so defined; and

(g)is not within Case F.

(4) In Case C (infirmity retirement) the person—

(a)has ceased after 31st March 1972 and before attaining the age of 60 to be in pensionable employment;

(b)is incapacitated and became so before attaining the age of 60; and

(c)is not within Case F;

and where the pensionable employment ceased on or after 2nd November 1998, the Department has not notified him in writing that it has exercised, or is considering the exercise of its powers under regulation 9 of the Teachers' (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997(11) to prohibit or restrict his employment or further employment on grounds of his misconduct;

(5) In Case D (infirmity retirement at normal retirement age where incapacitated before that age) the person—

(a)has attained the age of 60;

(b)has ceased after 31st March 1972 (and after attaining that age) to be in pensionable employment, but would have ceased to be in such employment before attaining that age had not the employment continued beyond the attainment of that age due to a period of paid sick leave; and

(c)has become incapacitated before attaining that age; and

(d)is not within case F,

and where the pensionable employment ceased on or after 2nd November 1998, the Department has not notified him in writing that it has exercised, or is considering the exercise of its powers under regulation 9 of the Teachers' (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 to prohibit or restrict his employment or further employment on grounds of his misconduct.

(6) In Case E the person—

(a)has attained the age of compulsory retirement; and

(b)is in an employment which would be pensionable employment but for regulation B3(1)(a).

(7) In Case F (premature retirement) the person—

(a)has not attained the age of 60;

(b)has attained the age of 50;

(c)has ceased after attaining the age of 50 to be—

(i)in pensionable employment;

(ii)in excluded employment; or

(iii)in employment which would be pensionable but for the fact that the person has not made an election under B1(4); and

(d)is not within Case B or C; and

his employer has notified the Department in writing that his pensionable employment was terminated by reason of his redundancy or in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employer’s functions.

(8) Where the employer has notified the Department in Case F that employment is to be terminated in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employer’s functions the Department shall approve the reason for such termination.

(9) In Cases A, B and E the entitlement takes effect as soon as the person falls within the Case.

(10) In Cases C and D the entitlement takes effect—

(a)where immediately before the person became incapacitated he was in employment of the type described in paragraph (7)(c)(ii) or (iii), on the day after the last day of his employment; and

(b)as soon as the person falls within the Case or would have fallen within the Case had the Department not notified him that it had exercised, or was considering the exercise of its powers, under regulation 9 of the Teachers' (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997; or

(c)if later, 6 months before the date of the last of any medical reports considered by the Department in determining under regulation H6 that the person has become incapacitated.

(11) In Case F the entitlement takes effect as from the day after the end of the employment.

(12) In no Case shall a person be regarded as having ceased to be in pensionable employment until not less than one day has passed without that person being in pensionable employment.

Amount of retirement pension

E5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4) and regulations E7 to E10 and regulation H1, the annual rate of a person’s retirement pension is 1/80th of his average salary multiplied by his effective reckonable service.

(2) If—

(a)the person is entitled to count a period as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D3 (past period purchased by additional contributions); and

(b)by reason of regulation E32(4) part of that period does not count in calculating his retirement lump sum,

the annual rate calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) is, in respect of each year comprised in that part, increased by 1/350th of his average salary.

(3) If—

(a)the person has a guaranteed minimum in relation to employment up to 6th April 1997; and

A exceeds B,

where—

  • A is the annual equivalent of his guaranteed minimum pension together with that of any equivalent pension benefits; and

  • B is the annual rate calculated in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2),

the annual rate of his retirement pension is A.

(4) If a contributions equivalent premium has been paid in respect of the person and has not been refunded (and his entitlement to a guaranteed minimum pension is therefore extinguished) the annual rate of his retirement pension is reduced by the annual equivalent of the guaranteed minimum pension to which he would otherwise have been entitled.

Amount of retirement lump sum

E6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and regulations E7 and E8, the amount of a person’s retirement lump sum is

where—

  • A is 3/80ths of his average salary;

  • B is his effective reckonable service (except any falling within C); and

  • C is any period which he is entitled to count as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D3.

(2) If the person’s effective reckonable service is restricted by regulation E32(2), the part of his retirement lump sum that is attributable to service before he attained the age of 60 shall not exceed his average salary multiplied by 1½.

Limitation of retirement benefits where salary reduced

E7.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (5) apply to a person who has made an election under regulation C1(6) (reduced salary treated as having continued at previous rate) and whose average salary falls to be calculated by reference to the notional rate.

(2) The annual rate of the person’s retirement pension shall not exceed the fraction of the appropriate sum ascertained, by reference to the relevant age, from the following Table:

TABLE

Relevant ageFraction
Under 50

No math image to display

50

No math image to display

51

No math image to display

52

No math image to display

53

No math image to display

54

No math image to display

(3) Where the person has been in pensionable employment for less than 20 years, his retirement lump sum shall not exceed 3/80ths of the appropriate sum multiplied by the total of his reckonable service and the period ascertained, by reference to the number of complete years he has been in pensionable employment, from the following Table:

TABLE

Years in pensionable employmentPeriod of years
1917
1815
1713
1611
159
147
135
124
113
102
91
Fewer than 90

(4) Where the person has been in pensionable employment for 20 years or more his retirement lump sum shall not exceed the appropriate sum multiplied by 1½.

(5) The appropriate sum referred to in paragraph (4) is the greater of—

(a)the person’s contributable salary for the best one of his last 5 years in pensionable employment; and

(b)1/3rd of his aggregate contributable salary for his best 3 consecutive years in pensionable employment within the 10 years ending with its cessation,

and for the purposes of paragraph (2) the relevant age is his age when he first entered pensionable employment, unless he was not continuously in pensionable employment in which case it is the figure obtained by subtracting the number of years in pensionable employment from 60.

Enhancement of retirement benefits in case of incapacity

E8.—(1) This regulation applies to a person who has become entitled to payment of retirement benefits by virtue of regulation E4(4) or (5) by reason of his having become incapacitated while still employed in pensionable employment, but only if—

(a)he had completed periods of the kinds described in Schedule 8 totalling at least 5 years, excluding any contributions refund period; and

(b)the application for payment required by regulation E33(2) is made within 6 months after the end of his pensionable employment.

(2) Subject to regulation E32(2) (limitation of effective reckonable service to 45 years, etc) for the purpose of calculating his retirement benefits the effective reckonable service of a person to whom this regulation applies shall be treated as having been increased by the appropriate period.

(3) If the person’s relevant service amounts to less than 10 years, the appropriate period is the shorter of—

(a)the length of his relevant service; and

(b)the period beginning when his pensionable employment ended and ending immediately before his 65th birthday.

(4) If his relevant service amounts to 10 years or more, the appropriate period is the longer of period A and period B.

(5) In paragraph (4)—

(a)period A is the shortest of—

(i)the period by which his relevant service falls short of 40 years;

(ii)the period beginning when his pensionable employment ended and ending immediately before his 60th birthday; and

(iii)6 years and 243 days.

(b)period B is so much of the period beginning when his pensionable employment ended and ending immediately before his 65th birthday as would not cause his effective reckonable service to be increased to more than 20 years.

(6) A person’s relevant service is so much of his effective reckonable service as does not consist of periods that count by virtue of regulation D3 (past period purchased by additional contributions) or by virtue of the application to him of regulation 4 of the 1977 Regulations.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation a person shall be treated as having been in pensionable employment during any period for which he was paying additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7.

Avoidance of duplicate pensions

E9.—(1) This regulation applies where a person’s effective reckonable service includes a period that also counts towards another pension payable directly or indirectly out of moneys provided by or under any statutory provision or raised by a rate (“the double period”).

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), where this regulation applies the person’s retirement benefits are reduced by so much as is necessary to secure that

A is reduced by B,

where—

  • A is the actuarial value of the retirement benefits in respect of the double period; and

  • B is the actuarial value of the other pension in respect of that period.

(3) A shall not be reduced to less than the actuarial value of

where—

  • C is the contributions paid by the person in respect of the double period, including any paid under regulation C6 or C7; and

  • D is interest on those contributions at 3 per cent per annum, compounded with yearly rests, beginning with and including the first day of the financial year following that in which they were paid to the date on which he became entitled to payment of the retirement pension.

(4) A retirement pension shall not be reduced so that so much of it as is attributable to the double period falls below the rate of any equivalent pension benefits attributable to that period.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, “another pension” includes any sum payable, whether as a continuing allowance or as a lump sum, by way of pension, superannuation allowance, compensation for loss or abolition of office or otherwise in respect of retirement.

National Insurance modification of pensions

E10.  Part I of Schedule 9 has effect for modifying the retirement pensions of persons who were in pensionable employment before 1st April 1980.

Allocation of part of retirement pension

E11.—(1) A person who has become qualified for retirement benefits may, unless he becomes entitled to payment of them by virtue of regulation E4(4) or (5) (incapacity), allocate part of his retirement pension to the provision of an alternative benefit.

(2) The alternative benefit may be either—

(a)an annuity for life, commencing on the death of the person making the allocation (“the allocator”), for a surviving spouse or dependant; or

(b)an annuity payable to the allocator while the allocator and a spouse are both alive, and if the spouse is the survivor a subsequent annuity for life, at twice the rate of the first annuity, for the spouse.

(3) The rates of the annuities mentioned in paragraph (2) shall be determined in accordance with tables prepared by the Government Actuary.

(4) An allocation shall be made by delivering a declaration to the Department, and in paragraph (2) “spouse” refers to status at the time of its delivery.

(5) Further provisions as to allocations under this regulation are contained in Schedule 10.

Duration of retirement pension

E12.  Subject to regulations E13 to E15 and E18, a retirement pension continues to be payable, at the rate at which it initially became payable in accordance with regulation E5, until the death of the person entitled to it.

Pensioner ceasing to be incapacitated

E13.—(1) This regulation applies where a person who became entitled to payment of a teacher’s pension by virtue of regulation E4(4) ceases to be incapacitated.

(2) On his ceasing to be incapacitated the pension ceases to be payable, but any equivalent pension benefits continue to be payable.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4) and to regulation E33(2) (application for payment), the pension becomes payable again—

(a)from his 60th birthday; or

(b)if earlier, from the start of any renewed incapacity.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply if a person has been in pensionable employment at any time after he first became entitled to payment of the pension.

(5) If the pension becomes payable again under paragraph (3)(a) it shall be treated for the purposes of regulation E14 as one to the payment of which he has become entitled by virtue of regulation E4(2).

Abatement of retirement pension during further employment

E14.—(1) This regulation applies while a person who has become entitled to payment of a teacher’s pension is employed—

(a)in pensionable employment, comparable service, or in employment which would have been pensionable employment but for—

(i)his having made an election under regulation B4;

(ii)his having attained the age of compulsory retirement; or

(iii)regulation B3(3);

(b)in part-time employment in a capacity described in Part I of Schedule 2.

(2) If the person is concurrently both in employment falling within paragraph (1)(a) and in employment falling within paragraph (1)(b) this regulation applies only in respect of the former.

(3) Where this regulation applies the annual rate of the pension is reduced—

(a)if A equals or exceeds

, to zero; and

(b)in any other case, by the amount (if any) which is necessary to secure that

does not exceed

where—

  • A is the initial annual rate of the person’s salary in the employment;

  • B is the reduced annual rate of the pension as increased under the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971(12);

  • C is, or where his previous pensionable employment was part-time is the full-time equivalent of, the highest annual rate of contributable salary that was payable to him during the 3 years ending immediately before he became entitled to payment of the pension, or, if applicable, the highest annual rate of contributable salary that was payable to him during the 3 years ending immediately before he ceased to be employed in any pensionable employment entered into by him after he became entitled to payment of the pension, whichever is the greater;

  • D is the amount (if any) by which, immediately before the first day of the employment, C would have been increased if it had been the annual rate of an official pension within the meaning of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, beginning, and first qualifying for increases under that Act, on the same date as the pension; and

  • E is any part of the pension allocated under regulation E11.

Retirement benefits on cessation of further employment

E15.—(1) This regulation applies to a person who—

(a)became entitled to payment of a teacher’s pension (“the first pension”);

(b)was subsequently in pensionable employment (“the further employment”); and

(c)has ceased to be in the further employment.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), if the first pension is not enhanced under regulation E8 (enhancement of retirement benefits in cases of incapacity) the person—

(a)ceases to be entitled to payment of the first pension; and

(b)becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits (“combined benefits”) calculated, subject to paragraph (8), by reference to the total of his reckonable service in the further employment and the reckonable service taken into account in calculating the first pension.

(3) If the average salary by reference to which combined benefits would fall to be calculated is less than that by reference to which the first pension was calculated, he—

(a)remains entitled to the first pension; and

(b)subject to paragraph (7), becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits calculated by reference to his reckonable service in the further employment.

(4) Subject to paragraph (7), if the first pension was enhanced under regulation E8 he becomes entitled to payment of the first pension and of additional retirement benefits in respect of the further employment.

(5) The additional retirement benefits shall be calculated—

(a)in respect of pensionable employment before attaining the age of 60, as if regulation E8 had applied and the further employment had begun when he became entitled to payment of the first pension; and

(b)in respect of other pensionable employment, in accordance with regulations E5 and E6,

but the additional retirement lump sum is subject to reduction under paragraph (8).

(6) If in the application of regulation E8 to the calculation of the first pension the appropriate period was Period B (as defined in regulation E8(5)(b)), paragraph (5)(a) applies with the substitution for “60” of “65”.

(7) If he ceased to be in the further employment before attaining the age of 60 and regulation E4(4) (incapacity) or regulation E4(7) (premature retirement) did not apply, he does not become entitled to payment of retirement benefits under paragraph (3)(b) or (4) until he attains that age.

(8) A retirement lump sum payable under paragraph (2)(b), and an additional retirement lump sum payable under paragraph (4), is reduced by the amount of the retirement lump sum to which the person became entitled when he became entitled to payment of the first pension, of any lump sum to which he had previously become entitled under this regulation, and of any short service incapacity grant paid to him under regulation E17.

Short service annuity

E16.—(1) A person who—

(a)has not been in pensionable employment at any time after 5th April 1980; and

(b)is not qualified for retirement benefits; and

(c)would but for regulation 42(2) of the 1977 Regulations have been entitled to be repaid the balance of his contributions,

is entitled to be paid, from his 60th birthday, an annuity for life.

(2) The rate of the annuity is the actuarial equivalent of the balance of his contributions calculated in accordance with regulation C10 as at his 60th birthday.

Short service incapacity grant

E17.—(1) A person who—

(a)has been in pensionable employment for at least one year; and

(b)has become incapacitated; and

(c)had not attained the age of compulsory retirement when he became incapacitated; and

(d)is not entitled to payment of retirement benefits the aggregate value of which exceeds the relevant amount,

is entitled, if he applies for payment within 6 months after the end of his pensionable employment, to an incapacity grant.

(2) The aggregate value of retirement benefits is the total of the retirement lump sum and the actuarial equivalent of the retirement pension.

(3) In this regulation, the relevant amount is

where—

  • A is his average salary; and

  • B is the length of his reckonable service.

(4) The amount of the incapacity grant is the difference between the relevant amount and the aggregate value of any retirement benefits to which the person is entitled.

(5) The incapacity grant shall not be paid before the end of the person’s pensionable employment.

Deferment, etc, of benefits

E18.—(1) This regulation applies where a person is convicted of—

(a)an offence of treason; or

(b)one or more offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989(13) for which he has been sentenced on the same occasion to a term of imprisonment of, or to two or more consecutive terms amounting in the aggregate to, at least 10 years; or

(c)an offence in connection with pensionable employment which is certified by a Minister of the Crown either to have been gravely injurious to the State or to be liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service,

and any benefit under regulations E1 to E17 becomes payable to him after the offence was committed.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Department may—

(a)defer or as the case may be suspend payment of the benefit for so long; or

(b)reduce its amount or rate by so much,

as it may determine.

(3) If—

(a)the person has a guaranteed minimum in relation to benefits under these Regulations; and

(b)the case does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) or (b),

a determination under paragraph (2) shall not deprive him of his guaranteed minimum pension after he attains state pensionable age.

Commutation: exceptional circumstances of ill health

E19.—(1) Where at the time when a person first becomes entitled to a retirement pension by virtue of regulation E4(4) or (5) there are exceptional circumstances of serious ill health affecting that person the Department may discharge its liability in respect of so much of that pension as exceeds the person’s guaranteed minimum by payment of a lump sum calculated in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) The lump sum is an amount equal to five times the amount by which the annual rate of the retirement pension which would otherwise be payable to the person exceeds the amount of his guaranteed minimum.

Death grants

E20.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), if at the time of his death a person—

(a)was in pensionable employment; or

(b)was paying additional contributions under regulation C6 and C7; or

(c)had, not more than 12 months earlier, ceased to be in pensionable employment while incapacitated,

a death grant shall be paid.

(2) The amount of a death grant under paragraph (1) shall be twice his average salary less the amount of any retirement lump sum or short service incapacity grant previously paid to him.

(3) Subject to paragraph (6), if a person who has ceased after 31st March 1972 to be in pensionable employment dies without having become entitled to payment of retirement benefits and—

(a)the qualifying condition referred to in paragraph (4) is satisfied; and

(b)no death grant could be paid under paragraph (1),

a death grant shall be paid under this paragraph.

(4) The qualifying condition—

(a)if he ceased to be in pensionable employment before 2nd November 1998, is that he was entitled to count at least 2 years' reckonable service; and

(b)in any other case, is that he was so entitled and was qualified for retirement benefits,

but where sub-paragraph (a) applies it shall be assumed for the purpose of calculating the death grant that he was qualified for retirement benefits.

(5) The amount of a death grant under paragraph (3) is the amount that would have become payable by way of retirement lump sum if he had become entitled under regulation E4(2) to payment of retirement benefits, less the amount of any retirement lump sum or short service incapacity grant previously paid to him.

(6) If a person who has at any time been in pensionable employment dies and—

(a)no death grant could be paid under paragraph (1) or (3); or

(b)the amount of such a death grant would be smaller and no pension becomes payable under regulation E26 to a surviving spouse or a nominated beneficiary,

a death grant equal to the balance of his contributions, calculated in accordance with regulation C10 as at the date of his death, shall be paid.

(7) Where any death grant is paid under this regulation it shall be paid to the individual nominated by the deceased to receive the grant or, in the absence of such a nomination—

(a)if the deceased is survived by one widow or by a widower, to that widow or widower;

(b)if there are two or more widows to the widows in equal shares; or

(c)if there is no widow or widower, to the personal representatives.

(8) Any nomination for the purposes of paragraph (7) shall be made by giving written notice to the Department.

Supplementary death grants

E21.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), this regulation applies where a person dies who—

(a)has become entitled to payment of retirement benefits; and

(b)is not in pensionable employment.

(2) If—

(a)at least 10 years' reckonable service was taken into account in calculating his retirement benefits; and

(b)the total of the amounts paid in respect of them is less than his average salary,

a supplementary death grant equal to that deficiency shall be paid.

(3) If—

(a)less than 10 years' reckonable service was taken into account in calculating his retirement benefits; and

(b)the amount paid in respect of his pension is less than 5 times the annual rate at which it was payable when he died,

a supplementary death grant equal to that deficiency shall be paid.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a)any amount by which a pension was reduced under regulation E9 (avoidance of duplicate pensions) or E14 (abatement of pension during further employment), and any part of a pension allocated under regulation E11 (allocation of part of retirement pension), shall be treated as having been paid; and

(b)a retirement lump sum shall be treated as having been paid without any deduction under these Regulations.

(5) This regulation does not apply if the person’s last employment was of a kind described in Schedule 4 to the 1977 Regulations and, by virtue of regulation E3(1)(b), formed part of the qualifying period for the purposes of regulation E3.

(6) Where any supplementary death grant is paid under this regulation, it shall be paid to the individual nominated by the deceased to receive the grant or in the absence of such nomination,—

(a)if the deceased is survived by one widow or by a widower, to the widow or widower;

(b)if there are two or more widows, to the widows in equal shares; or

(c)if there is no widow or widower, to the personal representatives.

(7) Any nomination for the purposes of paragraph (6) shall be made by giving written notice to the Department.

Family benefits generally

E22.—(1) Pensions are payable in accordance with regulations E24 to E30 to widows, widowers, children and nominated beneficiaries of persons who die in, or after having been in, pensionable employment.

(2) References in those regulations to a surviving spouse are references to a widow or widower; but

(a)in the case of a person who has not been in pensionable employment, or paying additional contributions for a current period under regulation C6 or C7 at any time after 5th April 1978, such references, and references to a widow or to a widower, do not include references to a man or woman married by that person after his last day in pensionable employment or, as the case may be, the end of the period for which any such contributions were paid;

(b)subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a woman who has not been in pensionable employment or paying additional contributions for a current period under regulation C6 or C7 at any time after 5th April 1988, such references and references to a widower do not include references to a man married by that woman after her last day of pensionable employment, or as the case may be, the end of the period for which such contributions were paid.

(3) Where a woman who nominated a person under regulation E23 subsequently marries, paragraph (2)(b) shall have effect with the substitution of “1978” for “1988”.

(4) Where those regulations provide for a pension to be payable to a widow and there are two or more widows, the widows are jointly entitled to the pension.

(5) References in those regulations to a person’s child are to a person who is—

(a)his legitimate, adopted or illegitimate child; or

(b)accepted by him as a member of the family and wholly or mainly dependent on him,

and who is a child within the meaning given in paragraphs (6) to (8).

(6) Subject to paragraphs (7), (8), and (10) for the purposes of regulations E23 to E30 a person is a child while he is unmarried and—

(a)he has not attained the age of 17; or

(b)having attained that age he is receiving full-time education or attending a course of not less than 2 years' full-time training for a trade, profession or calling and he has been receiving such education or attending such course of training or both continuously since having attained that age without a break at any one time of longer than a year; or

(c)having ceased while incapacitated to fall within sub-paragraph (a) or (b), he continues to be incapacitated.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(b) a person shall be treated—

(a)as receiving full-time education up to and including the week which includes the first Monday in January or the first Monday after Easter Monday or the first Monday in September next following the end of the last term in which he received it; and

(b)as not attending a course of training while he is receiving disqualifying remuneration.

(8) For the purposes of paragraph (7)(b), disqualifying remuneration is remuneration at a rate not less than the annual rate at which an official pension, within the meaning of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, would for the time being be payable if it had begun, and first qualified for increases under that Act, on 1st April 1972 and had then been payable at an annual rate of £250.

(9) References in regulations E24 to E30 to a nominated beneficiary are to a person nominated under regulation E23.

(10) In paragraph (6)(b) the words “and he has been receiving such education or attending such course of training or both continuously since having attained that age without a break at any one time of longer than a year” shall not apply in relation to a provision to or for the benefit of a child of a person who died before the commencement of these Regulations.

Nomination of beneficiaries

E23.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an unmarried person (“the appointor”) may at any time before retirement benefits have been paid by written notice given to the Department, nominate an eligible person who is wholly or mainly financially dependent on the appointor and who is not a child to receive a pension under regulations E24 to E30.

(2) A person shall not be eligible to be nominated under paragraph (1) while a previous nomination under this regulation has effect.

(3) The eligible persons are—

(a)a parent, brother or sister of the appointor who is not married and is either widowed or has never been married; and

(b)a widowed step-parent of the appointor.

(4) A nomination under this regulation may be revoked by written notice given to the Department, and if not previously revoked ceases to have effect—

(a)on the death or marriage (or as the case may be, remarriage) of the person nominated; and

(b)on the marriage of the appointor.

Entitlement to short-term family benefits

E24.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), a short-term pension is payable, from the day after that of his death, if a person dies—

(a)while in pensionable employment; or

(b)during a period for which he is paying additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7; or

(c)within 12 months after ceasing to be in pensionable employment, or to pay such contributions, as a result of ill-health, but before becoming entitled to payment of retirement benefits; or

(d)after becoming entitled to payment of retirement benefits.

(2) The short-term pension is payable—

(a)subject to paragraph (4), to any surviving spouse, or if a nomination under regulation E23 had effect at the time of his death, to the nominated beneficiary; or

(b)if the deceased is survived by a child or children of his, to or for the benefit of the child or, as the case may be, the children jointly.

(3) Where two or more persons confer on the same child or, as the case may be, children, entitlement to a short-term pension, regulation E26(7) shall apply in a like manner to short-term pensions payable by virtue of this regulation.

(4) No short-term pension is payable—

(a)to a widower if one is payable to another person as a nominated beneficiary; or

(b)to a nominated beneficiary who, at the date of the death of the deceased, was not wholly or mainly dependent on the deceased;

(c)if there is no surviving spouse, nominated beneficiary or surviving child; or

(d)where paragraph (1)(d) applies, to a person who is not entitled under regulation E26 to a long-term pension.

Amount and duration of short-term family benefits

E25.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the annual rate of a short-term pension under regulation E24—

(a)if regulation E24(1)(a) or (c) applies, is the annual rate of the deceased’s contributable salary on his last day in pensionable employment, disregarding any reduction by reason of sick leave or maternity leave;

(b)if regulation E24(1)(b) applies, is the annual rate, at the time of his death, of the notional salary described in regulation C6(7) or, as the case may be, C7(4);

(c)if regulation E24(1)(d) applies, is the annual rate, at the time of his death, of his retirement pension; and

(d)if regulation E24(1)(a) and (d) both apply, is the total of the rates specified in sub-paragraphs (a) and (c).

(2) If—

(a)the short-term pension is payable to a surviving spouse; and

(b)the annual rate calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) is less than that of a long-term pension to which the surviving spouse is prospectively entitled under regulation E26,

the annual rate of the short-term pension is the same as that of the long-term pension.

(3) The duration of the short-term pension payable shall be determined from the following Table and, in that Table “adult pension” means a short-term pension payable to the spouse or nominated beneficiary.

TABLE

CategoryPerson falling within regulation E24(2)Duration of pension (months)
1Spouse or nominated beneficiary.3
2One child or more where an adult pension is payable3
3One child or more where no adult pension is payable.6

Entitlement to long-term family benefits

E26.—(1) Long-term pensions are payable in accordance with paragraph (2) if a person dies who—

(a)has been in pensionable employment at any time after 31st March 1972; and

(b)has relevant service within the meaning of regulation E27 amounting to at least 2 years,

but in the case of a person who ceased to be in pensionable employment before 6th April 1988 sub-paragraph (b) has effect with the substitution for “2 years” of “5 years”.

(2) If paragraph (1) applies—

(a)subject to paragraph (3) a long-term pension is payable to any surviving spouse;

(b)if a nomination under regulation E23 had effect at the time of the death, a long-term pension is payable to the nominated beneficiary provided that at the date of death of the deceased the nominated beneficiary was wholly or mainly dependent on the deceased; and

(c)if a pension is payable under sub-paragraph (a) or (b) and the deceased is survived by a child or children of his, a long-term pension is payable to or for the benefit of the child or, as the case may be, the children jointly.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5), unless family benefit contributions have, or are to be treated as having, been paid under Part II of Schedule 6, no long-term pension is payable to a widower if one is payable to another person as a nominated beneficiary.

(4) If when a person dies paragraph (2) does not apply but he—

(a)has been in pensionable employment at any time after 31st March 1972;

(b)is qualified for retirement benefits; and

(c)is survived by a child or children of his,

a long-term pension is payable to or for the benefit of the child or, as the case may be, the children jointly.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), if neither paragraph (2) nor paragraph (4) applies but the deceased had a guaranteed minimum in relation to benefits under these Regulations and leaves a surviving spouse, a long-term pension is payable to the surviving spouse.

(6) If a contributions equivalent premium is paid by the Department, paragraph (5) shall be treated as not having applied.

(7) Where two or more persons, by virtue of this regulation, confer on the same child or, as the case may be, children entitlement to a long-term pension, the child or, as the case may be, children shall be entitled to receive payment of the long-term pension in respect of not more than two persons; but where entitlement derives from the relevant service of three or more persons, the child, or, as the case may be, children shall be entitled to receive payment of the long-term pension in respect of the two persons which by virtue of their relevant service provide pensions of the largest amounts.

Relevant service

E27.—(1) In the case of a man, and in the case of a woman in relation to a nominated beneficiary or a widower on whose marriage to her a nomination ceased to have effect, relevant service comprises, subject to paragraph (3)—

(a)any period of pensionable employment after 31st March 1972;

(b)any period beginning after that date for which additional contributions have been paid under regulation C6 or C7;

(c)any period for which additional contributions have been paid under regulation C3 or C5(1) in accordance with an election made after 31st March 1974;

(d)if a transfer value has been received in respect of comparable service, the period that would, immediately before its receipt, have counted for family benefits in the relevant superannuation scheme;

(e)any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of the receipt of any other transfer value under regulation F4 or under the Teachers' Superannuation (Added Years and Interchange) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1974(14);

(f)any period in respect of which family benefit contributions have, or are to be treated as having, been paid under Part I of Schedule 6; and

(g)in the case of a member, so much of his credited service as does not exceed the total of his normal service and any additional period, and in addition any period that fell to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 7(3) of Schedule 6.

(2) In relation to a widower not falling within paragraph (1), the deceased’s relevant service comprises, subject to paragraph (3)—

(a)so much of the periods described in paragraph (1)(a), (b) and (d) as consists of, or is attributable to, service after 5th April 1988; and

(b)any period for which additional contributions have been paid under regulation C3 in accordance with an election made after 17th November 1988; and

(c)any period in respect of which family benefit contributions have, or are to be treated as having, been paid under Part II of Schedule 6; and

(d)if the deceased entered pensionable employment after 5th April 1988, and a transfer value offered in respect of him was accepted under regulation F4, any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of the receipt of the transfer value.

(3) Relevant service does not include any contributions refund period.

Amounts of spouses' and nominated beneficiaries' long-term pensions

E28.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the annual rate of a pension payable under regulation E26 to a surviving spouse or a nominated beneficiary is 1/160th of the deceased’s average salary multiplied by the length of his family benefit service.

(2) If—

(a)paragraph 16 of Schedule 6 (retrospective salary increases affecting deductions from terminal sums and amounts of lump sum payments) applies; and

(b)a person entitled to limit the amount of the deduction or lump sum has done so,

the retrospective salary increase shall not be taken into account in calculating the deceased’s average salary.

(3) Family benefit service does not include any contributions refund period.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (3) (5), and (8) to (10), if the pension is payable to a nominated beneficiary, to a widower on whose marriage to the deceased a nomination ceased to have effect, or to a woman whom the deceased married before the end of his pensionable employment the deceased’s family benefit service comprises—

(a)any period falling within regulation E27(1)(a) to (f);

(b)in the case of a member, his credited service and any period that fell to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 7(3) of Schedule 6.

(5) If the member’s credited service exceeds the total of his normal service and any additional period, for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) his credited service is reduced by 1/6th of the excess.

(6) If the deceased had been in pensionable employment after 5th April 1978 and the pension is payable to a woman whom he first married after his last day in pensionable employment, his family benefit service comprises, subject to paragraph (3)—

(a)any period of pensionable employment after 5th April 1978;

(b)any period for which additional contributions have been paid under regulation C3 in accordance with an election made after that date;

(c)if a transfer value has been received after that date in respect of comparable service, any period of reckonable service attributable to comparable service after that date; and

(d)any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of the receipt after that date of any other transfer value.

(7) If the pension is payable to a widower not falling within paragraph (4), the deceased’s family benefit service comprises, subject to paragraphs (3) and (8) to (10), the relevant service described in regulation E27(2).

(8) This paragraph applies if the deceased died—

(a)while in pensionable employment; or

(b)during a period for which he was paying additional contributions under regulation C6 or C7; or

(c)within 12 months after ceasing to be in pensionable employment as a result of ill-health but before becoming entitled to payment of retirement benefits; or

(d)after becoming entitled to payment of retirement benefits, if they fell to be enhanced under regulation E8 (enhancement of retirement benefits in case of incapacity).

(9) If paragraph (8) applies and the family benefit service calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (7) is less than his effective reckonable service, his family benefit service is increased by—

where—

  • A is the family benefit service calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (7);

  • B is his effective reckonable service apart from C; and

  • C is the period which was, or would if regulation E8 had applied have been, the appropriate period within the meaning of that regulation.

(10) If paragraph (8) applies and A is not less than B, his family benefit service is increased by C.

Amounts of children’s long-term pensions

E29.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (6), if long-term pensions become payable under regulation E26—

(a)to a surviving spouse or a nominated beneficiary (an “adult pension”); and

(b)to or for the benefit of a child or children (a “children’s pension”),

the annual rate of the children’s pension is the appropriate fraction of the deceased’s average salary multiplied by the length of his family benefit service.

(2) In paragraph (1) the appropriate fraction—

(a)while a children’s pension is payable to or for the benefit of 2 or more children, is 1/160th; and

(b)while a children’s pension is payable to or for the benefit of one child, is 1/320th.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) to (6), if—

(a)an adult pension becomes payable to a woman whom the deceased married after his last day in pensionable employment;

(b)before that day he had married another woman; and

(c)the persons to or for whose benefit a children’s pension is payable include a child who was, or children who were, a child or children of the deceased’s at any time during the earlier marriage, the annual rate of the children’s pension is the appropriate fraction of his average salary multiplied by the length of what would have been his family benefit service if regulation E28(4) had applied (“the notional family benefit service”).

(4) If the children’s pension is payable to, or for the benefit of—

(a)one child who was a child of the deceased’s during the earlier marriage; and

(b)one or more children who were not children of his during that marriage,

the annual rate of the children’s pension is

A + B,

where—

  • A is 1/320th of his average salary multiplied by the length of the notional family benefit service; and

  • B is 1/320th of his average salary multiplied by the actual length of his family benefit service.

(5) If—

(a)no adult pension becomes payable; or

(b)an adult pension ceases to be payable,

the annual rate of a children’s pension is the applicable fraction of the deceased’s average salary multiplied by the greater of C and D, or where regulation E28(8) applies, the greater of

where—

  • C is the notional family benefit service;

  • D is the deceased’s effective reckonable service apart from E; and

  • E is the period which was, or would if regulation E8 had applied have been, the appropriate period within the meaning of that regulation.

(6) In paragraph (5) the applicable fraction—

(a)while a children’s pension is payable to or for the benefit of 2 or more children, is 1/120th; and

(b)while a children’s pension is payable to or for the benefit of one child, is 1/240th.

Commencement and duration of long-term family pensions

E30.—(1) A pension under regulation E26 payable to a surviving spouse or a nominated beneficiary (“an adult pension”) shall be paid—

(a)from the day on which any short-term pension that became so payable under regulation E24 ceases to be payable; or

(b)if no short-term pension became payable, from the day after that of the death.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an adult pension is payable for life.

(3) Unless the Department determines otherwise in any particular case, and subject always to regulation E1(3)(c) and (d) (guaranteed minimum pension for surviving spouse), an adult pension is not payable during or after any marriage or period of cohabitation outside marriage.

(4) A pension under regulation E26 payable to or for the benefit of a child or children (“a children’s pension”) shall be paid—

(a)from the day on which any short-term pension that became so payable, or payable to a surviving spouse or a nominated beneficiary, under regulation E24 ceases to be payable; or

(b)if no short-term pension became payable, from the day after that of the death.

(5) A children’s pension ceases to be payable to a person or for his benefit when he ceases to be a child.

Average salary

E31.—(1) Subject to paragraph (10), a person’s average salary—

(a)where the material part of his average salary service is one year or more, is his full salary for the best consecutive 365 days of that part; and

(b)in any other case, is the average annual rate of his full salary for that part.

(2) In determining, for the purposes of paragraph (1), what are the best consecutive 365 days of the material part of the person’s average salary service, days on which the person was not in pensionable employment shall be disregarded.

(3) Average salary service comprises—

(a)any period spent by the person in pensionable employment;

(b)any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D4 (current period purchased by additional contributions); and

(c)any period of comparable service which began before 1st April 1974 and has not been followed by a period of pensionable employment and for which a transfer value has been received.

(4) The material part of a person’s average salary service is—

(a)where he has less than 3 years of such service, the whole of it; or

(b)in any other case, the last 3 years of it.

(5) In determining the material part of a person’s average salary service periods when the person was not in pensionable employment shall be disregarded and accordingly the period of three years referred to in paragraph (4) may be discontinuous.

(6) For the purposes of paragraphs (2), (3)(a) and (5) a person who is employed under a contract whereby that person is available for work but undertakes work only for periods requested by the employer (and accordingly is paid only for that work) shall not be treated as being in pensionable employment during periods when he is not undertaking work (whether or not such a person would be so treated apart from this paragraph).

(7) Subject to paragraphs (8) and (9), a person’s full salary—

(a)for a period falling within paragraph (3)(a), is his contributable salary for the period of pensionable employment, disregarding any reduction during sick leave or maternity leave;

(b)for a period falling within paragraph (3)(b), is the notional salary by reference to which the additional contributions paid under regulation C6 or, as the case may be C7, were calculated;

(c)for a period falling within paragraph (3)(c), is what would have been his salary for the purpose of calculating benefits under the superannuation scheme to which he was subject in the relevant employment.

(8) For—

(a)a period of pensionable employment; or

(b)a period counting as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D4,

beginning after 31st March 1975 and ending before 1st August 1978, a person’s full salary includes any sums that would have been payable to him if payment of them had not been withheld, whether by virtue of a statutory provision or otherwise, in order to comply with limits referred to in section 1 of the Remuneration, Charges and Grants Act 1975(15).

(9) For—

(a)a period of pensionable employment; or

(b)a period counting as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D4,

beginning after 31st March 1979 and ending before 1st September 1980, a persons' full salary is the notional salary resulting from the application to him of the Teachers' Superannuation (Notional Salaries) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982(16).

(10) Where a person has during the material part of his average salary service spent any period in part-time employment the full salary for that period shall be the amount which it would have been if the employment had been full time during that period.

Effective reckonable service

E32.—(1) A person’s effective reckonable service is so much of his reckonable service as counts for the purpose of calculating a benefit under this Part, except a pension under regulation E26.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), effective reckonable service does not include—

(a)any reckonable service in excess of 45 years; or

(b)any reckonable service in excess of 40 years before attaining the age of 60.

(3) In relation to a retirement lump sum, if the person’s relevant service, that is to say the total of—

(a)the time he has spent in pensionable employment; and

(b)any comparable service counting as reckonable service by virtue of the receipt of a transfer value,

is less than 20 years, his effective reckonable service does not include so much of any period counting as reckonable service by virtue of regulation D3 (past period purchased by additional contributions) as exceeds the maximum ascertained from the following Table:

TABLE

Relevant service in yearsMaximum
1917 years
1815 years
1713 years
1611 years
159 years
147 years
Fewer than 148 years less than the length in years and days of the relevant service

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3) a person who becomes entitled to payment of retirement benefits by virtue of regulation E4(4) or (7) (incapacity or redundancy before attaining the age of 60) shall be treated as having continued in pensionable employment up to that age.

(5) Effective reckonable service does not include any period in respect of which a short service annuity is payable under regulation E16.

Payment of benefits

E33.—(1) Benefits under this Part are payable by the Department.

(2) No benefit shall be paid unless a written application for payment has been made and paragraph (3), if applicable, has been complied with.

(3) If the Department notifies him in writing that it so requires, the applicant shall provide any relevant information specified by the Department that is in his possession or that he can reasonably be expected to obtain.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (5) to (7), a benefit that does not consist of a single payment shall be paid monthly on the last working day of the month.

(5) If—

(a)the person’s entitlement to payment of the benefit took effect, on a day other than the first of a month; or

(b)the benefit ceases to be payable, on a day other than the last day of the month,

a proportionate payment shall be made for the relevant period on the last working day of the month thereafter.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5) the relevant period is—

(a)where paragraph (5)(a) applies, the period beginning with and including the day on which the entitlement took effect and ending with the last day of the month; and

(b)where paragraph (5)(b) applies, the period beginning with and including the first of the month and ending with the day before the benefit ceased to be payable.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (5) a proportionate payment is a payment of—

where—

  • A is the annual rate of the benefit;

  • B is the number of days in the relevant period; and

  • C is the number of days in the month containing the relevant period.

(8) The Apportionment Act 1870(17) (being inconsistent with paragraphs (5) to (7)) shall be taken not to have effect in relation to benefits under this Part.

(9) If the person entitled to payment of a benefit has not attained the age of 18, or is incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body of managing his affairs, the Department may—

(a)pay it to any person having the care of the person entitled; or

(b)apply it as it thinks fit for the benefit of the person entitled or his dependants.

Benefits not assignable

E34.—(1) Any assignment of or charge on or agreement to assign or charge any benefit under this Part is void.

(2) An allocation under regulation E11 is not an assignment, and an arrangement for the recovery by the Department of an overpayment does not constitute an assignment or an agreement to assign.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not preclude any payment of benefit payment to an order of the court under Article 27B or 27C of the Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 or pursuant to regulations made under Article 27D of that Order(18).

(4) On the bankruptcy of a person entitled to a benefit under this Part no part of the benefit passes to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of the creditors, except in accordance with an income payments order made by a court under Article 283 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(19).

Part FTransfer Values

Payment of transfer values

F1.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (7), a transfer value shall be paid in respect of a person who has ceased to be in pensionable employment and has become subject to an approved superannuation scheme or, if he ceased to be in pensionable employment after 31st December 1985, a personal pension scheme (“the receiving scheme”).

(2) The person shall have made a written application to the Department, within 12 months after the day on which he became subject to the receiving scheme, for the transfer value to be paid.

(3) A transfer value shall not be paid if one was paid before 2nd November 1998 in relation to the same transfer.

(4) A transfer value shall not be paid in respect of a person who, when the application was received, had become entitled under regulation E4 to payment of retirement benefits or under regulation E16 or E17 respectively to a short service annuity or incapacity grant, unless the employment in which he has become subject to the receiving scheme is comparable service and he entered it—

(a)immediately after ceasing to be in pensionable employment; or

(b)on or before his 60th birthday,

and has not applied for payment of any benefit.

(5) A transfer value shall not be paid if the receiving scheme is an approved superannuation scheme which is administered wholly or primarily in the United Kingdom and is not a contracted-out scheme, unless the person—

(a)has been in pensionable employment for less than 2 years or is not qualified for retirement benefits; or

(b)ceased to be in pensionable employment before 6th April 1978; or

(c)is a married woman or widow who, by virtue of an election made or treated as made under regulations under section 19(4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(20), either is liable to pay primary Class 1 contributions or Class 2 contributions at a reduced rate or is under no liability to pay Class 2 contributions.

(6) A transfer value shall not be paid if the person has acquired a right to a cash equivalent, unless—

(a)the service to which the cash equivalent relates includes service before 1st March 1989; and

(b)the right has been exercised by requiring the whole of the cash equivalent to be paid to the scheme managers of an approved superannuation scheme which is not a club scheme.

(7) A transfer value shall not be paid if the person—

(a)has acquired a right to a part cash equivalent; and

(b)would on taking that right remain qualified for retirement benefits.

Amounts of transfer values and additional transfer values

F2.—(1) Part I of Schedule 11 has effect, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), for determining the amounts of transfer values payable under regulation F1.

(2) Unless the receiving scheme is a club scheme, where—

(a)the person in respect of whom a transfer value is payable had become entitled to count reckonable service under regulation F4(8) (receipt of transfer value); and

(b)the amount determined in accordance with Part I of Schedule 11, together with that of any cash equivalent paid on the transfer, is less than the appropriate amount,

a transfer value of the appropriate amount shall be paid.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) the appropriate amount is

A + B - C,

where—

  • A is the transfer value received under regulation F4;

  • B is the total of the contributions paid by the person under Part C, except any that fell to be treated for the purposes of regulation G2 as employers' contributions; and

  • C is any cash equivalent paid on the transfer.

Termination of right to count reckonable service

F3.  A person—

(a)in respect of whom a transfer value has been paid under regulation F1; or

(b)who has acquired a right to a cash equivalent and exercised the option to take that right,

ceases to be entitled to count as reckonable service, or as part of a qualifying period within the meaning of regulation E3, any period to which the transfer value or cash equivalent related.

Acceptance of transfer values

F4.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (6), a transfer value offered to the Department by the scheme managers of—

(a)an approved superannuation scheme; or

(b)a personal pension scheme; or

(c)a scheme constituting a self-employed pension arrangement,

(“the previous scheme”), in respect of a person who has entered pensionable employment, may be accepted.

(2) In paragraph (1) “self-employed pension arrangement” means a personal pension scheme within the meaning of Chapter IV of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act(21) (“the 1988 Act”) which—

(a)is approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under that Chapter; and

(b)is neither a personal pension scheme within the meaning of Section 1 of the Pensions Act nor a contract or scheme approved under Chapter III of Part XIV of the 1988 Act.

(3) The person shall have made a written request to the Department for the transfer value to be accepted.

(4) Unless while the person was subject to the previous scheme he was employed in comparable service, the request shall have been made within 12 months after the day on which he entered pensionable employment.

(5) A transfer value shall not be accepted before 2nd November 1998 in relation to the same transfer.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7) a transfer value shall not be accepted if—

(a)before he ceased to be subject to the previous scheme the person became entitled under regulation E4 to payment of retirement benefits; or

(b)he has become entitled to payment of benefits under a provision of a statutory scheme corresponding to regulation E4.

(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply if while the person was subject to the previous scheme, he was employed in comparable service and he entered pensionable employment—

(a)immediately after the end of the employment; or

(b)on or before his 60th birthday.

(8) A person in respect of whom a transfer value has been accepted is entitled to count reckonable service in accordance with Part II of Schedule 11.

Part GFinance

Teachers' superannuation account

G1.  Subject to the transitional provisions in Part I of Schedule 12, an account substantially in the form set out in Part II of that Schedule shall be prepared by the Department for every financial year.

Receipts, etc., to be credited

G2.—(1) Employees' and employers' contributions received during the financial year shall be credited to the account.

(2) Employees' contributions comprise—

(a)all contributions payable under regulations C2(1), C3, C4, C5 and C8;

(b)so much of any additional contributions payable under regulations C6 and C7 as would have been payable under regulation C2(1) if pensionable employment had continued; and

(c)all amounts payable under regulations C13 and C14 (return of repaid contributions).

(3) Employers' contributions comprise—

(a)the contributions payable under regulation G5; and

(b)so much of any additional contributions payable under regulation C6 as would have been payable under regulation G5 if pensionable employment had continued.

(4) There shall also be credited to the account—

(a)the closing balance in the account for the preceding financial year;

(b)all transfer values under regulation F4 received during the financial year;

(c)all contributions equivalent premiums refunded, or recovered under sections 57 to 59 of the Pensions Act, during the financial year;

(d)any interest and other payments under these Regulations received during the financial year; and

(e)the notional interest for the financial year described in Part III of Schedule 12.

Payments to be debited

G3.  There shall be debited to the account all sums paid during the financial year by way of—

(a)benefits under Part E;

(b)payments under paragraph 12 of Schedule 9 (equivalent pension benefits);

(c)repayment of contributions (including interest) under regulations C10 and C12;

(d)transfer values under regulation F1;

(e)contributions equivalent premiums; and

(f)increases payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971(22).

Actuarial inquiries

G4.—(1) The Government Actuary shall make an actuarial inquiry reporting on the position in relation to the Account at the end of the financial year ending with 31st March 2001 and at the end of every fifth subsequent financial year (“the financial year in question”).

(2) A report on the actuarial inquiry shall be made to the Department as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year in question and shall be laid by it before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(3) The report shall specify the percentage of the contributable salaries of persons entering pensionable employment on the first day of the next financial year at which contributions should be paid, during the period beginning on and including 1st April next following the date of the report and ending with 31st March next following the date of the next report (“the relevant period”), so as to defray the cost of the payments of the kinds described in regulation G3(a) to (f) that are likely to be made in respect of them.

(4) The report shall state the amount by which, at the end of the financial year in question, the amount of the scheme assets exceeded or fell short of that of the scheme liabilities.

(5) In this regulation, the scheme assets are—

(a)the value of the employees' contributions receivable after the end of the financial year in respect of persons who at the end of that year were or had been in pensionable employment;

(b)the value of the employers' contributions in respect of such persons receivable after the end of the financial year, except any such supplementary contributions as are mentioned in paragraph (7);

(c)the value of payments that would fall to be credited under regulation G2(4)(d) and (e) to the accounts for subsequent financial years; and

(d)the actuarial value at the end of the financial year of the notional and assumed investments described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12.

(6) The scheme liabilities are the payments to be made under these Regulations after the end of the financial year in respect of persons who at the end of that year were or had been in pensionable employment.

(7) If the report states that the amount of the scheme liabilities exceeded that of the scheme assets, it shall specify a rate (expressed as a percentage) at which, during the relevant period, supplementary contributions should be paid by employers of persons in pensionable employment so as to remove the deficiency within the period for 40 years beginning at the same time as the relevant period.

(8) The rate mentioned in paragraph (7) shall be expressed as a percentage of the contributable salaries from time to time of persons in pensionable employment; the percentage shall either be or be a multiple of 0.05.

(9) In this regulation “employees' contributions” and “employers' contributions” shall be construed respectively in accordance with regulation G2(2) and (3).

Employers' contributions

G5.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the employer of a person in pensionable employment shall, during every relevant period, pay contributions of the required percentage of his contributable salary for the time being.

(2) The required percentage is

where—

  • A is the percentage specified for the relevant period under regulation G4(3); and

  • B is any percentage specified for the relevant period under regulation G4(7) and (8).

(3) No contributions shall be paid in respect of anyone to whom regulation E32(2)(a) (restriction of reckonable service to 45 years) has become applicable.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation “relevant period” shall be construed in accordance with regulation G4(3).

Payment by employers to the Department

G6.—(1) The employer of a person in pensionable employment shall pay to the Department within 7 days after the end of each month—

(a)all amounts due from the person that are deductible from his salary under regulation C15(1); and

(b)the contributions payable under regulation G5,

in respect of his contributable salary for that month.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a)all salaries shall be treated as being payable monthly in arrear; and

(b)any arrears payable by reason of a retrospective increase in contributable salary shall be treated as having become payable in the month in which they were paid.

(3) If the full amount of any payment required by paragraph (1) is not received by the Department within 7 days after the end of the month interest is payable by the employer on the amount outstanding at 12 per cent per annum, compounded with monthly rests, from the 8th day to the date of payment; but the Department may in any particular case waive the payment of interest.

(4) The Department may deduct from any grants due to the employers under Part V of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(23) any sum due to it under paragraph (1) and if so deducted such sum shall not be paid by the employer to the Department in accordance with that paragraph.

Part HMiscellaneous and Supplemental

Modified application in case of employment at reduced salary

H1.—(1) If—

(a)a person who has been in pensionable employment either—

(i)continues to be employed by the same employer, or

(ii)subject to sub-paragraph (4), ceases to be employed and is re-employed within 6 months, by the same employer,

at a reduced rate of contributable salary in a different post; and

(b)he does not elect under regulation C1(6) that his contributable salary is to be treated as having continued at the previous rate; and

(c)his employer notifies the Department in writing, within 13 weeks after the first day of his employment at the reduced rate, that his employment at that rate is in the interests of the efficient discharge of the employer’s functions; and

(d)the application to him of this paragraph would, taking into account prospective increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 of benefits under Part E, be beneficial,

these Regulations have effect in relation to him with the modifications set out in Part II of Schedule 9.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) the contributable salary of a person in part-time employment shall be taken to be what it would have been if the employment had been full-time, but where the employers at the previous rate and at the reduced rate were in fact different, the former is the employer for the purposes of notification under paragraph (1)(c).

(3) A second or subsequent application of paragraph (1) does not affect its previous operation.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1)(a) the words “in a different post” shall not apply in relation to a person whose employment at a reduced rate of contributable salary started before the commencement of these Regulations.

Records and information

H2.—(1) The employer of a person in pensionable employment shall record for each financial year—

(a)the rate of the persons' salary;

(b)the amount of his contributable salary;

(c)where during the financial year the person has spent one or more periods in part-time pensionable employment, the amount which his contributable salary would have been if the employment had been full-time throughout the year;

(d)any money value forming part of his contributable salary by virtue of regulation C1(1)(b) (accommodation and related services);

(e)the contributions deducted under regulation C15(1);

(f)the period during which he was in pensionable employment; and

(g)the dates of any absence on sick leave or maternity leave and the amount of salary paid during such absence.

(2) Every employer shall, within such reasonable time as the Department may require, make to the Department such reports and returns, and to give to it such information about persons who are or have been in pensionable employment, as it may reasonably require for the purposes of its functions under these Regulations; and such persons, or their personal representatives, shall give to the Department such information and produce such documents as it may reasonably require for those purposes.

Payments in respect of deceased persons

H3.—(1) This regulation applies where a person dies and the total of—

(a)any sums that were due to him under these Regulations; and

(b)any sums payable under these Regulations to his personal representatives,

(“the amount due”) does not exceed £5,000.

(2) Where this regulation applies the Department may, without requiring the production of probate or other proof of title, pay the amount due—

(a)to the personal representatives; or

(b)to the person, or to or among any one or more of any persons, appearing to it to be beneficially entitled to the estate.

Revaluation of guaranteed minimum in certain cases

H4.—(1) This regulation applies where a person has ceased to be in pensionable employment and has taken a right to a cash equivalent by exercising the option conferred by section 91(1) of the Pensions Act wholly or partly in the way specified in section 91(2)(c) of that Act (purchase of annuity).

(2) Where this regulation applies, to the extent that the person’s guaranteed minimum is otherwise appropriately secured within the meaning of section 15(3) and (4) of the Pensions Act—

(a)for the purposes of section 10 of that Act (earner’s guaranteed minimum) the person’s earnings factors shall be determined by reference to the last order made under Article 23 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975(24) or Section 130 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(25) to come into force before the end of the tax year in which his service was terminated and without reference to the last such order to come into force before the end of the final relevant year; and

(b)the weekly equivalent mentioned in section 10(2) of that Act shall be increased in accordance with any additional requirements for the time being prescribed for the purposes of that Act (exclusion from liability to pay a limited revaluation premium).

(3) In this regulation “final relevant year” has the meaning given in section 12(5) of the Pensions Act(26).

Extension of time

H5.  The Department may in any particular case extend, or treat as having been extended, the time within which anything is required or authorised to be done under these Regulations.

Determination of Questions

H6.  All questions arising under these Regulations shall be determined by the Department.

Revocations, savings and transitional provisions

H7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) the Regulations specified in Part I of Schedule 13 are hereby revoked.

(2) The revocations made by Part I of Schedule 13 have effect subject to the savings in Part II of that Schedule.

(3) The provisions of Part II of Schedule 13 do not affect the general operation of section 29 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(27).

(4) Part III of Schedule 13 has effect for the purpose of making transitional provisions consequential upon the making of these Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Education on

L.S.

T. N. Jackson

Assistant Secretary

22nd September 1998.

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on

L.S.

C. P. Moore

Assistant Secretary

22nd September 1998.

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