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

Reduction in and forfeiture of benefits N.I.

Reduction in benefits in cases where loss caused by member's crime, negligence or fraud N.I.

129.—(1) If, as a result of a member's criminal, negligent or fraudulent act or omission, a loss to public funds occurs that arises out of or is connected with the member's employment relationship with the member's employer, the Department—

(a) may reduce any pension or other benefit payable to, or in respect of, the member under these Regulations by an amount less than or equal to the loss, or

(b) in a case where the loss equals or exceeds the value of the pension or other benefit, reduce them to nil or by any amount less than that value.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply so far as the pension or other benefit—

(a) is a guaranteed minimum pension or safeguarded rights which are derived from rights to such a pension, or

(b) arise out of a transfer payment.

(3) If the Department proposes to exercise the power under paragraph (1), the Department must give the member a certificate specifying the amount of the loss to public funds and of the reduction in benefits.

(4) If the amount of the loss is disputed, no reduction may be made under paragraph (1) until the member's obligation to make good the loss has become enforceable—

(a) under the order of a competent court, or

(b) in consequence of an award of an arbitrator.

(5) If the loss is suffered by an employing authority, the amount of any reduction under paragraph (1) must be paid to that authority.

Forfeiture of rights to benefits N.I.

130.—(1) The Department may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable to or in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited if—

(a) the member is convicted of any of the offences specified in paragraph (2), and

(b) the offence was committed before the benefit or other amount becomes payable.

(2) The offences are—

(a) an offence in connection with employment that qualifies the member to belong to [F1 this Section of] the Scheme, in respect of which the Secretary of State has issued a forfeiture certificate,

(b) one or more offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989 for which the member has been sentenced on the same occasion to—

(i) a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years, or

(ii) two or more consecutive terms amounting in aggregate to at least 10 years.

(3) In paragraph (2)(a) “forfeiture certificate” means a certificate that the Secretary of State is satisfied that the offence—

(a) has been gravely injurious to the State, or

(b) is liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

(4) The Department may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited where the benefits or amounts are payable to a person to whom paragraph (5) applies who has been convicted of the murder or manslaughter of that member or of any other offence of which unlawful killing of that member is an element.

(5) This paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a) the member's widow, widower, [F2 surviving scheme partner] or surviving civil partner,

(b) a dependant of the member,

(c) a person not falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b) who is specified in a notice given under regulation 87(3) [F3 or (10)] , or

(d) a person to whom such benefits or amounts are payable under the member's will or on the member's intestacy.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), a guaranteed minimum pension or safeguarded rights which are derived from rights to such pensions may be forfeited only if paragraph (1) applies in the case of an offence within paragraph (2)(b).

(7) This regulation is without prejudice to section 2 of the Forfeiture Act 1870 M1 (under which forfeiture is required in cases of treason, subject to whole or partial restoration under section 9(2) of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 M2 ).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 130(2)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme, Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional Voluntary Contributions), and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/22), reg. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 1

F2 Words in reg. 130(5)(a) substituted (16.8.2022) by The Health and Social Care Pension Schemes, Additional Voluntary Contributions and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/196), regs. 1(2), 42

F3 Words in reg. 130(5)(c) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) and Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefits) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/65), regs. 1(2), 49 (with reg. 89)

Marginal Citations

M1 1870 c. 32

M2 1953 c. 14 (N.I. )