PART 3N.I.BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS ETC.

CHAPTER 1N.I.INTRODUCTION

PreliminaryN.I.

Interpretation of Part 3: generalN.I.

137.—(1) In this Part—

[F1“2008 Section Optant” has the meaning given in regulation 260A;]

[F2“the 2010 Regulations” mean the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010;]

[F3“the 2011 Act” means the Finance Act 2011;]

[F4“the 2014 Act” means the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014;

“the 2015 Scheme” means the scheme as set out in the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015;]

“the 1972 Order” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 M1;

“the 1993 Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 M2;

“the 1995 Order” means the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 M3;

“the 1995 Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland)1995 M4;

[F1“the 1995 section” means the section of the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme as set out in the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;]

[F5“the 1997 Order” means the Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.]

“the 1999 Order” means the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 M5;

“the 2003 Order” means the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003 M6;

“the 2004 Order” means the General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions (No.2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 M7;

[F6“the 2008 Act” means the Pensions (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;]

“the Agency” means the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and Social Services established under Article 26 of the 1972 Order;

“active member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of [F7this Section of] the Scheme (but see regulation 180(8));

“additional pension”, in relation to a member, except where the context otherwise requires, means so much of any pension payable to a member as is payable by virtue of contributions made under regulations 165, 167 and 168;

“additional services” with regard to a—

(a)

GMS practice has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the GMS Contracts Regulations; or

(b)

any other performer or provider of primary medical services, means services which, if provided by a GMS practice, would be additional services within the meaning given in regulation 2 of those Regulations;

“APMS contract” means arrangements under Article 56 (2)(b) of the 1972 Order between a Health and Social Services Board and an APMS contractor;

“APMS contractor” means a person—

(a)

with whom a Health and Social Services Board has made arrangements under Article 56 (2)(b) of the 1972 Order, and

(b)

who has entered into, or would be eligible to enter into, a GMS contract for the provision of primary medical services;

“appropriate proportion” means—

“assistant medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner, employed by a principal medical practitioner, who in that employment is wholly or mainly engaged in assisting his employer in the discharge of the employer's duties as a practitioner, and for whose employment the consent of the relevant Health and Social Services Board and the Agency is required;

“assistant dental practitioner” means a dental practitioner, employed by a principal dental practitioner, who in that employment is wholly or mainly engaged in assisting his employer in the discharge of the employer's duties as a practitioner, and for whose employment the consent of the relevant Health and Social Services Board and the Agency is required;

[F8“automatic enrolment date” means the date referred to in section 3(7) of the 2008 Act;

“automatic re-enrolment date” means the date determined in accordance with regulation 12 of the 2010 Regulations (as modified by regulation 14 of those Regulations);]

“bank holiday” means any day that is specified or proclaimed as a bank holiday, pursuant to section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 M8;

“base rate” means the Bank of England base rate—

(a)

announced from time to time by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England as the official dealing rate, being the rate at which the Bank is willing to enter into transactions for providing short term liquidity in the money markets, or

(b)

where an order under section 19 of the Bank of England Act 1998 is in force, any equivalent rate determined by the Treasury under that section;

“Board and advisory work” means—

(a)

work undertaken as a member of the Board of an employing authority which is not a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider; or

(b)

advisory work commissioned by and undertaken on behalf of such an authority, if it is connected to the authority's role in performing, or securing the delivery of, primary medical services or associated management activities or similar duties,

but which is not in itself the performance of primary medical services, and payment for which is made by that authority directly to the person carrying out that work;

“buy-out policy” means a policy of insurance or annuity contract that is appropriate for the purposes of section 15 of the 1993 Act and “buy out” must be read accordingly;

[F1“capped increase to pensionable earnings” must be read in accordance with regulation 231;]

F9...

“cash equivalent” is to be construed in accordance with Chapter IV of Part IV of the 1993 Act;

“CCT” means a Certificate of Completion of Training awarded under article 8 of the 2003 Order, including any such certificate awarded in pursuance of the competent authority functions of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board specified in article 20(3)(a) of that Order;

“certification services” means services related to the provision of medical certificates listed in Schedule 3 to the GMS Contracts Regulations;

“chapter” unless otherwise specified, means a chapter in this Part;

“collaborative services” means primary medical services provided by a GP performer, a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider under or as a result of an arrangement between—

(a)

a Health and Social Services Board; and

(b)

a person or body, under which a Health and Social Services Board is responsible for providing services for purposes related to the provision of health care in accordance with Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“commissioned services” means medical services provided under a contract between—

(a)

a GP performer, a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider; and

(b)

a Health and Social Services Board under Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“contracting-out requirements” means the requirements mentioned in section 5(2) of the 1993 Act;

“contribution option period” has the meaning given in regulation 165(8);

[F10“corresponding 1995 scheme” means a corresponding health service scheme, the provisions of which the Department has determined correspond to the provisions of the 1995 Regulations;

“corresponding 2008 scheme” means a corresponding health service scheme, the provisions of which the Department has determined correspond to the provisions of these Regulations;]

[F11“corresponding health service scheme” means—

(a)

a superannuation scheme provided under regulations made under section 10 of the Superannuation Act 1972 and having effect in England, Wales and Scotland,

(b)

[F12a scheme made under section 2 of the Superannuation Act 1984 (an Act of Tynwald), in the case of a member who entered HSC employment on or before the 1st April 2012, and]

(c)

any other occupational pension scheme approved for the purposes of this regulation by the Department;]

“core hours” means the period beginning at 8am and ending at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Friday except Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday;

“deferred member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context requires otherwise, refers to membership of [F7this Section of] the Scheme (but see regulation 180(8));

[F13“dental list” means a list kept pursuant to the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993;]

“dental performers list” means a list of dental practitioners prepared by the Agency in accordance with regulations made under the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 M9;

[F13“dental pilot scheme employee” means an individual who, in connection with the provision of personal dental services in accordance with a pilot scheme, is employed by a person providing those services;]

“dentist performer” means a dental practitioner who has undertaken to provide general dental services and whose name is included in a dental performers list;

“Department” means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;

“dependent child” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 202;

“dispensing services” means the provision of drugs, medicines or appliances that may be provided as pharmaceutical services by a registered medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part III of the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 M10;

[F1“electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000;]

“employing authority” means—

(a)

F14...

(b)

F14...

(c)

F14...

(d)

any other body which is constituted under an Order relating to health services [F15(in whole or in part)] and which the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of the Scheme,

(e)

an OOH provider,

(f)

an APMS contractor,

(g)

a GMS practice,

(ga)

[F16a GP Federation which the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of this section of the scheme;]

(h)

a PMS practice,

(i)

a host Board; and

(j)

in relation to a person who is subject to a direction made under Article 12 (5) of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, and subject to such modifications to this Part as the Department may in any particular case direct, any employer of such a person whom the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of this Part;

(k)

[F17[F18Health and Social Care Trust (HSC Trust) established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;]

(l)

“Regional Health and Social Care Board (RHSCB)” established under section 7(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;

(m)

“Regional Business Services Organisation (RBSO)” established under section 14(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;

(n)

“Patient and Client Council (PCC)” established under section 16(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;

(o)

“Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing (RAPHSW)” established under section 12(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009]

“employment” includes an office or appointment (other than an honorary office or appointment) and related expressions are to be read accordingly;

“enhanced services” with regard to—

(a)

a GMS practice, has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the GMS Contracts Regulations; or

(b)

any other performer or provider of primary medical services, means services which, if provided by a GMS practice, would be enhanced services within the meaning given in regulation 2 of those Regulations;

“essential services” means the services described in regulation 15(3), (5), (6) and (8) of the GMS Contracts Regulations, whether provided by a GMS practice or an APMS contractor;

“GDS arrangements” means general dental services arrangements under Article 61 of the 1972 Order;

“GDS provider” is a person who is a party to GDS arrangements;

[F19“general ophthalmic services” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007;]

“GMS contract” means a contract under Articles 57 and 57A of the 1972 Order or under Article 13 of the 2004 Order;

“GMS Contracts Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004M11;

“GMS practice” means—

(a)

a registered medical practitioner [F20who is a principal medical practitioner] ; or

(b)

two or more [F20such] individuals practising in partnership; or

(c)

a company limited by shares,

with whom a Health and Social Services Board has entered into a GMS contract;

[F21“GOS arrangements” has the meaning given by regulation 13 of General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007;]

[F22“GP Federation” means a community interest company limited by guarantee, all the members of which are fully registered persons within the meaning of section 55 of the Medical Act 1983 and whose names are included in the medical performers list;]

“GP performer” means a registered medical practitioner, other than a GP Registrar or a locum practitioner, whose name is included in a medical performers list and who performs essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, collaborative services, commissioned services, OOH services or certification services (or a combination of those services)—

(a)

under a GMS contract or APMS contract; or

(b)

on behalf of an OOH provider; or

(c)

under a contract of service or for services with a Health and Social Services Board which relates to arrangements under which it provides primary medical services under Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“GP provider” means a GP performer who is—

(a)

a GMS practice or an APMS contractor;

(b)

a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor; or

(c)

a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor,

and who performs medical services as or on behalf of that practice or contractor;

“GP Registrar” means a medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice by a general medical practitioner who is approved under article 4(5)(d) of the 2003 Order for the purpose of providing training under article 5(1)(c)(i) of that Order, whether as part of training leading to the award of a CCT or otherwise;

“GP trainer” means a registered medical practitioner who is approved by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board under article 4(5)(d) of the 2003 Order for the purposes of providing training to a GP Registrar under article 5(1)(c)(i) of that Order;

“health services” has the meaning given in Article 2 (1) of the 1972 Order;

[F13“HSC dental employee” means an individual who, in connection with the provision of health care in the health service is employed by—

(a)

a HSC Trust;

(b)

the Regional Board;

(c)

a registered dentist; or

(d)

a registered dentist who is providing personal dental services in accordance with a pilot scheme;]

[F13“HSC Trust” means a trust established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;]

“the guarantee date” has the meaning given in regulation 221(2);

“guaranteed cash equivalent transfer value payment” has the meaning given in regulation 222(3);

“guaranteed minimum pension” means guaranteed minimum pension, or accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pension, under section 10 of the 1993 Act;

[F23“host Board”—

(a)

in respect of a person who is a [F24principal medical practitioner] or non-GP provider who is—

(i)

a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice,

(ii)

a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,

(iii)

a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,

(iv)

an individual who is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor,

[F25means the Regional Health and Social Care Board (RHSCB) and such a person shall be deemed to be employed by the RHSCB for the purposes of this Part, except where—

(i)

regulation 164(5) or (6) applies; or

(ii)

contributions payable pursuant to regulation 162 by an employing authority in respect of a GP provider: in such a case those contributions are not payable by the RHSCB but are payable by that GP Provider or the practice where they are a GP provider.]

(b)

in respect of a dentist performer, means the RHSCB;]

“HSC employment” means employment with an employing authority;

F9...

“lifetime allowance”, in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 218 of the Finance Act 2004M12;

“locum practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner (other than a GP Registrar) whose name is included in a medical performers list and who is engaged, otherwise than in pursuance of a commercial arrangement with an agent, under a contract for services by—

(a)

a GMS practice;

(b)

an APMS contractor;

(c)

an OOH provider; or

(d)

a Health and Social Services Board,

to deputise or assist temporarily in the provision of essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, OOH services, commissioned services, certification services or collaborative services (or any combination thereof);

“lower earnings limit” must be read in accordance with section 5 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992M13;

[F26“lump sum and death benefit allowance” in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 637R of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;]

“lump sum rule” has the meaning given in section 166 of the Finance Act 2004;

“lump sum death benefit rule” has the meaning given in section 168 of the Finance Act 2004;

“member”, except where the context otherwise requires, means an active member, [F27a non-contributing member,] a deferred member, a pensioner member or a pension credit member;

“medical performers list” means a list of registered medical practitioners prepared and published in accordance with the Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 M14;

[F28“non-contributing member” means a member who—

(a)

is under the age of 75 and in HSC employment;

(b)

is no longer required to make contributions to [F7this Section of] the Scheme in accordance with regulation 160(1); but

(c)

will be entitled to a pension under these Regulations—

(i)

on ceasing to be employed in HSC employment and making a claim for the pension, or

(ii)

upon reaching age 75;]

“non-GP provider” in these Regulations shall apply as if he were a whole time officer and means—

(a)

a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that practice;

(b)

a partner in a partnership all of whose members have entered into arrangements for the provision of primary medical services—

(i)

but who is not a GP provider; and

(ii)

who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that partnership;

(c)

a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services—

(i)

but who is not a GP provider; and

(ii)

who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that partnership;

(d)

a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is—

(i)

a GMS practice; or

(ii)

an APMS contractor that has entered into a an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,

but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that company;

(e)

an individual who is an APMS contractor but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he participates in the provision of health and personal social services;

“occupational pension scheme” means an occupational pension scheme within the meaning of section 1 of the 1993 Act which—

(a)

in the case of such a scheme established on, or after, 6th April 2006 is a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004 and which the Department agrees to recognise as a transferring scheme for the purposes of Chapter 6;

(b)

in the case of such a scheme established before that date, was—

(i)

approved by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for the purposes of Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (retirement benefits schemes) or whose application for approval under that Chapter was under consideration,

(ii)

a statutory scheme as defined in section 612(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (interpretation), or

(iii)

a scheme to which section 608 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applied (superannuation funds approved before 6th April 1980);

[F29“officer” means a person employed by an employing authority including a GP Registrar and a non-GP provider, but does not include—

(a)

a GP performer;

(b)

a dentist performer;

(c)

a person engaged under a contract for services;]

“officer service” means pensionable service as an officer under Part 2;

“OOH provider” has the meaning given by regulation 152;

[F30“OOH services” means services which are required to be provided in the out of hours period and which, if provided during core hours by a GMS practice or APMS contractor to patients to whom the practice or contractor is required by its GMS contract or APMS contract to provide essential services, would be or would be similar to essential services;]

[F31“ophthalmic provider” means a registered medical practitioner who [F32is a principal medical practitioner and who] is included in an ophthalmic performers list kept by the Agency pursuant to regulation 8(1) of the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and is a party to GOS arrangements;]

“opting-out” and related expressions are to be construed in accordance with regulation 157;

“out of hours period” means—

(a)

the period beginning at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Thursday and ending at 8am the following day;

(b)

the period between 6:30pm on Friday and 8am the following Monday;

(c)

Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday;

[F33“parental bereavement leave” means leave under Article 112EA of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996;]

[F34“pay period” means, in relation to members who receive either salary, wages or other regular payments under a contract of employment or a contract for services, the period in respect of which each payment is made in accordance with the terms of that contract;]

“pensionable earnings” has the meaning given in regulation 143 (read with regulation 144);

[F35“pensionable earnings ceiling” in relation to—

(a)

GDS arrangements;

(b)

piloted services;

is to be construed in accordance with regulation 143(4);.]

“pensionable employment” means employment as a practitioner which is pensionable under this Part;

“pensionable service” has the meaning given by regulations 139 and 140 (read with regulation 141);

“pensioner member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of [F7this Section of] the Scheme (but see regulation 138 and regulation 180(8));

“pension credit” means a credit under Article 26 (1) (b) of the 1999 Order and includes a credit under section 29(1)(b) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 M15;

“pension credit benefit” has the meaning given by section 97B of the 1993 Act;

“pension credit member” has the meaning given by Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order;

“pension credit rights” has the meaning given by section 97B of the 1993 Act;

[F1“pension debit member” means a member of this Section of the Scheme whose benefits, or future benefits, under this Scheme have been reduced under Article 28 of the 1999 Order (Reduction under pension sharing order following divorce or nullity of marriage), whether before or after the member became a member of this Section of the Scheme;]

“pension sharing order or provision” means such an order or provision as is mentioned in Article 25(1) of the 1999 Order;

[F13“personal dental services” has the meaning given in Article 3(7) of the 1997 Order;]

“personal pension scheme” means a personal pension scheme which—

(a)

in the case of such a scheme established on, or after, 6th April 2006 is a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004 and which the Department agrees to recognise as a transferring scheme for the purposes of Chapter 6;

(b)

in the case of a scheme established before that date, was—

(i)

approved by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for the purposes of Chapter IV of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (personal pension schemes); and

on the 6th April 2006 became a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004;

[F13“pilot scheme” has the meaning given in Article 3(1) of the 1997 Order;]

[F13“piloted services” has the meaning given in Article 3(4) of the 1997 Order;]

“practice staff” means a person who—

(a)

is not a registered medical practitioner, a GP Registrar or a non-GP provider, and

(b)

is employed by a GMS practice, an APMS contractor [F36, an OOH provider or a GP Federation] to assist in the provision of the services it provides;

“practitioner” means—

(a)

a registered medical practitioner [F37or ophthalmic provider,] who—

(i)

is not a GP Registrar, and

(ii)

is a locum practitioner, a GP provider or a GP performer, or

(b)

a dentist performer; [F38or

(c)

an ophthalmic provider]

“practitioner income” has the meaning given in regulation 143(2) to (8);

“practitioner service” means service as a practitioner which is pensionable under this Part;

“preservation requirements” means the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part IV of the 1993 Act relating to the preservation of benefits under occupational pension schemes;

“principal medical practitioner” means a practitioner on the medical performers list;

“principal dental practitioner” means a practitioner whose name is included in a list of dentists prepared by the Agency under regulation 4 of the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993M16;

“public sector transfer arrangements” means arrangements approved by the Department as providing reciprocal arrangements for the payment and receipt of transfer values between [F7this Section of] the Scheme and other occupational pension schemes;

“qualifying service” has the meaning given in regulation 141 (read with regulation 142);

“quarter” means a 3 month period ending on the last day of March, June, September or December;

“recent leaver” has the meaning given in regulation 199(3);

[F13“Regional Board” means the Regional Health and Social Care Board, established under section 7 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;]

“registered” means registered under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004;

[F13“registered dentist” has the meaning given in section 53(1) of the Dentists Act 1984;]

[F39“registered medical practitioner” means a fully registered medical practitioner within the meaning given in section 55 of the Medical Act 1983;]

“retail prices index” has the meaning given in section 989 of the Income Tax Act 2007M17;

“safeguarded percentage” has the meaning given by section 64A(3) of the 1993 Act;

“safeguarded rights” has the meaning given by section 64A(1) of the 1993 Act;

[F40“the Scheme” means the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme as set out in these regulations and the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;]

“the Scheme actuary” means the actuary appointed by the Department for the time being to provide a consulting service on actuarial matters relevant to the Scheme;

“scheme year” means a period of one year beginning with 1st April and ending with 31st March next following;

[F41“shared parental leave” means leave under section 107E or 107G of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.]

“specialist” means a consultant, other than a nurse consultant, or a senior hospital medical officer or senior hospital dental officer;

“State pension age” means pensionable age, as defined in section 176(1) of the 1993 Act;

“tax year” means a year of assessment for income tax purposes;

“tier 1 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 182;

“tier 2 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 182;

“trade dispute” has the meaning given in Article 2 (2) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995M18;

“uprated earnings” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 176 (4) (b);

“vocational trainee” means a dentist performer who is employed as a vocational trainee as a consequence of a placement arrangement made by a local postgraduate dental dean or a director of postgraduate dental education;

[F42“Waiting Period Joiner” has the meaning given in regulation 260X;]

Textual Amendments

F12Words in reg. 137(1) substituted (1.4.2012) by The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/78), regs. 1(2), 17

F26Words in reg. 137 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Social Care Pension Schemes (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (S.R. 2024/117), regs. 1(2), 15

F41Words in reg. 137 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/33), regs. 1(2), 11

Marginal Citations

M4S.R. 1995 No. 95, as amended by S.R. 1997 Nos. 217 and 390, S.R. 1998 No. 299, S.R. 1999 No. 293, S.R. 2002 No. 69, S.R. 2004 Nos. 103 and 104, S.R. 2005 Nos. 155, 533, 534 and 565, S.R. 2006 Nos. 159 and 410 and S.Rs. 2008 Nos. 96, 130 and 163

M51999/3147 (N.I. 11)

M11S.R. 2004 No. 140 as amended by S.R. 2005 No. 230

M14S.R. 2004 No. 149 as amended by S.R. 2005 No. 368

Interpretation: further provisionsN.I.

138.—(1) In determining whether a person who is an active member or a pensioner member of [F43this Section of] the Scheme is also a deferred member of it, the fact that the person is an active member or a pensioner member and the person's rights as such are to be disregarded.

(2) In determining whether a person is a pensioner member of [F43this Section of] the Scheme, the fact that the person is not entitled to payment of pension because of Chapter 8 is to be disregarded.

Textual Amendments

Meaning of “pensionable service”N.I.

139.—(1) In this Part, references to a member's pensionable service, subject to paragraph (2), are references to the aggregate of the following periods—

(a)any period of service in respect of which the member contributes to [F44this Section of] the Scheme under regulation 160 (contributions by members),

(b)any period of absence from service which counts as pensionable service under regulation 140,

(c)any period of service credited to the member as pensionable service under Chapter 6 (transfers from other pension arrangements)[F45; and

(d)any period of pensionable service the member is entitled to count under Chapter 10 of this Part.]

(2) A member's pensionable service does not include—

(a)any period of service in respect of which the Department has paid contributions to another occupational pension scheme in respect of the member,

(b)in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member, any period taken into account—

(i)in determining the member's entitlement to the pension in payment or, as the case may be, the deferred pension, or

(ii)in calculating the amount of that pension,

but, in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 180 (partial retirement) subject to paragraph (7),

(c)any period of service in respect of which the Department's liability to provide benefits is discharged—

(i)by the payment of a contributions equivalent premium under section 51(2) of the 1993 Act,

(ii)under regulation 175 (repayment of contributions), or

(iii)by the payment of a transfer value payment on transfer out under Chapter 6 (transfers), or

(d)subject to paragraph (3), any period of service which would result in the aggregate mentioned in paragraph (1) exceeding 45 years.

(3) A member's pensionable service must not exceed 45 years unless—

(a)the member gives notice in writing to the Department and the member's employing authority of an intention to remain in pensionable service beyond 45 years; and

(b)that notice is received by the Department and the member's employing authority—

(i)not earlier than three months before the member reaches 45 years pensionable service, and

(ii)by the end of the pay period during which the member reaches the 45 year limit.

(4) If the notice required by paragraph (3) has been properly received and the member has pensionable service in excess of 45 years—

(a)benefits under this Part shall be calculated by reference to a maximum of 45 years of pensionable service; and

(b)the Department shall select the years by reference to which the benefits are to be calculated, selecting the years which produce the most favourable result to the member.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), in order to calculate the length of a member's pensionable service, all periods of pensionable service will be added together and each resulting period of 365 days (disregarding pensionable service on 29th February in a leap year) will be treated as one year.

(6) If, when the employment in which a person is an active member ceases, a payment is made in respect of untaken leave, for the purpose of this Part—

(a)the member's pensionable service is treated as continuing for a period equal to the period of leave in respect of which payment is made, and

(b)the payment is treated as the member's pensionable earnings for that period.

(7) In the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 180 (partial retirement), paragraph (2)(b) only applies to so much of the member's pensionable service as is mentioned in regulation 180(8)(a) (the specified percentage of the pensionable service as respects which the member is an active member on the option day).

(8) References in this Part to any period expressed in days are references to the period in question ignoring 29th February, expressed in days.

[F46(9) Where a member is also a member of the [F471995 Section] any reference in this Part to “45 years” shall be taken to be a reference to a shorter period determined by the formula—

where—

  • SP is the shorter period, measured in years and days, and

  • LSS is the length of superannuable service (within the meaning of the 1995 Regulations), measured in years and days, giving rise to membership of the [F471995 Section] and, in the case of a member of that Scheme who has become entitled to a pension (including a preserved pension) under that Scheme, including any period that was taken into account for the purpose of determining whether the member was entitled to that pension, or for the purpose of calculating the amount of that pension.]

Textual Amendments

Pensionable service: breaks in serviceN.I.

140.—(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of—

(a)illness or injury,

(b)maternity leave,

(c)adoption leave,

(d)paternity leave, F48...

(e)parental leave [F49, [F50shared parental leave [F51, or]

[F52(f)parental bereavement leave.]

(2) [F53A] period of absence to which this regulation applies will count as pensionable service for so long as the member contributes to [F54this Section of] the [F55Scheme under regulation 160 in respect of the period of absence] .

[F56(3) If a member is on leave of absence but does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) to (e), and contributes to [F54this Section of] the Scheme under regulation 160 by contributions made at the same intervals as those made by the member before the absence, the maximum period of such leave that can be counted as pensionable service under this paragraph is—

(a)where the member contributes for a continuous period of 6 months commencing with the first day of the member’s leave of absence, 6 months; and

(b)where the member contributes for a continuous period of less than 6 months commencing with the first day of the member’s leave of absence, the period in respect of which the member pays those contributions.

(3A) If, having paid contributions for the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) a member remains on a leave of absence that does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) to (e) and contributes to [F57this Section of] the Scheme both member contributions under regulation 160 and employer contributions under regulation 162 by contributions made at the same intervals as those made by the member before the absence, the maximum period of such leave that can be counted as pensionable service under this paragraph is—

(a)where the member contributes for a continuous period of 18 months commencing immediately after the expiry of the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), 18 months; and

(b)where the member contributes for a continuous period of less than 18 months commencing immediately after the expiry of the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), the period in respect of which the member pays those contributions.]

(4) This paragraph applies if a person—

(a)ceased to be an active member because of—

(i)ceasing to be employed in an employment in which the person is eligible to be such a member, or

(ii)exercising the option under regulation 157 (opting out of [F58this Section of] the Scheme), and

(b)less than 12 months after the date on which the person ceased to be an active member becomes such a member again.

(5) If paragraph (4) applies, the person's pensionable service before the person ceased to be an active member and after the person became such a member again is treated as a single continuous period of pensionable service, unless paragraph (6) applies.

(6) This paragraph applies if—

(a)the person does not become a deferred member in respect of the pensionable service before the break in which the person was an active member,

(b)the person has received a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 in respect of that service (but see paragraph (8)), or

(c)the person's rights under [F59this Section of] the Scheme in respect of that service have been extinguished under regulation 226 because a transfer value payment has been made in respect of them.

(7) In the case of a member who leaves pensionable service whilst the person is absent from work because of—

(a)illness or injury,

(b)maternity leave,

(c)adoption leave,

(d)paternity leave, F60...

(e)parental leave, [F61shared parental leave,] [F62or]

[F63(f)parental bereavement leave,]

this regulation applies as if the reference to 12 months in paragraph (4)(b) were a reference to 3 years.

(8) Paragraph (6)(b) does not apply if the person repays to the Department any contributions repaid to the person as mentioned in that paragraph, together with any interest paid to the person on those contributions, before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the person becomes an active member again.

(9) For the regulations where paragraph (5) applies because the person has become a deferred member in respect of the service in which the person was an active member and becomes an active member again, see Chapter 7 (re-employment and rejoining [F64this Section of] the Scheme).]]

Textual Amendments

F50Words in reg. 140(1) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/33), regs. 1(2), 12(a)

F61Words in reg. 140(7) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(3) of the amending Rule) by The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/33), regs. 1(2), 12(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)