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

[F1Treatment of Additional PensionN.I.

(1) This regulation applies to a 2008 Section Optant who, whilst a member of the 1995 Section, had exercised an option to purchase additional pension (“OPAP”) under regulation 73A or 73C or whose employing authority had done so under regulation 73D of those Regulations (which deal with the purchase of additional pension by periodical contributions and lump sum).

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the amount of additional pension that will count under this Section of the Scheme shall be calculated in accordance with—

(a)paragraph (3) when all the contributions required to be made under the OPAP have been made in accordance with regulation 73G of the 1995 Regulations (Effect of payment of additional contributions under this Part);

(b)paragraph (4) when the OPAP has ceased or been cancelled in accordance with regulation 73F of those Regulations (Cancellation and cessation of options under regulation 73A).

(3) Where paragraph (2)(a) applies, the amount of additional pension that will count under regulation 40 shall be equal to the amount of additional pension—

(a)purchased in the 1995 Section under regulation 73G of the 1995 Regulations where the person’s chosen birthday under the OPAP was 65;

(b)that would have been purchased in the 1995 Section under regulation 73G of the 1995 Regulations if the person’s chosen birthday had been 65 and, in determining that amount, the Department shall have regard to the advice of the Scheme actuary, where the person’s chosen birthday under the OPAP was 60.

  • Paragraph (3)(b) is subject to paragraph (9).

(4) Where paragraph (2)(b) applies, the amount of additional pension that will count under regulation 42 shall be equal to the amount of additional pension—

(a)that was purchased in the 1995 Section under regulation 73H of the 1995 Regulations, where the person’s chosen birthday under the OPAP was 65;

(b)that would have been purchased in the 1995 Section under regulation 73H of the 1995 Regulations if the person’s chosen birthday had been 65 and, in determining that amount, the Department shall have regard to the advice of the Scheme actuary, where the person’s chosen birthday under the OPAP was 60.

  • Paragraph (4)(b) is subject to paragraph (9).

(5) The additional pension referred to in paragraph (3) or (4) that counts in this Section of the Scheme shall do so from the effective date specified in paragraph (5) of regulation 136B.

(6) This paragraph applies—

(a)to a person referred to in paragraph (1); and

(b)where at the effective date specified in paragraph (5) of regulation 136B—

(i)that person—

(aa)was making additional contributions in accordance with an OPAP exercised under regulation 73A of the 1995 Regulations; or

(bb)had applied to make, but had not yet begun making, additional contributions under regulation 73A of the 1995 Regulations; or

(cc)had applied to make, but had not yet made, a single lump sum contribution in accordance with an OPAP exercised under regulation 73C of the 1995 Regulations, or

(ii)that person’s employing authority had applied to make, but had not yet made, a single lump sum contribution on the person’s behalf, in accordance with an OPAP exercised under regulation 73D of the 1995 Regulations.

(7) Where paragraph (6) applies and the person’s chosen birthday referred to in regulation 73A of the 1995 Regulations was 65, the OPAP referred to in that paragraph will apply in this Section of the Scheme as if the OPAP were an option to purchase additional pension in accordance with whichever of regulation 34, 36 or 37 would apply in that case.

(8) Where paragraph (6) applies and the person’s chosen birthday referred to in regulation 73A of the 1995 Regulations was 60, the OPAP referred to in that paragraph will apply in this Section of the Scheme—

(a)as if the OPAP were an option to purchase additional pension in accordance with whichever of regulation 34, 36 or 37 would apply in that case; and

(b)after adjustment, having regard to the advice of the Scheme actuary, so that—

(i)the amount of the additional pension purchased in this Section of the Scheme is the same as that which would have been purchased in the 1995 Section, but

(ii)the additional periodical or lump sum contributions payable, regard being had to the normal retirement age of 65 applying in this Section of the Scheme, reduce or (where appropriate) cease to be payable.

  • This is subject to paragraph (9).

(9) If paragraph (3)(b), (4)(b) or (8) applies and—

(a)the amount of the additional pension calculated in accordance with paragraph (3)(b) or (4)(b) will exceed the limit on the total increase in the member’s pension referred to, as the case may be, in regulation 34, 36 or 37; or

(b)the limit on the total increase in the member’s pension referred to in regulation 34 will be exceeded by the amount of additional pension that counts in this Section of the Scheme in accordance with paragraph (8)(b)(i) notwithstanding any reduction in, or cessation of, additional contributions payable in accordance with paragraph (8)(b)(ii),

the total increase in the member’s pension under this regulation, taken together with any other increase under regulations 34, 36 or 37—

(i)will be subject to the limit on the total increase in the member’s pension described in regulation 34, 36 or 37, and

(ii)the amount of additional pension that counts in this Section of the Scheme in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8) that exceeds that limit will be converted to pensionable service under regulation 7(1)(d), and in determining the amount of additional pension to be converted into pensionable service, the Department shall have regard to the advice of the Scheme actuary.]

Textual Amendments