Where an option under regulation 165, 167 or 168 has been exercised, the final amount of the increase in a member’s pension immediately before the beginning date for that pension shall be determined in accordance with this regulation.

Where the increase in pension is in respect of an option that was exercised less than 2 months before the increase becomes payable, the final amount is calculated in accordance with paragraph (4).

Where the increase in pension is in respect of an option that was exercised 2 or more months before the increase in pension becomes payable, the final amount is calculated in accordance with paragraph (5).

The calculation referred to in paragraph (2) is as follows—

• Step 1 – Calculate the basic amount of the increase in accordance with regulations 171 to 173, to find the Step 1 amount.

• Step 2 – Add to the Step 1 amount an amount that is equal to any increases that would be due under the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 on a pension of the same amount as the Step 1 amount when it first falls into payment, to find the Step 2 amount.

• Step 3 – Divide the Step 2 amount by the Step 1 amount, to find the Step 3 factor.

• Step 4 – Divide the Step 1 amount by the Step 3 factor, to find the final amount referred to in paragraph (1).

The calculation referred to in paragraph (3) is as follows—

• Step 1 - Calculate the basic amount of the increase in accordance with regulations 171 to 173, to find the Step 1 amount.

• Step 2 – Multiply the Step 1 amount by the retail prices index for the second month before the month in which the increase in pension will become payable, to find the Step 2 amount.

• Step 3 – Divide the Step 2 amount by the retail prices index for the month in which the option was exercised, to find the Step 3 amount.

• Step 4 – Take the greater of the Step 1 amount and Step 3 amount, to find the Step 4 amount.

• Step 5 – Add to the Step 4 amount an amount that is equal to any increases that would be due under the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 on a pension of the same amount as the Step 4 amount when it first falls into payment, to find the Step 5 amount.

• Step 6 – Divide the Step 5 amount by the Step 4 amount, to find the Step 6 factor.

• Step 7 – Divide the Step 4 amount by the Step 6 factor to find the final amount referred to in paragraph (1).

In this regulation, “the beginning date”, in relation to a pension, means the date on which it is treated as beginning for the purposes of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (see section 8(2) of that Act).