PART 6Retirement benefits

CHAPTER 4Ill health benefits

Entitlement to ill-health pensionI174

1

An active member of this scheme who has not reached normal pension age under this scheme is entitled to the immediate payment of an ill-health pension under this scheme, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, if the conditions in paragraph (2) are met.

2

The conditions are—

a

the member or the member’s employer has claimed payment of an ill-health pension;

b

the scheme medical adviser—

i

is of the opinion that the member has suffered a permanent breakdown in health involving incapacity for employment or total incapacity for employment; and

ii

gives the scheme manager and the employer a certificate stating that opinion (“ill-health retirement certificate”);

c

the member has at least 2 years’ qualifying service; and

d

the employer agrees that the member is entitled to retire on ill health grounds.

3

If the member meets the lower tier payment threshold, a lower tier earned pension is payable in respect of the member’s continuous period of pensionable service.

4

If the member meets the upper tier payment threshold—

a

a lower tier earned pension is payable in respect of the member’s continuous period of pensionable service; and

b

an upper tier top up earned pension is payable in respect of the period that begins when the member becomes entitled to the immediate payment of an ill-health pension and ends when the member reaches prospective normal pension age.

5

A full retirement added pension of any description is payable with a lower tier earned pension if the full retirement account specifies an amount of full retirement added pension of that description.