PART 7Retirement benefits

CHAPTER 1General

Qualifying service86

1

In these Regulations, “qualifying service” means the total of—

a

any continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme not counting—

i

any gap in service;

ii

any career break;

iii

any other period of unpaid leave;

b

if a transfer payment has been received by this scheme in respect of a member's accrued rights under another occupational pension scheme, the member's period of pensionable service under that scheme;

c

for a 2006 transition member with continuity of service, the member's period of pensionable service under the 2006 scheme before the transition date M1; and

d

for a 1988 transition member with continuity of service, the period of pensionable service the member is entitled to reckon under the 1988 scheme before the member's transition date M2.

2

In calculating the member's qualifying service for a member who falls within regulation 4(1)(a) or (c), a period of part-time service under this scheme or existing police pension scheme counts as if it were a period of full-time service.

F13

In calculating the member’s qualifying service for a member who falls within regulation 4(1)(b) or (d), a continuous period of service under this scheme or an existing police pension scheme counts as if it were a period of full-time service in the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve.

4

None of the following is counted as qualifying service—

a

any pensionable service under this scheme in respect of which a person's rights under this scheme are extinguished M3;

b

any pensionable service under the existing police pension scheme in respect of which a person's rights under that scheme are extinguished;

c

any service transferred into the 1988 scheme after the member's closing date;

d

any unauthorised absence from eligible service.