Social Security Act 1973

Qualifying service

7 (1) " 5 years' qualifying service " means 5 years (whether a single period of that duration or two or more periods, continuous or discontinuous, totalling 5 years) in which the member was at all times employed either—

(a) in pensionable service under the scheme ; or

(b) in service in recognised pensionable employment by reference to the scheme ; or

(c) in linked qualifying service under another scheme,

no regard being had to whether or not it was the same description of service in the whole of the 5 years.

(2) A period of service previously terminated is not to count towards the 5 years' qualifying service unless it counts towards qualification for long service benefit, and need then count only to the same extent and in the same way.