SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 17Automatic transfer of pension benefits etc

Part 1Automatic transfer of pension benefits

Regulations providing for transfer of cash equivalent of transferable benefits

1(1)The Secretary of State must make regulations with a view to ensuring that, where a qualifying member of an automatic transfer scheme has transferable benefits under another pension scheme, the cash equivalent of the transferable benefits—

(a)is transferred to the automatic transfer scheme, and

(b)is used to provide rights for the member under it.

(2)In this Schedule “automatic transfer scheme” means—

(a)a work-based pension scheme, other than a scheme of a prescribed description, which is registered under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 and is a money purchase scheme, or

(b)a pension scheme of a prescribed description.

(3)In this Schedule “qualifying member”, in relation to an automatic transfer scheme, means an active member of the scheme of a prescribed description.

(4)For the purposes of this Schedule a person has transferable benefits under a pension scheme if—

(a)the scheme is a transferable benefits scheme,

(b)the person is a member of the scheme,

(c)contributions to the scheme by, or on behalf or in respect of, the member have ceased,

(d)the member has accrued rights to benefits under the applicable rules,

(e)all of those rights accrued on or after the prescribed date (which may be a date before the coming into force of this paragraph),

(f)the cash equivalent of those benefits is less than the prescribed amount (but not nil), and

(g)any other prescribed conditions are met.

(5)In this Schedule “transferable benefits scheme” means—

(a)a work-based pension scheme, other than a scheme of a prescribed description, which is registered under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 and is a money purchase scheme, or

(b)a pension scheme of a prescribed description.

(6)In sub-paragraph (4)

  • “the applicable rules”—

    (a)

    in relation to an occupational pension scheme, has the meaning given by section 94(2) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993;

    (b)

    in relation to a personal pension scheme, means the rules of the scheme;

  • “benefits” means—

    (a)

    money purchase benefits other than money purchase benefits of a prescribed description, or

    (b)

    benefits of a prescribed description.