J3.—(1) Any question whether a person is entitled to a benefit under these regulations is to be decided by the LGPS employer who last employed the person in respect of whose employment the question arises. *
(2) Where a person is or may become entitled to a benefit payable out of a pension fund, the administering authority maintaining that fund shall decide the amount of the benefit.
(3) In this regulation “benefit” includes a return of contributions and for the purposes of paragraph (2) (but not for paragraph (1) it includes a benefit specified in regulation F6(12) or (16) of the 1986 regulations.
(4) The decision under paragraph (1) shall be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the cessation of the employment or, as the case may be, the death of the employee and that under paragraph (2) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the occurrence of the event by virtue of which the entitlement arises or may arise.