The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995

Early leavers returning to pensionable employment E+W+S

L4.—(1) This regulation applies to any member who leaves pensionable employment without becoming entitled to a pension under any of regulations E1 to E5 and later returns to pensionable employment before becoming entitled to receive a pension under the scheme.

(2) If the member leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension under regulation L1 and then returns to pensionable employment within 12 months after leaving, the member will cease to be entitled to the preserved pension under regulation L1 and the member’s pensionable service before and after the break in pensionable employment will be treated as continuous.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5), if the member leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension under regulation L1 and then returns to pensionable employment 12 months or more after leaving—

(a) the member’s pensionable service before and after the break in pensionable employment will be treated separately unless, when the member becomes entitled to receive a pension or the member dies (whichever occurs first), it would be more favourable to the member, or the member’s spouse, to treat the member’s pensionable service before and after the break, and all such other breaks (if any), as continuous; and

(b) if the member becomes entitled to receive a pension under regulation E2 (early retirement pension on grounds of ill–health), the pensionable service upon which that pension is based will be increased as described in paragraphs (4) to (6) of that regulation if the member’s pensionable service before and after the break in pensionable employment is treated as continuous, but there will be no increase to any of the member’s pensionable service if the member’s pensionable service before and after the break is treated separately.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), if the member leaves pensionable employment without becoming entitled to a preserved pension and then returns to pensionable employment within 12 months after leaving, the member’s pensionable service before and after the break in pensionable employment will be treated as continuous.

(5) Where paragraph (4) applies and the member has received a refund of contributions under regulation L2 in respect of pensionable service before the break in pensionable employment, the member’s pensionable service before and after the break will be treated as continuous only if, within 6 months after rejoining the scheme, the member pays to the Secretary of State an amount equal to the refund of contributions (including any interest added under regulation L3).

(6) If a member leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension and, after returning, again leaves pensionable employment without becoming entitled to a pension under any of regulations E1 to E5, the member will be entitled to a preserved pension under regulation L1 in respect of the period after the break in pensionable employment whether or not he has 2 years’ qualifying service in respect of that period.

(7) A member whose pensionable service before and after a break in pensionable employment is treated as continuous and who, before the break, was paying for additional benefits by regular additional contributions under regulation Q6 (paying for additional service or unreduced retirement lump sum by regular additional contributions) must continue to pay for those additional benefits after the break.

(8) If a member’s pensionable service before and after a break in pensionable employment is treated separately, the member’s benefits in respect of each period of pensionable employment will be calculated separately, by reference to the member’s pensionable service and final year’s pensionable pay in respect of that period.