The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995

[F1 Member’s right to transfer or buy-out E+W+S

M1.— (1) A member who leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension has the right to require the Secretary of State to transfer or buy-out the member’s rights under [F2 this Section of] the scheme as described in this regulation.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, the member may require the Secretary of State to use the cash equivalent of the member’s rights under [F2 this Section of] the scheme—

(a) to purchase one or more buy-out policies from one or more insurance companies chosen by the member; or

(b) to acquire rights under—

(i) another occupational pension scheme; or

(ii) a personal pension scheme,

that satisfies the requirements of Chapter IV of Part IV of the 1993 Act; or

(c) to acquire rights under an arrangement that is a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme for the purposes of section 169(2) of the 2004 Act; or

(d) in any combination of the ways described in sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

(3) The member must exercise the member’s right in relation to each and every portion of the cash equivalent unless paragraph (4) applies.

(4) The benefits attributable to—

(a) the member’s accrued rights to a guaranteed minimum pension; or

(b) the member’s accrued rights attributable to service in contracted-out employment on or after 6th April 1997,

may be excluded from the cash equivalent transfer value payment if section 96(2) of the 1993 Act applies (trustees or managers of certain receiving schemes or arrangements able and willing to accept a transfer payment only in respect of the member’s other rights).

(5) A member who requires the cash equivalent to be used to acquire rights under another pension scheme in accordance with paragraph (2) may exercise the right—

(a) at any time before reaching age 60; or

(b) at a later time if the member exercises the right to require a transfer on the transfer of the member’s employment to a new employer as a result of a transfer of an undertaking to that employer.

(6) A member may require the Secretary of State to use the cash equivalent of the member’s rights under [F2 this Section of] the scheme to purchase one or more buy-out policies or to acquire rights under a personal pension scheme only—

(a) if the member leaves pensionable employment on or after 1st January 1986; and

(b) if those rights are to be transferred to a personal pension scheme, in relation to any period of service of 2 years or more falling before 6th April 1988, only if a period of not less than one month has elapsed between the date the member left NHS employment and the date of commencement of any further NHS employment.

(7) If a member—

(a) leaves pensionable employment by opting-out; and

(b) on so doing becomes entitled to a preserved pension under regulation L; and

(c) has at least 2 years’ service before 6th April 1988,

the member’s right to require a transfer or buy-out will be limited to the cash equivalent of the part of the member’s rights that is attributable to service after 5th April 1988 and the member will acquire a right to the cash equivalent of the member’s remaining rights only if the member actually leaves NHS employment before reaching age 60.

(8) A member who leaves pensionable employment before reaching age 60, without becoming entitled to a pension under any of regulations E1 to E5 or a preserved pension under regulation L1 will be treated, for the purposes of regulations M1 to M5, as if the member left pensionable employment with a preserved pension, except that—

[F3 (za) a member may require the cash equivalent to be used to acquire rights in one or more of the ways permitted under section 101AE of the 1993 Act;]

(a) a member who requires the cash equivalent to be used to buy one or more buy-out policies must exercise the right to buy-out within 12 months after leaving pensionable employment; and

(b) a member who requires the cash equivalent to be used to acquire rights under another occupational pension scheme, a personal pension scheme or a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme must join that other scheme within 12 months after leaving pensionable employment and exercise the right to transfer within 12 months after joining that other scheme.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. M (regs. M1-M6) substituted for Pt. M (regs. M1-M7) (1.4.2008) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/654), regs. 1(2), 41

F2 Words in reg. M1 inserted (1.10.2009) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme, Injury Benefits and Additional Voluntary Contributions (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2446), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1

F3 Reg. M1(8)(za) inserted (1.4.2015) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme, Injury Benefits and Additional Voluntary Contributions (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/96), regs. 1(2), 11(2)