PART LEARLY LEAVERS RETURNING TO PENSIONABLE EMPLOYMENT
Treatment of pensionable service of early leavers returning to pensionable employment
L1.—(1) This regulation applies to any member who leaves pensionable employment without becoming entitled to an immediate pension under regulation E1 to E5 (pensions for members) and later returns to pensionable employment before becoming entitled to receive a pension under the scheme.
(2) Subject to paragraph (5), if the member leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension and then returns to pensionable employment within 12 months after leaving, the member will cease to be entitled to the preserved pension under regulation E6 and the member’s pensionable service before and after the break will be treated as continuous.
(3) Where the member leaves NHS employment with a preserved pension and then returns to pensionable employment 12 months or more after leaving—
(a)the member’s pensionable service before and after the break 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 to treat the member’s pensionable service before and after the break and all other such breaks (if any) as continuous; in which case it will be treated as continuous; and
(b)where the member becomes entitled to receive a pension under regulation E2 (early retirement pension (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 is treated as continuous; but where the member’s pensionable service before and after the break is treated separately the increase as described in paragraph (4) to (6) of regulation E2 will be the proportion that the service is to the total pensionable service in the scheme calculated as—
and the said proportioned increase will be added to the pensionable service after the break.
(4) Subject to regulation L2, 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 will be treated as continuous.
(5) Where paragraph (4) applies and the member has received a refund of contributions in respect of pensionable service before the break, the member’s pensionable service before and after the break will be treated as continuous provided that the member returns within 12 months, and, 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 paid.
Calculation of benefits
L2.—(1) If the member’s pensionable service before and after the break is treated as continuous, the member’s pensionable employment before and after the break will be treated as continuous for the purpose of calculating the member’s final year’s pensionable pay under regulation A2 for any specified period of pensionable employment.
(2) 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 under regulation A2 in respect of each period.
Preserved pension to count as qualifying service
L3. If a member leaves pensionable employment with a preserved pension and, after returning, again leaves pensionable employment without becoming entitled to an immediate pension under regulation E1 to E5 (pensions for members), the member will be entitled to a preserved pension under regulation E6 in respect of the period after the break whether or not he has 2 years' qualifying service in respect of that period.
Continuation of additional contributions
L4. A member whose pensionable service before and after a break is treated as continuous and who, before the break, was paying for additional benefits by regular additional contributions under regulation Q5 (paying for additional service or unreduced retirement lump sum) must continue to pay for those additional benefits after the break.