P2.—(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of illness or injury.
(2) If the earnings used to calculate a member’s pensionable pay are reduced during a period of absence for illness or injury—
(a)for the purpose of calculating the member’s contributions to the scheme, pensionable pay for the period of absence will be calculated on the basis of the member’s reduced earnings; and
(b)for all other purposes, the member’s pensionable pay for the period of absence will be calculated as if no reduction were being made.
(3) Except for the purpose of regulation Q3(4) (in which event no account will be taken of the suspension), if a member’s earnings are suspended during a period of absence for illness or injury, the member will be treated as if he had left pensionable employment, except that the member will not be entitled to any benefits or refund of contributions until the member actually leaves pensionable employment.
(4) If, on account of illness or injury, a member leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (3), is treated as if he had left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, then if the member later returns to pensionable employment, regulation L1(4) (early leavers returning to pensionable employment) will apply as if the reference to “12 months” was a reference to “3 years”.
(5) The benefits payable on the death of a member whose earnings are suspended during a period of absence from work for illness or injury will be calculated as if the member had died in pensionable employment on the day before his earnings were suspended, unless the member has exercised the right to require a transfer or buy-out in accordance with regulation M1 (member’s right to require a transfer or buy-out).