The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013

Forfeiture of pension rights after conviction for employment-related offences

91.—(1) If a member is convicted of a relevant offence, the former Scheme employer may apply to the Secretary of State who may issue a forfeiture certificate.

(2) A relevant offence is an offence committed in connection with an employment in which the person convicted is a member, and because of which the member left the employment.

(3) Where a former Scheme employer applies for a forfeiture certificate, it must at the same time send the convicted person and the appropriate administering authority a copy of the application.

(4) Where a forfeiture certificate is issued, the member’s former Scheme employer may direct that any of the member’s rights under these Regulations are forfeited.

(5) The former Scheme employer must serve a notice of its decision to make a direction on the member.

(6) A forfeiture certificate is a certificate that the offence—

(a) was gravely injurious to the State, or

(b) is liable to lead to a serious loss of confidence in the public service.

(7) If the former Scheme employer incurred loss as a direct consequence of the relevant offence, it may only give a direction under paragraph (4) if it is unable to recover its loss under regulation 93 (recovery or retention where former member has misconduct obligation) or otherwise, except after an unreasonable time or at disproportionate cost.

(8) A direction under paragraph (4) may only be given if an application for a forfeiture certificate has been made by the former Scheme employer before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the date of conviction.