The National Health Service Pension Scheme, Additional Voluntary Contributions and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Amendment of regulation 4

84.—(1) Regulation 4 (scale of benefits) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) for “Subject to paragraph (5), benefits” substitute “Benefits”;

(b) after “disease” insert “and who makes a claim in accordance with regulation 18A”.

(3) In paragraph (2)—

(a) after “ceases to be employed”, insert “before 31st March 2018”;

(b) after “paragraph (5)” insert “or (5A)”;

(c) for “reduced at that date”, substitute “permanently reduced at the date that person ceases that employment”.

(4) After paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A) This paragraph applies to a person to whom regulation 3(1) applies who—

(a) ceases employment on or after 31st March 2018 but before 31st March 2038 by reason of the injury or disease, and

(b) has not been paid, other than under paragraph (5) or (5A), any allowance or lump sum under these Regulations in consequence of that injury or disease.

(2B) Where paragraph (2A) applies the Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the evidence produced by the person is compelling, pay from the date of the person’s cessation of employment an annual allowance of the amount referred to in paragraph (2C).

(2C) That amount is an amount, if any, which when added to the value of any of the pensions and benefits specified in paragraph (6) will provide an income of the percentage of the person’s average remuneration shown in whichever column of the table in paragraph (2) is appropriate to that person’s service in relation to the degree by which that person’s earning ability is permanently reduced at the date that person ceases that employment: for these purposes the value of any such pensions and benefits is to be expressed as an annual amount.

(2D) Evidence is compelling if—

(a) it is reliable,

(b) its value for understanding and determining the person’s claim for benefit is substantial, and

(c) it is highly probative of that claim.”.

(5) For paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3) This paragraph applies to a person to whom regulation 3(1) applies who—

(a) ceases to be employed before 31st March 2018 other than by reason of the injury or disease,

(b) at the date of ceasing that employment has not attained normal benefit age,

(c) having ceased that employment, suffers a permanent reduction in earning ability by reason of that injury or disease, and

(d) has not been paid, other than under paragraph (5) or (5A), any allowance or lump sum under these Regulations in consequence of that injury or disease.

(3A) Where paragraph (3) applies the Secretary of State may pay from the date that the person attains normal benefit age or, as the Secretary of State may in any particular case allow, from the date that person suffers the reduction in earning ability referred to in paragraph (3)(c), an annual allowance of the amount referred to in paragraph (3B).

(3B) That amount is an amount, if any, which when added to the value of any of the pensions and benefits specified in paragraph (6) will provide an income of the percentage of the person’s average remuneration shown in whichever column of the table in paragraph (2) is appropriate to that person’s service in relation to the degree by which that person’s earning ability is permanently reduced at the date referred to in paragraph (3A): for these purposes the value of any such pensions and benefits is to be expressed as an annual amount.

(3C) This paragraph applies to a person to whom regulation 3(1) applies who—

(a) ceases employment on or after 31st March 2018 but before 31st March 2038 other than by reason of the injury or disease,

(b) at the date of ceasing employment has not attained normal benefit age,

(c) having ceased that employment, suffers a permanent reduction in earning ability by reason of that injury or disease, and

(d) has not been paid, other than under paragraph (5) or (5A), any allowance or lump sum under these Regulations in consequence of that injury or disease.

(3D) Where paragraph (3C) applies the Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the evidence produced by the person is compelling, pay from the date that the person attains normal benefit age or, as the Secretary of State may in any particular case allow, from the date that person suffers the reduction of earning ability referred to in paragraph (3C), an annual allowance of the amount referred to in paragraph (3E).

(3E) That amount is an amount, if any, which when added to the value of any of the pensions and benefits specified in paragraph (6) will provide an income of the percentage of the person’s average remuneration shown in whichever column of the table in paragraph (2) is appropriate to that person’s service in relation to the degree by which that person’s earning ability is permanently reduced at the date referred to in paragraph (3D): for these purposes the value of any such pensions and benefits is to be expressed as an annual amount.

(3F) Evidence is compelling if—

(a) it is reliable,

(b) its value for understanding and determining the person’s claim for benefit is substantial, and

(c) it is highly probative of that claim.”.

(6) In paragraph (4) after “in that regulation” insert “before 31st March 2018”.

(7) After paragraph (4), insert—

“(4A) This paragraph applies to a person to whom regulation 3(1) applies who suffers a permanent reduction in the emoluments of an employment mentioned in that regulation on or after 31st March 2018 but before 31st March 2038.

(4B) Where paragraph (4A) applies the Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the evidence produced by the person is compelling, pay from the date of that reduction an annual allowance of the amount referred to in, and calculated in accordance with, paragraph (4).

(4C) Evidence is compelling if—

(a) it is reliable,

(b) its value for understanding and determining the person’s claim for benefit is substantial, and

(c) it is highly probative of that claim.”.

(8) In paragraph (5), after “1991” insert “but before 31st March 2018”.

(9) In paragraph (5A), for “of his” substitute “of that person before 31 March 2013”.

(10) After paragraph (5A), insert—

“(5B) This paragraph applies to a person to whom regulation 3(1) applies who, on or after 31st March 2018 but before 31st March 2038, is or was on leave of absence with reduced emoluments by reason of the injury or disease.

(5C) Where paragraph (5B) applies the Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the evidence produced by the person is compelling, pay from the date of the reduction of the person’s emoluments, an annual allowance of the amount referred to in paragraph (5D): the annual allowance is without regard to any reduction in the person’s earning ability.

(5D) That amount is an amount, if any, which when added to the value of Amount A will provide an income of 85 per cent of the person’s average remuneration: for these purposes Amount A is to be expressed as an annual amount.

(5E) Amount A is the aggregate of–

(a) the emoluments payable to the person during that person’s leave of absence, and

(b) the value, expressed as an annual amount, of any of the pensions and benefits specified in paragraph (6) (including the value of any equivalent benefits payable under the enactments consolidated by the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992).

(5F) Evidence is compelling if—

(a) it is reliable,

(b) its value for understanding and determining the person’s claim for benefit is substantial, and

(c) it is highly probative of that claim.”.

(11) In paragraph (6) , after sub-paragraph (b)(vi) add—

“(vii) an injury allowance payable on or after 31st March 2013 in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the person’s employment.”.

(12) After paragraph (10), add—

“(11) In paragraph (6) of this regulation “injury allowance” means the allowance by that name referred to in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.”.