The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Wales) Order 2007

Periodical contributions in respect of periods of unpaid service or unpaid absence

9.—(1) A firefighter member who—

(a) has elected to purchase additional service in respect of a period of unpaid service or unpaid leave which falls within the period in respect of which contributions are payable in accordance with rule 7(1), and

(b) complies with the requirements of paragraph (2),

is entitled to require the authority to treat that period of unpaid service or unpaid leave as a period of pensionable service.

(2) The requirements of this paragraph are that the firefighter member must, not later than one month after the end of the period of unpaid service or leave (as the case may be), require the authority to deduct from the firefighter member’s pay an amount equal to the aggregate of the contributions that would have been made in respect of that period if it had been a period of paid service.

(3) In paragraphs (1) and (2) “unpaid leave” (“seibiant di-dâl”) means adoption leave, additional adoption leave, additional maternity leave or ordinary maternity leave or other absence without pay (including absence while participating in a strike).

(4) Contributions payable under paragraph (2) may be paid—

(a) during the unpaid leave period; or

(b) within six months of returning to duty after the end of that period; or

(c) within such longer period as the authority may allow.