The Judicial Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
- “retirement benefits” means benefits payable under Part 6;
- “retirement pension” means any of the following—a full retirement pension;a partial retirement pension;an ill-health pension;
- “this scheme” means the scheme established by these Regulations;
- “scheme actuary” means the actuary appointed by the Department of Justice under regulation 144;
- “scheme closing date” means 31st March 2015;
- “scheme manager” has the meaning given in regulation 4;
- “scheme year” means a period of one year beginning with 1st April and ending with 31st March;
- “stakeholder pension scheme” means a scheme which is a stakeholder pension scheme for the purposes of Part 2 (stakeholder pension schemes) of the 1999 Order (see Article 3 of that Order);
- “standard earned pension” means pension which is earned under this scheme and which is payable without actuarial reduction at normal pension age;
- “statutory pay” means—statutory adoption pay within the meaning of section 167ZL(1) (entitlement) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 ;statutory maternity pay within the meaning of section 160(1) (statutory maternity pay - entitlement and liability to pay) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;ordinary statutory paternity pay within the meaning of section 167ZA(1) (entitlement: birth) or 167ZB(1) (entitlement: adoption) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 ; oradditional statutory paternity pay within the meaning of section 167ZEA(1) (entitlement to additional statutory paternity pay: birth) and 167ZEB(1) (entitlement to additional statutory paternity pay: adoption) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 :
- “surviving adult”, in relation to a deceased member of this scheme, has the meaning given in regulation 91;
- “surviving adult's pension” has the meaning given in regulation 93;
- “surviving civil partner” has the meaning given in regulation 91;
- “surviving nominated partner” has the meaning given in regulation 92;
- “surviving spouse” has the meaning given in regulation 91;
- “tax year” means a period of one year which is the period of assessment for income tax purposes;
- “total allocation amount”, in relation to an amount of retirement pension, means the total amount of that pension allocated under Chapter 6 of Part 6;
- “transfer value” has the meaning given in regulation 132;
- “transfer value payment” means payment of a transfer value;
- “transferred pension” means pension attributable to receipt of a transfer value payment;
- “transition member” has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2;
- “weekly rate”, in relation to a guaranteed minimum pension, has the same meaning as in regulation 55(2) (scheme rules about guaranteed minimum pensions) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ;
- “whole of the member's accrued pensions” means—all the member's accrued earned pension; andall the member's accrued added pension (if any).
3
A career average revalued earnings scheme is established as a defined benefits scheme for the payment of pensions and other benefits to or in respect of holders of judicial office.
4
- (1) The Department of Justice is the scheme manager for this scheme and any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it.
- (2) The scheme manager is responsible for managing and administering this scheme and any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it.
- (3) A statutory pension scheme that is a defined contributions scheme is not connected with this scheme.
- (4) Before exercising any discretion under these Regulations, the scheme manager must obtain a recommendation from the Judicial Pension Board.
- (5) If the scheme manager exercises any discretion under these Regulations contrary to a recommendation made by the Judicial Pension Board, it must provide written reasons for doing so to the Judicial Pension Board and to the member to whom the discretion relates (if any).
- (6) The scheme manager and the Judicial Pension Board may agree that paragraphs (4) and (5) do not apply to specific discretions or in specific circumstances.
5
- (1) The Department of Justice may delegate any functions under these Regulations, including this power.
- (2) The scheme manager may delegate any functions under these Regulations, including this power.
- (3) The Judicial Pension Board may delegate any functions under these Regulations.
6
- (1) A pension board (“the Judicial Pension Board”) is established.
- (2) The Judicial Pension Board is responsible for assisting the scheme manager—
- (a) to secure compliance with—
- (i) these Regulations;
- (ii) any other legislation relating to the governance and administration of this scheme and of any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it; and
- (iii) any requirements imposed by the Pensions Regulator in relation to this scheme or any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it; and
- (b) in the performance of the scheme manager's functions under these Regulations.
- (3) The Judicial Pension Board may determine its own procedures.
7
- (1) The Judicial Pension Board is to consist of a chair appointed by the scheme manager and at least 2 and no more than 16 persons appointed by the chair, who are to be entitled to vote in its proceedings (“voting members”).
- (2) Equal numbers of employer representatives and member representatives must be appointed under paragraph (1), including a departmental finance director who is to be treated as an employer representative.
- (3) The chair cannot be an employer representative or a member representative.
- (4) The appointment of member representatives must be approved by the Lord Chief Justice.
- (5) The appointment of employer representatives must be approved by the scheme manager.
- (6) The chair may, with the approval of the scheme manager, appoint up to 4 members of the Judicial Pension Board who are not to be entitled to vote in its proceedings (“non-voting members”).
- (7) A non-voting member cannot be an employer representative or a member representative.
- (8) A member of the Judicial Pension Board is to hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of that member's appointment.
- (9) In this regulation, “departmental finance director” means—
- (a) an accounting officer appointed by the Department of Finance and Personnel under section 9 (resource accounts: preparation) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 ; or
- (b) a civil servant who has responsibility for the financial management of a government department.
8
- (1) Before appointing, or approving the appointment of, any person under regulation 7, the scheme manager must be satisfied that that person does not have a conflict of interest.
- (2) The scheme manager must be satisfied from time to time that none of the members of the Judicial Pension Board has a conflict of interest.
- (3) If the scheme manager determines that a member of the Judicial Pension Board has a conflict of interest, the scheme manager must terminate the appointment of the member.
- (4) A member of the Judicial Pension Board, or a person proposed to be appointed as such a member, must provide the scheme manager with any information the scheme manager may reasonably require for the purpose of paragraph (1) or (2).
9
- (1) A scheme advisory board is established.
- (2) The scheme advisory board is responsible for providing advice to the Department of Justice, at the request of that Department, on the desirability of making changes to this scheme.
- (3) The scheme advisory board may determine its own procedures, subject to the approval of the Department of Justice.
10
- (1) The scheme advisory board is to consist of a chair appointed by the Department of Justice and at least 2 and no more than 16 persons appointed by the chair.
- (2) Equal numbers of employer representatives and member representatives must be appointed under paragraph (1).
- (3) The chair cannot be an employer representative or a member representative.
- (4) The appointment of member representatives must be approved by the Lord Chief Justice.
- (5) The appointment of employer representatives must be approved by the scheme manager.
- (6) A member of the scheme advisory board is to hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of that member's appointment.
11
- (1) Before appointing, or approving the appointment of, any person under regulation 10, the Department of Justice must be satisfied that that person does not have a conflict of interest.
- (2) The Department of Justice must be satisfied from time to time that none of the members of the scheme advisory board has a conflict of interest.
- (3) If the Department of Justice determines that a member of the scheme advisory board has a conflict of interest, the Department of Justice must terminate the appointment of the member.
- (4) A member of the scheme advisory board, or a person proposed to be appointed as such a member, must provide the Department of Justice with any information the Department of Justice may reasonably require for the purpose of paragraph (1) or (2).
12
The Department of Justice may—
- (a) pay fees to or in respect of members of the Judicial Pension Board and the scheme advisory board of such amounts as the Department of Justice may determine; and
- (b) reimburse members of the Judicial Pension Board and the scheme advisory board in respect of any reasonable expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties in relation to this scheme.
13
For the purpose of these Regulations, a person who is appointed to an office specified in an order made under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (holders of judicial office) to the Act is in qualifying judicial office.
14
- (1) For the purposes of this Part, an eligible person is a person who is eligible to be an active member of this scheme.
- (2) A person who begins service in a qualifying judicial office (P) becomes an eligible person in relation to that service unless paragraph (3) or (4) applies and subject to paragraphs (5) and (6).
- (3) This paragraph applies if the terms of P's office exclude them from being an active member of this scheme.
- (4) This paragraph applies if, in relation to service in that office—
- (a) P is a protected member of an existing scheme;
- (b) P has a partnership pension account; or
- (c) P is a member of any other pension scheme and P's employer pays contributions to that scheme in respect of P.
- (5) P is not eligible to be a member of this scheme if—
- (a) P is in a fee-paid office;
- (b) P was in a fee-paid office on 31st March 2012;
- (c) P was aged 55 years or over on 1st April 2012; and
- (d) P does not exercise the option to begin pensionable service under this scheme on 1st April 2015 in the form and by the date determined by the scheme manager.
- (6) P is not eligible to be a member of this scheme until a date during the period beginning with 31st May 2015 and ending with 31st January 2022 as determined by the scheme manager by reference to a table published for the purposes of paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 if—
- (a) P is in a fee-paid office;
- (b) P was in a fee-paid office on 31st March 2012;
- (c) P was aged between 51 years and 6 months and 55 years on 1st April 2012; and
- (d) P does not exercise the option to begin pensionable service under this scheme on 1st April 2015 in the form and by the date determined by the scheme manager.
15
If a person is in service in 2 or more qualifying judicial offices, regulation 14 applies separately in relation to each office.
16
- (1) This Chapter applies in relation to a continuous period of service in a qualifying judicial office.
- (2) If a person is in service in 2 or more qualifying judicial offices, this Chapter applies separately in relation to each of the offices.
17
- (1) A person (P) begins pensionable service under this scheme in relation to a qualifying judicial office on the first day on which P becomes an eligible person in relation to service in that office unless—
- (a) regulation 21 applies; or
- (b) P is a transition member with continuity of service and paragraph (2) applies.
- (2) This paragraph applies if—
- (a) the first day on which P becomes an eligible person in relation to service in a qualifying judicial office is the day after P's transition date; and
- (b) on P's transition date—
- (i) P was in service in the same office; and
- (ii) P has opted out of a relevant scheme in relation to that service.
18
- (1) A person who, in relation to a qualifying judicial office, is an eligible person but is not in pensionable service under this scheme may opt to become an active member of this scheme in relation to service in that office.
- (2) A person who has a partnership pension account in relation to service in a qualifying judicial office may opt into this scheme in relation to service in that office (see regulation 19 for when opt-in takes effect).
- (3) The option under this regulation may only be exercised by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager (“opt-in notice”).
- (4) A person who exercises the option under this regulation in relation to service in a qualifying judicial office is taken to exercise that option on the date on which the opt-in notice is received by the scheme manager.
- (5) If P opts out of this scheme within 12 months after opting in, P may not opt in again until after the end of that period of 12 months.
19
- (1) If P opts into this scheme in relation to service in a qualifying judicial office for which P has a partnership pension account—
- (a) P becomes an active member of this scheme in relation to that service on the first date that is 1st April or 1st October—
- (i) after the period of 3 months beginning with the date on which the option is exercised; or
- (ii) after any shorter period the scheme manager considers appropriate; and
- (b) immediately before that date, P's partnership pension account is closed.
- (2) If P opts into this scheme in relation to service for which P does not have a partnership pension account, P becomes an active member of this scheme in relation to that service—
- (a) at the beginning of the first pay period beginning on or after the date on which the option is exercised; or
- (b) if the scheme manager considers that pay period inappropriate, at any other time the scheme manager considers appropriate.
20
- (1) A person (P) opts out of this scheme in relation to service in a qualifying judicial office if—
- (a) P opts not to be an active member of this scheme in relation to that service; or
- (b) P opens a partnership pension account in relation to that service.
- (2) P may only exercise the option under paragraph (1)(a) by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager (“opt-out notice”).
- (3) The option is taken to be exercised on the date on which the opt-out notice is received by the scheme manager.
21
- (1) This regulation applies if a person (P) opts out of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of service in a qualifying judicial office before the end of one month after P's first day of a continuous period of service in that office (or within any longer period the scheme manager considers appropriate).
- (2) If this regulation applies, P is taken never to have been in pensionable service under this scheme in relation to the continuous period of service in that office.
- (3) This regulation does not require the scheme manager to pay P any additional amount which becomes payable by P in respect of national insurance contributions because P has not after all been an active member of this scheme during any period.
22
- (1) This regulation applies if a person (P) opts out of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of service in a qualifying judicial office not less than one month after P's first day of a continuous period of service in that office.
- (2) If P opts out of this scheme by opt-out notice, P ceases to be in pensionable service under this scheme in relation to that office—
- (a) on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after the date on which the option is exercised; or
- (b) if the scheme manager considers that day inappropriate, on the first day of any later pay period the scheme manager considers appropriate.
- (3) If P opens a partnership pension account, P ceases to be in pensionable service under this scheme in relation to that office on the first date that is 31st March or 30th September—
- (a) after the period of one month beginning with the date on which that account is opened; or
- (b) after any shorter period the scheme manager considers appropriate.
23
For the purpose of calculating a member's pension or other benefits under this scheme, the member's pensionable earnings for any period are the sum of—
- (a) the member's earnings for service in a qualifying judicial office for that period; and
- (b) any allowance granted on a permanent basis that the scheme manager determines to be pensionable earnings for that period.
24
- (1) For the purpose of these Regulations, an active member of this scheme (P) receives assumed pay in respect of any period in which any of the circumstances in paragraph (3) apply (“period of assumed pay”).
- (2) For the purpose of paragraph (1), “assumed pay” means the sum of an amount equal to the pensionable earnings that P would have received in that period if those circumstances had not applied.
- (3) The circumstances are—
- (a) P is on sick leave on reduced pay;
- (b) P is on adoption leave, maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave or additional paternity leave;
- (c) P is receiving statutory pay; or
- (d) P is on secondment to a different employer under an arrangement providing for P to continue to be an active member of this scheme in relation to P's service although P is paid for by that employer;
- (4) For the purpose of paragraph (3)(a), a period of sick leave on reduced pay does not include a period of leave in respect of which P is paid at a rate determined by P's employer to be appropriate because it is equivalent to the annual rate of an ill-health pension.
25
A person (P) becomes a deferred member of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme if—
- (a) P ceases to be an active member of this scheme in relation to that period of service;
- (b) P does not become a pensioner member of this scheme in relation to that period of service; and
- (c) where P is not over normal pension age—
- (i) P has at least 2 years' qualifying service, or
- (ii) a transfer value payment otherwise than from another occupational pension scheme has been received by this scheme in relation to P.
26
For the purpose of these Regulations, the descriptions of accrued pension are—
- (a) accrued earned pension;
- (b) accrued standard earned pension;
- (c) accrued earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option;
- (d) accrued added pension;
- (e) accrued added (all beneficiaries) pension; and
- (f) accrued added (self only) pension.
27
For the purpose of these Regulations, the descriptions of full retirement pension are—
- (a) full retirement standard earned pension;
- (b) full retirement earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option;
- (c) full retirement added (self only) pension; and
- (d) full retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension.
28
For the purpose of these Regulations, the descriptions of partial retirement pension are—
- (a) partial retirement standard earned pension;
- (b) partial retirement earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option;
- (c) partial retirement added (self only) pension; and
- (d) partial retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension.
29
- (1) The retirement index adjustment for an amount of accrued pension is—
$$amount of accrued pension Χ retirement index percentage$where—“amount of accrued pension” means an amount of any description of accrued pension; and“retirement index percentage” means the retirement index percentage calculated under paragraph (2) for that description of accrued pension.$
- (2) The retirement index percentage is—
$$A × B 12$where—Ameans the in-service revaluation index that applies in relation to this scheme for the leaving year;B is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning of the leaving year and the end of the relevant last day; and“complete month” includes an incomplete month that consists of at least 16 days.$
30
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to every scheme year in which an active member's account is open that is subsequent to the scheme year in which the member reaches normal pension age under this scheme, other than—
- (a) the scheme year in which the account is established under this Part; and
- (b) the scheme year immediately following that.
- (2) If the member has exercised an effective pension age option then, for the years for which that option has effect, this regulation applies in relation to every scheme year in which an active member's account is open that is subsequent to the scheme year in which the member reaches the member's effective pension age, other than—
- (a) the scheme year in which the account is established under this Part; and
- (b) the scheme year immediately following that.
- (3) At the beginning of the scheme year, for each description of pension, the scheme manager having regard to actuarial guidance must determine the age addition to be awarded for that scheme year by reference to the opening balance of that description of pension for the previous scheme year.
- (4) In these Regulations, “the age addition” means an additional amount of pension determined by reference to the proportion of the previous scheme year in which a member had reached—
- (a) normal pension age under this scheme; or
- (b) where applicable, the member's effective pension age.
31
- (1) This regulation applies when a deferred member's account, full retirement account or partial retirement account is established under this Part for a member who reaches normal pension age under this scheme at least one month before the relevant last day.
- (2) For each description of accrued pension specified in the account, the scheme manager having regard to actuarial guidance must determine the assumed age addition to be awarded.
- (3) In these Regulations “the assumed age addition” means—
- (a) for an amount of accrued standard earned pension not attributable to a transferred pension, the age addition that would have been awarded for standard earned pension had the member not left pensionable service or not partially retired in the leaving year, determined by reference to the proportion of the leaving year for which the member was an active member of this scheme who had reached normal pension age under this scheme;
- (b) for an amount of accrued standard earned pension attributable to a transferred pension, the age addition that would have been awarded for transferred pension had the member not left pensionable service or not partially retired in the leaving year, determined by reference to the proportion of the leaving year for which the member was an active member of this scheme who had reached normal pension age under this scheme;
- (c) for an amount of accrued earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option, the age addition that would have been awarded for earned pension attributable to that option had the member not left pensionable service or not partially retired in the leaving year, determined by reference to the proportion of the leaving year for which the member was an active member of this scheme who had reached the effective normal pension age stated in that option;
- (d) for an amount of any description of accrued added pension, the age addition that would have been awarded for added pension of that description had the member not left pensionable service or not partially retired in the leaving year, determined by reference to the proportion of the leaving year for which the member was an active member of this scheme who had reached normal pension age under this scheme.
32
- (1) For the purpose of calculating the amount of a description of full retirement pension or the provisional amount of each description of deferred pension, the amount of accrued pension is an amount calculated in accordance with this regulation.
- (2) The amount of accrued standard earned pension is the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the last day of pensionable service—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of standard earned pension for the last active scheme year and the index adjustment for that opening balance;
- (b) the amount of standard earned pension for the last active scheme year;
- (c) the sum of the opening balance of transferred pension for the last active scheme year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (d) the amount of transferred pension for the last active scheme year.
- (3) The amount of accrued earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option is the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the last day of pensionable service—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of earned pension attributable to that option for the last active scheme year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (b) the amount of earned pension attributable to that option for the last active scheme year.
- (4) The amount of any description of accrued added pension is the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the last day of pensionable service—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of added pension of that description for the last active scheme year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (b) the amount of accrued added pension of that description for the last active scheme year.
33
- (1) For the purpose of calculating the amount of a description of partial retirement pension, the amount of accrued pension is an amount calculated in accordance with this regulation.
- (2) The amount of accrued standard earned pension is the option proportion of the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the relevant last day—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of standard earned pension for the leaving year and the index adjustment for that opening balance;
- (b) the amount of standard earned pension for the leaving year;
- (c) the sum of the opening balance of transferred pension for the leaving year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (d) the amount of transferred pension for the leaving year.
- (3) The amount of accrued earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option is the option proportion of the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the relevant last day—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of earned pension attributable to that option for the leaving year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (b) the amount of earned pension attributable to that option for the leaving year.
- (4) The amount of any description of accrued added pension is the option proportion of the total of the following amounts specified in the active member's account as at the end of the relevant last day—
- (a) the sum of the opening balance of added pension of that description for the leaving year and the index adjustment for that opening balance; and
- (b) the amount of added pension of that description for the leaving year.
34
- (1) The scheme manager must establish and maintain one or more pension accounts for each member of this scheme in accordance with this Part.
- (2) A pension account—
- (a) may be kept in any form the scheme manager considers appropriate; and
- (b) must specify the details required by these Regulations.
- (3) References in these Regulations to any amount specified in a pension account are references to the amount that is required by these Regulations to be so specified and not, if different, the amount actually so specified.
35
- (1) Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, the scheme manager must close all pension accounts relating to a member of this scheme if—
- (a) a transfer value payment is made in respect of the member's accrued rights under this scheme; or
- (b) all members' contributions and payments for extra pension made by the member are refunded to the member under Part 9.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not require the scheme manager to close an account that includes amounts to which the transfer value payment does not relate or is not attributable.
- (3) An account that is not closed because of paragraph (2) must be adjusted as the scheme manager considers appropriate to reflect the extinguishment of rights under this scheme.
- (4) Paragraph (1)(a) does not require the scheme manager to close a pension credit member's account if the transfer value payment is made in respect of the accrued rights of a member who is both—
- (a) a pension credit member of this scheme; and
- (b) an active member, deferred member or pensioner member of this scheme.
36
- (1) This Chapter applies in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme.
- (2) For a person who is an active member of this scheme in relation to 2 or more continuous periods of pensionable service at the same time, this Chapter applies separately in relation to each of those periods of service.
37
- (1) The scheme manager must establish a pension account for a member who is in pensionable service from the day on which the member begins pensionable service.
- (2) For the purpose of these Regulations, an account established under paragraph (1) is called an active member's account.
38
- (1) This regulation applies if a transfer value payment is received from another pension scheme (other than a connected scheme) in relation to an active member of this scheme.
- (2) On receiving the transfer value payment, the scheme manager must credit the active member's account with the amount of transferred pension calculated under regulation 143 (amount of transferred pension).
39
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to every scheme year in which an active member's account is open.
- (2) The active member's account must specify, in relation to each description of pension, the amount of that description of pension for the scheme year.
- (3) The amount of earned pension for a scheme year is 2.32% of the member's pensionable earnings for that year.
- (4) The amount of transferred pension for a scheme year is the amount (if any) which the member is entitled to count under regulation 143 for that year.
- (5) The amount of added pension of any description for a scheme year is the amount (if any) credited to the active member's account in that scheme year under paragraph 13 or 14 of Schedule 1.
- (6) In this regulation, “earned pension” means—
- (a) standard earned pension (if any); and
- (b) earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option (if any).
40
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to every scheme year in which an active member's account is open other than the scheme year in which that account is established.
- (2) The active member's account must specify for each description of pension—
- (a) the opening balance for the scheme year and the index adjustment for the opening balance; and
- (b) if applicable, the age addition awarded at the beginning of the scheme year.
- (3) In these Regulations, “opening balance” in relation to a description of pension—
- (a) for the scheme year immediately following the scheme year in which the active member's account is established, means the amount of that pension for the previous scheme year as at the end of the previous scheme year; and
- (b) for any subsequent scheme year, means the sum of the following amounts—
- (i) the opening balance of that pension for the previous scheme year and the index adjustment for that opening balance;
- (ii) the amount of that pension for the previous scheme year as at the end of the previous scheme year; and
- (iii) if applicable, the age addition awarded at the beginning of the previous scheme year.
41
- (1) The scheme manager must close an active member's account in relation to a period of service when the scheme manager establishes in relation to that period of service—
- (a) a deferred member's account under regulation 43; or
- (b) a full retirement account under regulation 47.
- (2) The scheme manager must re-establish as active member’s account under this Chapter when the scheme manager closes a deferred member’s account under regulation 46.
42
- (1) This Chapter applies in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme.
- (2) For a person who is a deferred member of this scheme in relation to 2 or more continuous periods of pensionable service, this Chapter applies separately in relation to each of those periods of service.
43
- (1) This regulation applies when an active member of this scheme becomes a deferred member of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service.
- (2) The scheme manager must—
- (a) close the active member's account for that period of service; and
- (b) establish a pension account for the deferred member for that period of service.
- (3) For the purpose of these Regulations, an account established under paragraph (2)(b) is called a deferred member's account.
44
- (1) The deferred member's account must specify the provisional amount of each description of deferred pension.
- (2) The provisional amount of each description of deferred pension is the sum of—
- (a) the amount of the relevant accrued pension calculated under regulation 32 (“accrued amount”);
- (b) the retirement index adjustment for the accrued amount; and
- (c) the assumed age addition (if any) for the accrued amount.
- (3) The retirement index adjustment is not applied in relation to an amount of accrued pension if a transfer value payment was made before the end of the last active scheme year in respect of the member's rights to that accrued pension.
- (4) In this regulation, “relevant accrued pension” means—
- (a) for a deferred standard earned pension, accrued standard earned pension;
- (b) for a deferred earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option, accrued earned pension attributable to that option;
- (c) for a deferred added (self only) pension, accrued added (self only) pension; and
- (d) for a deferred added (all beneficiaries) pension, accrued added (all beneficiaries) pension.
45
- (1) This regulation applies when a deferred member of this scheme in relation to a period of service becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension for that period of service.
- (2) For the provisional amount of each description of deferred pension, the deferred member's account must specify—
- (a) the late payment supplement (if any);
- (b) the early payment reduction (if any);
- (c) the commutation amount (if any); and
- (d) the total allocation amount (if any).
46
- (1) This regulation applies when a deferred member of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service re-enters pensionable service under this scheme after a gap in pensionable service not exceeding 5 years.
- (2) The scheme manager must—
- (a) close the deferred member's account in relation to that period of service and treat the deferred member's account as if it were never established;
- (b) re-establish the active member's account under Chapter 5 in relation to that period of service; and
- (c) make entries in the active member's account as if, during the gap in pensionable service, the member—
- (i) was in pensionable service under this scheme; but
- (ii) received no pensionable earnings.
47
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme.
- (2) When an active member of this scheme becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement earned pension or an ill-health pension in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme, the scheme manager must—
- (a) close the active member's account for that continuous period of pensionable service; and
- (b) establish an account for the pensioner member for that period of service.
- (3) When an active member of this scheme exercises the partial retirement option in respect of the whole of the member's accrued pensions and becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension, the scheme manager must—
- (a) close the active member's account for the period of earlier service;
- (b) establish an account for the pensioner member for that period of earlier service; and
- (c) establish a new active member's account under Chapter 5 for the member's continuing service as if the first day of pensionable service is the day after the option date.
- (4) For the purpose of these Regulations, an account established for a member under paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b) is called a full retirement account.
- (5) In this regulation—
- “continuing service” means pensionable service that continues in accordance with regulation 60(2) from the option date;
- “option date” means the date on which the partial retirement option is exercised and the member becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension; and
- “period of earlier service” means the continuous period of pensionable service ending on the option date.
48
- (1) The full retirement account must specify the amount of each description of full retirement pension.
- (2) The amount of each description of full retirement pension is the sum of—
- (a) the amount of the relevant accrued pension calculated under regulation 32 (“accrued amount”);
- (b) the retirement index adjustment for the accrued amount; and
- (c) the assumed age addition (if any) for the accrued amount.
- (3) For each amount of a description of full retirement pension, the full retirement account must specify—
- (a) the early payment reduction (if any);
- (b) the commutation amount (if any); and
- (c) the total allocation amount (if any).
- (4) In this regulation, “relevant accrued pension” means—
- (a) for a full retirement standard earned pension, accrued standard earned pension;
- (b) for a full retirement earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option, accrued earned pension attributable to that option;
- (c) for a full retirement added (self only) pension, accrued added (self only) pension; and
- (d) for a full retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension, accrued added (all beneficiaries) pension.
49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
- (1) This regulation applies if an active member of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service—
- (a) exercises the partial retirement option in respect of part only of the member's accrued pensions for that period of service; and
- (b) becomes entitled under regulation 63(a) to the immediate payment of a partial retirement pension for that period of service.
- (2) The scheme manager must—
- (a) establish a pensioner member's account (“the partial retirement account”) for that period of service; and
- (b) adjust the active member's account in accordance with paragraph (3).
- (3) The amount of each description of accrued pension for which a partial retirement option notice specifies an option proportion is reduced by that option proportion.
- (4) After that adjustment, Chapter 5 applies in relation to the member as if the amount of each description of accrued pension for which a partial retirement option notice specifies an option proportion had always been reduced by that option proportion.
- (5) In this regulation, “partial retirement option notice” means an option notice under regulation 61.
51
- (1) The partial retirement account must specify the amount of each description of partial retirement pension.
- (2) The amount of each description of partial retirement pension is the sum of—
- (a) the amount of the relevant accrued pension calculated under regulation 32 (“accrued amount”);
- (b) the retirement index adjustment for the accrued amount; and
- (c) the assumed age addition (if any) for the accrued amount.
- (3) For each amount of a description of partial retirement pension, the partial retirement account must specify—
- (a) the early payment reduction (if any);
- (b) the commutation amount (if any); and
- (c) the total allocation amount (if any).
- (4) In this regulation, “relevant accrued pension” means—
- (a) for a partial retirement standard earned pension, accrued standard earned pension;
- (b) for a partial retirement earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option, accrued earned pension attributable to that option;
- (c) for a partial retirement added (self only) pension, accrued added (self only) pension; and
- (d) for a partial retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension, accrued added (all beneficiaries) pension.
52
- (1) The scheme manager must establish a pension account for each pension credit member of this scheme (“the pension credit member's account”).
- (2) If a pension credit is derived from 2 or more pension debit members, the scheme manager must establish a pension credit member's account in relation to each pension debit member.
- (3) The pension credit member's account must specify the amount of credited pension, and for that amount—
- (a) the early payment reduction (if any); and
- (b) the commutation amount (if any).
- (4) On the establishment of the pension credit member's account, the accounts established under this Part for the pension debit member must be reduced by the relevant amount.
- (5) In this regulation—
53
If a pension credit member of this scheme is also an active member, deferred member or pensioner member of this scheme, the scheme manager must establish a pension credit member's account in addition to any other account established for the member under this Part.
54
This Part applies in relation to retirement benefits payable in respect of a continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme.
55
- (1) In these Regulations, “qualifying service” means the total of—
- (a) any continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme;
- (b) if a transfer value payment has been received by this scheme in respect of a member's accrued rights under another occupational pension scheme, the member's pensionable service under that scheme; and
- (c) for a transition member with continuity of service, the member's pensionable service under a relevant scheme before the transition date for that member.
- (2) None of the following counts as qualifying service—
- (a) any pensionable service under this scheme in respect of which a person's rights under this scheme are extinguished;
- (b) any pensionable service under a relevant scheme in respect of which a person's rights under that scheme are extinguished;
- (c) any unauthorised absence from qualifying judicial office.
- (3) In this regulation a reference to “pensionable service” in relation to the Fee-Paid Judges Scheme is a reference to qualifying judicial service.
56
- (1) A member of this scheme (P) is entitled to the immediate payment for life of a full retirement earned pension if—
- (a) P has reached normal minimum pension age;
- (b) P has ceased to be in qualifying judicial office ; and
- (c) P has claimed payment of a full retirement pension.
- (2) But if P has not reached normal pension age under this scheme, P is not so entitled unless—
- (a) P has at least 2 years' qualifying service; or
- (b) a transfer value payment otherwise than from another occupational pension scheme has been received by this scheme in relation to P.
- (3) On becoming entitled to the immediate payment for life of a full retirement earned pension, P is entitled to the immediate payment for life of a full retirement added pension of any description as follows—
- (a) for an active member who becomes a pensioner member, if the full retirement account so specifies, an amount of full retirement added pension of that description;
- (b) for a deferred member who becomes a pensioner member, if the deferred member's account so specifies, a provisional amount of the relevant deferred added pension.
- (4) The claim for payment of a full retirement pension may only be made by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager.
- (5) A claim for a full retirement pension to be paid before P reaches normal pension age under this scheme must state if any of the following applies—
- (a) P has opted to buy out the early payment reduction;
- (b) P has exercised an effective pension age option.
- (6) In this regulation, “relevant deferred added pension” means—
- (a) for a full retirement added (self only) pension, a deferred added (self only) pension;
- (b) for a full retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension, a deferred added (all beneficiaries) pension.
- (7) Where P resumes service in qualifying judicial office, this will not affect any entitlement under this regulation.
57
- (1) This regulation applies when an active member of this scheme becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension.
- (2) The annual rate of any description of a full retirement pension payable to the member is calculated by—
- (a) taking the amount of that description of full retirement pension specified in the full retirement account;
- (b) subtracting the early payment reduction (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount;
- (c) subtracting the commutation amount (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount; and
- (d) subtracting the total allocation amount (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount.
- (3) The annual rate of any description of full retirement pension is calculated without subtracting the early payment reduction if the member buys out the early payment reduction in relation to that description of full retirement pension.
58
- (1) This regulation applies when a deferred member of this scheme becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension.
- (2) The annual rate of any description of full retirement pension payable to the member is calculated by—
- (a) taking the provisional amount of the relevant description of deferred pension specified in the deferred member's account;
- (b) adding the late payment supplement (if any) specified in that account in relation to that provisional amount;
- (c) subtracting the early payment reduction (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount;
- (d) subtracting the commutation amount (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount; and
- (e) subtracting the total allocation amount (if any) specified in that account in relation to that amount.
- (3) The annual rate of any description of full retirement pension is calculated without subtracting the early payment reduction if the member buys out the early payment reduction in relation to that description of full retirement pension.
- (4) In this regulation, “the relevant description of deferred pension” means—
- (a) for a full retirement standard earned pension, deferred standard earned pension;
- (b) for a full retirement earned pension attributable to an effective pension age option, deferred earned pension attributable to that option;
- (c) for a full retirement added (self only) pension, deferred added (self only) pension; and
- (d) for a full retirement added (all beneficiaries) pension, deferred added (all beneficiaries) pension.
59
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60
- (1) This regulation applies if—
- (a) a person (P) is an active member of this scheme in relation to a continuous period of pensionable service;
- (b) P has reached normal minimum pension age;
- (c) the terms of P's appointment have changed and as a result of that change the amount of P's pensionable earnings is reduced to 80% of their amount before the change or less; and
- (d) P would be entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension in relation to that period of service if P left pensionable service and claimed payment of the pension.
- (2) P may opt to continue in pensionable service but claim payment of the whole or part only of P's accrued pensions in respect of a particular office for the continuous period of pensionable service before P's pensionable earnings were reduced (“partial retirement option”).
- (3) P may not exercise a partial retirement option more than once in relation to a description of accrued pension.
- (4) Where P holds more than one judicial office—
- (a) P may exercise a partial retirement option separately in relation to each office held; and
- (b) P may only access the pension accrued in relation to the particular office or offices in respect of which P is exercising the partial retirement option.
- (5) For the purposes of calculating P’s annual pensionable earnings in relation to paragraph (1)(c) where P is a fee-paid office holder, the amount of pensionable earnings that P receives in respect of a particular office is calculated as follows—
- Z per annum, where:$Z=JK$where—
- J means the total fee-paid income in respect of that office over the preceding three years, or, if less than three years, over the period since P was first appointed to that office;
- K means the lesser of—3; orthe period in years (and a fraction of a year, determined by complete months) from the first sitting day in that particular office until the date of partial retirement;
- “complete month” includes an incomplete month that consists of at least 16 days; and
- Z means the annualised total of fees from that particular office.
61
- (1) A partial retirement option may only be exercised—
- (a) by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager (“option notice”); and
- (b) in the 3 months after P's pensionable earnings are reduced, on a date agreed by the member and the scheme manager.
- (2) An option notice must specify—
- (a) whether P claims payment of—
- (i) the whole of P's accrued pensions to which the office relates ; or
- (ii) part only of P's accrued pensions to which the office relates ; and
- (b) if P claims payment of part only—
- (i) the descriptions of accrued pension for which payment is claimed; and
- (ii) the proportion of each description of accrued pension for which payment is claimed (“option proportion”), which must comply with regulation 62, and
- (c) if P holds more than one office, the office or offices in respect of which P is exercising the partial retirement option.
62
- (1) A partial retirement option which relates to a description of accrued added pension must relate to all of the descriptions of P's accrued added pension.
- (2) If P claims payment of accrued standard earned pension, P must also claim payment of any of P's accrued added pension.
- (3) If P claims payment of P's accrued added pension, P must also claim payment of any accrued standard earned pension.
- (4) If P claims payment of part only of P's accrued pensions, the following are the option proportions of each description of accrued pension which can be claimed—
- (a) 100% of each of the descriptions of P's accrued pension for which payment is claimed;
- (b) an option proportion lower than 100% for one description of accrued pension claimed and 100% for each of the other descriptions of P's accrued pension claimed.
- (5) For the purposes of (4)(b), any accrued standard earned pension and accrued added pension claimed is treated together as if it were one description of accrued pension.
63
An active member of this scheme (P) who exercises the partial retirement option is entitled to the immediate payment for life of—
- (a) if P claims payment of part only of P's accrued pensions, a partial retirement pension calculated in accordance with regulation 51; or
- (b) if P claims payment of the whole of P's accrued pensions, a full retirement pension calculated in accordance with regulation 48.
64
- (1) This regulation applies if an active member of this scheme (P) exercises the partial retirement option in respect of part only of P's accrued pensions in the office from which P is taking partial retirement. .
- (2) The annual rate of each description of partial retirement pension is calculated under regulation 57 by reference to the amount of each description of full retirement pension specified in the full retirement account.
- (3) Regulation 57 applies as if—
- (a) the reference to a full retirement pension were a reference to a partial retirement pension; and
- (b) the reference to the full retirement account were a reference to the partial retirement account.
65
- (1) This regulation applies if an active member of this scheme (P) exercises the partial retirement option in respect of the whole of P's accrued pensions in the office from which P is taking partial retirement. .
- (2) The annual rate of each description of full retirement pension is calculated under regulation 57 by reference to the amount of that description of full retirement pension specified in the full retirement account.
- (3) Regulation 57 applies as if the last day of pensionable service were the day before the day on which the member exercised the partial retirement option.
66
For the purposes of this Chapter, a member's breakdown in health is “permanent” if it is likely to continue until the member reaches prospective normal pension age.
67
For the purposes of this Chapter, a member's permanent breakdown in health involves “incapacity for employment” if, as a result of the breakdown, the member is incapable of discharging the duties of their qualifying judicial office.
68
- (1) An active member of this scheme who has not reached normal pension age under this scheme is entitled to immediate payment of an ill-health pension under this scheme, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, if the following conditions are met—
- (a) a member has claimed payment of an ill-health pension;
- (b) a medical certificate states that the member has suffered a permanent breakdown in health involving incapacity for employment; and
- (c) either—
- (i) the member has at least 2 years qualifying service, or
- (ii) where the member has less than 2 years qualifying service, the scheme manager determines that the member is entitled to an ill-health pension.
- (2) A member who is entitled to immediate payment of an ill-health pension is entitled to a full retirement added pension of any description if the full retirement account specifies an amount of full retirement added pension of that description.
- (3) The annual rate of an ill-health pension and any added pension payable under this regulation is calculated in accordance with regulation 69.
69
- (1) The annual rate of an ill-health pension is the sum of—
- (a) the annual rate of full retirement earned pension, calculated in the same way as for an active member under regulation 57, but without subtracting the early payment reduction; and
- (b) an ill-health enhancement.
- (2) The annual rate of a full retirement added pension of any description payable with an ill-health pension is calculated in the same way as for an active member under regulation 57, but without subtracting the early payment reduction.
- (3) In this regulation—
- “an ill-health enhancement” means half the annual rate of a full retirement earned pension calculated in respect of a member's assumed period of pensionable service and based on the member's pensionable earnings as at the date their pensionable service ceases;
- “the member's assumed period of pensionable service” means the period (expressed in years)—beginning with the day after the member's continuous period of pensionable service ceased; andending with—for a member appointed for a fixed term, the day with which that term ends; orfor all other appointments, the day before the day on which the member will reach prospective normal pension age (assuming that the member lives until that age).
70
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to a member of this scheme—
- (a) who is entitled to payment of an ill-health pension; and
- (b) whose active member's account as at the end of the last day of pensionable service specifies an amount of accrued earned pension attributable in whole or in part to a transfer value payment received by this scheme in relation to the member in the 24 months before that last day.
- (2) If the scheme manager so directs, the member becomes a deferred member of this scheme in respect of that amount of accrued earned pension and accordingly—
- (a) a deferred member's account must be established under Part 5;
- (b) that amount of accrued earned pension must be specified in the deferred member's account as the provisional amount of deferred earned pension; and
- (c) that amount of accrued earned pension is not included in the calculation of the annual rate of full retirement earned pension.
71
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to a member of this scheme—
- (a) who is entitled to payment of an ill-health pension; and
- (b) whose active member's account as at the end of the last day of pensionable service specifies an amount of accrued added pension that is attributable in whole or in part to a lump sum payment for added pension made under Schedule 1 within the 12 months before the relevant day.
- (2) The member becomes a deferred member of this scheme in respect of that amount of accrued added pension and accordingly—
- (a) a deferred member's account must be established under Part 5;
- (b) that amount of accrued added pension must be specified in the deferred member's account as the provisional amount of the relevant description of deferred added pension; and
- (c) that amount of accrued added pension is not included in the calculation of the annual rate of full retirement added pension payable with the ill-health pension.
- (3) In paragraph (1), “the relevant day” means—
- (a) the day on which a medical certificate is produced in accordance with regulation 68(1) by virtue of which the member is entitled to payment of the ill-health pension; or
- (b) if the member was on sick leave on that day and did not return to service from that leave, the day on which that leave began.
72
The options under this Chapter are—
- (a) the option under regulation 74 to buy out the early payment reduction;
- (b) the option under regulation 75 to defer payment of a full retirement added pension;
- (c) the option under regulation 76 to exchange part of a retirement pension for a lump sum;
- (d) the option under regulation 77 to exchange the whole of the member's accrued pensions for a lump sum in cases of serious ill-health.
73
- (1) A member may exercise an option under this Chapter by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager.
- (2) In this Chapter, “option notice” means a notice by which a member exercises an option under this Chapter.
74
- (1) This regulation applies if—
- (a) a member of this scheme becomes entitled under Chapter 2 or 3 to the immediate payment of a full retirement pension or a partial retirement pension; and
- (b) the member has not reached—
- (i) normal pension age under this scheme; or
- (ii) if applicable, the member's effective pension age.
- (2) The member may opt under this regulation to buy out the early payment reduction that would otherwise apply to the calculation of the annual rate of retirement pension.
- (3) The cost must be met by way of a special payment to this scheme made by—
- (a) the member;
- (b) the member's employer; or
- (c) both the member and the employer.
- (4) Any special payment by the employer must be made with the consent of the scheme manager.
- (5) The cost of buying out the early payment reduction is an amount determined by the scheme manager after consulting the scheme actuary.
75
- (1) This regulation applies if a member of this scheme—
- (a) becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a full retirement added pension of any description; and
- (b) has not reached normal pension age under this scheme.
- (2) The member may opt under this regulation to defer payment of the full retirement added pension of that description.
- (3) A member who exercises the option under this regulation becomes a deferred member of this scheme in respect of the full retirement added pension of that description and accordingly—
- (a) a deferred member's account must be established under Part 5; and
- (b) the amount of full retirement added pension of that description must be specified in the deferred member's account as the provisional amount of deferred added pension of that description.
- (4) The member is entitled to payment of the full retirement added pension of that description when the member gives notice to the scheme manager, in a form required by the scheme manager, that the member wishes to take that full retirement added pension.
- (5) The annual rate of full retirement added pension is calculated in accordance with regulation 58.
76
- (1) A member who becomes entitled to the immediate payment of a retirement pension under this scheme may opt under this regulation to exchange part of the pension for a lump sum.
- (2) An option under this regulation may only be exercised before the first payment of the pension is made.
- (3) If a member exercises the option, for every £1 by which the amount of the member's annual rate of pension is reduced, the member must be paid a lump sum of £12.
- (4) A member may not exchange pension for lump sum under this regulation to the extent that it would result in a scheme chargeable payment for the purposes of Part 4 (pension schemes etc.) of the 2004 Act (see section 241 of that Act ).
- (5) If paragraph (6) applies, the member may opt to exchange only so much of the pension (after subtracting the allocation amount, if any) that exceeds the guaranteed minimum, multiplied by such factor as is indicated for a person of the member's description in tables provided by the scheme actuary.
- (6) This paragraph applies if the member has a guaranteed minimum under section 10 (earner's guaranteed minimum) of the 1993 Act in relation to the whole or part of a pension as a result of receipt by this scheme of a transfer value payment from another pension scheme in respect of which the member had such a guaranteed minimum.
77
- (1) This regulation applies where there is a medical certificate stating that an active member or deferred member of this scheme has a life-expectancy of less than 12 months.
- (2) The member may opt under this regulation to exchange the whole of the member's accrued pensions for a lump sum.
- (3) An option under this regulation may only be exercised before the first payment of the pension is made.
- (4) The lump sum payable to the member is an amount equal to—
$( A + B + C ) × 5$
where—
- A means the total annual amount of full retirement pension;
- B means the total annual amount of partial retirement pension; and
- C means the total annual amount of ill-health pension.
- (5) For the purpose of paragraph (4), “total annual amount” means—
- (a) in relation to a full retirement pension or partial retirement pension to which the member would be entitled apart from this option, the sum of—
- (i) the annual rate of pension to which the member would be entitled apart from this option, calculated as at the date the option is exercised, but without subtracting the early payment reduction (if any); and
- (ii) the amount of increase (if any) in the annual rate of that pension under the 1971 Act calculated as at that date; and
- (b) in relation to an ill-health pension, the sum of—
- (i) the annual rate of pension to which the member would be entitled apart from this option, calculated as at the date when payment would first be due, but without subtracting the early payment reduction (if any); and
- (ii) the amount of increase (if any) in the annual rate of that pension under the 1971 Act calculated as at that date.
- (6) The lump sum must be paid to the member as soon as is reasonably practicable after the option is exercised.
78
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to a full retirement earned pension or a partial retirement earned pension payable in respect of a member's pensionable service under this scheme.
- (2) The member may elect to allocate part of the retirement pension to a beneficiary (“allocation election”).
- (3) The beneficiary of an allocation election must be a person who, when the allocation election is made, is—
- (a) the member's spouse or civil partner;
- (b) financially wholly or mainly dependent on the member; or
- (c) financially interdependent with the member.
- (4) If the member wishes to allocate pension to more than one beneficiary, the member must make a separate allocation election in respect of each beneficiary.
- (5) If paragraph (6) applies, the member may elect to allocate only so much of the pension (after subtracting the commutation amount, if any) that exceeds the guaranteed minimum, multiplied by such factor as is indicated for a person of the member's description in tables provided by the scheme actuary.
- (6) This paragraph applies if the member has a guaranteed minimum under section 1 (earner's guaranteed minimum) of the 1993 Act in relation to the whole or part of a pension as a result of receipt by this scheme of a transfer value payment from another pension scheme in respect of which the member had such a guaranteed minimum.
79
- (1) The sum of the following must not exceed the annual rate of retirement pension that would be payable to the member (P)—
- (a) the total amount of retirement pension allocated under this Part (“total allocation amount”); and
- (b) the annual rate of surviving adult's pension that would be payable on P's death.
- (2) In determining whether the restriction in paragraph (1) is met, it is assumed that—
- (a) P will have become a pensioner member before P's death;
- (b) P will exercise the commutation option so as to exchange for a lump sum the maximum amount possible of the whole of P's accrued pensions;
- (c) P's spouse or civil partner status will not change before P dies;
- (d) all of P's beneficiaries will survive P; and
- (e) any beneficiary who would have been P's dependant for the purposes of paragraph 15(2) or (3) of Schedule 28 (registered pension schemes: authorised pensions - supplementary) to the 2004 Act will be such a dependant when P dies.
- (3) If at the time an allocation election is made it would result in the restriction in paragraph (1) not being met, the scheme manager may treat the election (or each of the elections) as allocating a smaller amount that would result in the restriction being met.
80
- (1) If requested by a member (P), the scheme manager must advise P of the last day on which P may make an allocation election.
- (2) An allocation election may only be made—
- (a) by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager; and
- (b) before the election closing date.
- (3) An allocation election must—
- (a) specify the amount of retirement pension to be allocated;
- (b) name the beneficiary;
- (c) be accompanied by a declaration in a form required by the scheme manager stating that—
- (i) P is in good health; and
- (ii) the beneficiary is a person who meets the conditions set out in regulation 78(3); and
- (d) be accompanied by a medical certificate giving the opinion that P is in good health.
- (4) Before the election closing date, the member may, by notice to the scheme manager in a form required by the scheme manager—
- (a) revoke the election; or
- (b) amend the election by altering the amount of retirement pension to be allocated.
- (5) The election takes effect on the election closing date, unless it has no effect under paragraph (6) or (7) .
- (6) An allocation election has no effect unless the scheme manager is satisfied that when P made the election the matters stated in the declaration were true.
- (7) An allocation election has no effect if P or the beneficiary dies before the election closing date.
- (8) In this regulation, “election closing date” means the earlier of—
- (a) the date advised by the scheme manager under paragraph (1); or
- (b) the day before the pension becomes payable.
81
- (1) If an allocation election takes effect—
- (a) the member's pension is reduced accordingly (and this reduction applies even if the beneficiary predeceases the member); and
- (b) if the beneficiary survives the member, on the member's death the beneficiary becomes entitled to the payment of a pension for life ( “ allocated pension ”) of an amount determined by the scheme manager, after consultation with the scheme actuary, having regard to—
- (i) the amount of retirement pension allocated under the election, and
- (ii) the beneficiary's age and gender.
- (2) The scheme manager may withhold payment from the beneficiary if—
- (a) the member dies before the end of the period of 2 years beginning with the date on which the election takes effect; and
- (b) the scheme manager is satisfied that the member made a false declaration about the member's state of health when making the election.
- (3) An allocation election in relation to a retirement pension has no effect if it would result in an allocated pension being paid—
- (a) on the member becoming entitled to the retirement pension, to a person who is not—
- (i) the member's spouse or civil partner;
- (ii) financially wholly or mainly dependent on the member; or
- (iii) financially interdependent with the member;
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