The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997

[The "common provisions" as defined in regulation 2 of

the LGPS (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1997 (as amended)]

 


Made      -      -     -      -           30 June 1997

Laid Before Parliament           3 July 1997

Coming into force     -      -       1 April 1998

 

Commutation
49. Commutation: small pensions
50. Commutation: exceptional ill-health
Pension Funds
73. Pension funds and employer payments
73A. Governance compliance statement
74. Appropriate funds
75. Admission agreement funds
76. Accounts and audit
76A. Funding strategy statement
76B. Pension fund annual report
76C. Pension fund administration strategy
77. Actuarial valuations and certificates
78. Special circumstances where revised actuarial valuations and certificates must be obtained
Employers' liability to make payments
79. Employer's contributions
80. Employer's further payments
81. Payments by employing authorities to appropriate administering authorities
81A. Additional costs incurred by employing authority's level of performance
81B. Payments by administering authorities
Interest
82. Interest
83. Discontinuance of additional contributions
84. Separate treatment of AVCs & SCAVCs from other contributions
86. Cost of calculation for transfer AVCs or SCAVCs into the Scheme where no transfer is requested
87. Right to return of contributions
88. Exclusion of rights to return of contributions
89. Deduction and recovery of member's contributions
90. Pension increases and cash equivalents under the Pension Schemes Act 1993
91. Pension increases under the Pensions (Increase) Acts
92. Contribution equivalent premiums
93. Commencement of pensions
94. Interest on late payment of certain benefits
95. Payments due in respect of deceased persons
96. Non-assignability
96A. Treatment of other benefits
Initial determination of questions
97. First instance decisions
98. Notification of decisions under regulation 97
Resolution of disputes
99. Appointment of persons to resolve disputes
100. Right to apply to person to decide the disagreement
101. Notice of decisions under regulation 100
102. Reference of disagreement to the appropriate administering authority
103. Notice of decisions under regulation 102
104. Rights of representation
105. Appeals by administering authorities
Information and records
106. Statements of policy concerning exercise of discretionary functions
106A. Annual benefit statements
106B. Statements of policy concerning communications with members and employing authorities (including non-scheme employers)
107. Information to be supplied to employers
108. Exchange of information by authorities
108A. Provision of information, charging and prescribed authorities
Abatement during new employment
109. Statements of policy concerning abatement of retirement pensions in new employment
110. Application of abatement policy in individual cases
Misconduct
111. Forfeiture of pension rights after conviction of employment-related offences
112. Interim payments directions
113. Recovery or retention where former member has misconduct obligation
114. Protection of GMP rights
115. Transfer of sums from the pension fund to compensate for former member's misconduct
Transfers out
116. Application of Chapter VI
117. Rights to payment out of fund authority's pension fund
118. Contracting-out requirements affecting transfers out
Bulk transfer arrangements
119. Bulk transfers (transfer of undertakings) etc.
120. Calculation of transfer payment under regulation 119
Transfers in
121. Inward transfers of pension rights
122. Right to count credited period
122A. Credited periods for transferring members with mis-sold pension rights
123. Rights as to service not matched by credited period
Community scheme transferees
124. Community scheme transferees
Payments between authorities
125. Changes of fund

 

 

PART II

CHAPTER IV

BENEFITS

Commutation

Commutation: small pensions

49. (1) A lump sum which is a trivial commutation lump sum within the meaning of section 166 of the Finance Act 2004 or a trivial commutation lump sum death benefit within the meaning of section 168 of that Act may be paid in accordance with the rules relating to the payment of such benefits under that Act.

(1A) Any payment under paragraph (1) must be calculated in accordance with guidance issued by the Government Actuary.

(7) The payment of a lump sum in respect of a pension discharges the appropriate administering authority from their liability for it or any other benefit payable under the Scheme in respect of the member.

Commutation: exceptional ill-health

50.-(1) If, when a retirement pension first becomes payable to a member, the appropriate administering authority are satisfied that his life expectancy is less than one year, they may pay him a lump sum equal to five times the amount of his annual rate of retirement pension, notwithstanding that such lump sum may exceed his lifetime allowance.

(1A) An administering authority cannot be satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (1) unless they have first obtained a certificate from a fully registered person within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983 to the effect that the member's life expectancy is less than one year.

(2) Such a payment discharges the authority's liability for that pension and for any lump sum death grant calculated by reference to that pension under the Scheme.

PART IV

ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER I

PENSION FUNDS AND EMPLOYERS' PAYMENTS

Pension funds

The pension funds

73.-The bodies responsible for maintaining pension funds for the Scheme immediately before the commencement date must continue to maintain them unless the fund is vested in a different body by or under any enactment.

Governance compliance statement
73A. —(1) An administering authority must prepare a written statement setting out—

(c) the extent to which a delegation, or the absence of a delegation, complies with guidance given by the Secretary of State and, to the extent that it does not so comply, the reasons for not complying.

(2) An administering authority must publish the first such statement on or before 1st March 2008.

(3) An administering authority must—

(a) revise their statement following a material change in respect of any of the matters mentioned in paragraph (1); and

(b) publish the statement as revised.

(4) In preparing or revising their statement an administering authority must consult such persons as they consider appropriate.

(5) When they publish their statement, or the statement as revised, an administering authority must send a copy of it to the Secretary of State.

Appropriate funds

74.-(1) The appropriate fund for a member or a person who is entitled to any benefit in respect of a person who has been a member is-

(a) in the case of an active member, the fund specified for a member of his description in accordance with Schedule 5;

(b) in the case of-

(i) a deferred or a pensioner member who was an active member on the commencement date or has been an active member since that date, or

(ii) a member in respect of whom another person has rights under the 1995 regulations and these Regulations,

the fund so specified for a member of his description when he ceased to be an active member; and

(c) in the case of any other deferred or a pensioner member, the fund specified for him by virtue of regulation 19 of the Transitional Regulations.

(2) Where these Regulations refer to payments being made without referring to the fund to which or from which they are to be made, the reference is to payments being made to or from the fund which is the appropriate fund for the member in question.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply where the payments are made under Chapter IV of Part III (AVCs and SCAVCs).

Admission agreement funds

75.-(1) An administering authority who have made an admission agreement may establish a further pension fund (an "admission agreement fund") in addition to the fund maintained under regulation 73 ("the main fund").

(2) Immediately after an authority establish an admission agreement fund they must give the Secretary of State notice in writing that they have done so.

(3) The notice must specify the admission bodies whose employees are eligible for benefits from the admission agreement fund ("the transferred bodies").

(4) Where an admission agreement fund is established, assets of such value as an actuary appointed by the appropriate administering authority determines to be appropriate must be transferred from the main fund to the admission agreement fund.

(5) When valuations under regulation 77 of both the main fund and the admission agreement fund are first obtained after the admission agreement fund is established, the administering authority must obtain a transfer statement from an actuary appointed by them.

(6) The transfer statement must specify whether in the actuary's opinion there is a need for further assets to be transferred from the main fund to the admission agreement fund, and, if so, the value of those assets.

(7) Where the transfer statement specifies that assets of a specified value need to be transferred, the administering authority must arrange for assets of that value to be transferred as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(8) Where an admission agreement fund is established, the liabilities of the main fund as respects membership in employment with the transferred bodies become liabilities of the admission agreement fund.

Accounts and audit

76. After any audit of any pension fund of theirs an administering authority shall immediately send copies-

(a) of the revenue account and balance sheet of the fund, and

(b) of any report by the auditor,

to each body whose employees are active members.

(2) The input period for the purposes of section 238 of the Finance Act 2004 is the year ending 31st March 2007 and each year ending 31st March thereafter.

Funding strategy statement
76A.  - (1) Each administering authority shall, after consultation with such persons as they consider appropriate, prepare, maintain and publish a written statement setting out their funding strategy.

(2) In preparing and maintaining the statement, the administering authority shall have regard to - 

(3) The first such statement shall be published on or before 31st March 2005.

(4) The statement shall be revised and published by the administering authority following, and in accordance with, any - 

(a) material change in their policy on the matters set out in the statement; and

(b) material change to the statement of investment principles under regulation 9A(4) of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 1998.

Pension fund annual report
76B. —(1) An administering authority must, in relation to each year beginning on 1st April 2007 and each subsequent year, prepare a document ("the pension fund annual report") which contains—

(a) a report about the management and financial performance during the year of each of the pension funds maintained by the authority;

(b) a report explaining the authority's investment policy for each of those funds and reviewing the performance during the year of the investments of each fund;

(c) a report of the arrangements made during the year for the administration of each of those funds;

(d) for each of those funds, a statement, by the actuary who carried out the most recent valuation of the assets and liabilities of the fund in accordance with regulation 77 (actuarial valuations and certificates), of the level of funding disclosed by that valuation;

(e) the current version of the statement under regulation 73A (governance compliance statement);

(f) for each of those funds, the fund account and net asset statement with supporting notes and disclosures prepared in accordance with proper practices;

(g) an annual report dealing with—

(2) The authority must publish the pension fund annual report on or before the 1st December following the year end.

(3) In preparing and publishing the pension fund annual report the authority must have regard to guidance given by the Secretary of State.

Pension administration strategy
76C. —(1) An administering authority may prepare a document ("the pension administration strategy") which contains such of the matters mentioned in paragraph (2) as they consider appropriate ; and, where they do so, paragraphs (3) to (8) apply.

(2) The matters are—

(a) procedures for liaison and communication with their relevant employing authorities;

(b) the establishment of levels of performance which the administering authority and the relevant employing authorities are expected to achieve in carrying out their functions under these Regulations by—

(3) When an administering authority first publish a pension administration strategy they must send a copy of it to each of their relevant employing authorities and to the Secretary of State.

(4) An administering authority must revise their pension administration strategy following a material change in their policies in relation to any of the matters contained in the strategy.

(5) In preparing or revising their pension administration strategy an administering authority must consult the relevant employing authorities and such other persons as they consider appropriate.

(6) Where an administering authority revise their pension administration strategy they must notify in writing to the relevant employing authorities and the Secretary of State—

(a) the changes, and

(b) where a copy of the revised strategy may be obtained.

(7) An administering authority and the relevant employing authorities must have regard to the current version of any pension administration strategy when carrying out their functions under these Regulations.

(8) In this regulation a reference to the functions of an administering authority includes, where applicable, their functions as an employing authority.

Actuarial valuations and certificates

77.-(1) Each administering authority must obtain-

(a) an actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of each of their pension funds as at 31st March in 1998 and in every third year afterwards,

(b) a report by an actuary, and

(c) a rates and adjustments certificate.

(2) Each of those documents must be obtained before the first anniversary of the date ("the valuation date") as at which the valuation is made or such later date as the Secretary of State may agree.

(3) A rates and adjustments certificate is a certificate specifying-

(a) the common rate of employer's contribution, and

(b) any individual adjustments,

for each year of the period of three years beginning with 1st April in the year following that in which the valuation date falls.

(4) The common rate of employer's contribution is the amount which in the actuary's opinion should be paid to the fund by all bodies whose employees contribute to it so as to secure its solvency, expressed as a percentage of the pay of their employees who are active members.

(5) The actuary must have regard-

(a) to the existing and prospective liabilities of the fund arising from circumstances common to all those bodies, and

(b) to the desirability of maintaining as nearly constant a rate as possible.

(5A) The actuary must have regard to the administering authority's funding strategy statement published under regulation 76A.

(6) An individual adjustment is any percentage or amount by which in the actuary's opinion contributions at the common rate should in the case of a particular body be increased or reduced by reason of any circumstances peculiar to that body.

(7) A rates and adjustments certificate must contain a statement as to the assumptions on which the certificate is given as respects-

(a) the number of members who will become entitled to payment of pensions under provisions of the Scheme, and

(b) the amount of the liabilities arising in respect of such members,

during the period covered by the certificate.

(8) A report under paragraph (1)(b) must contain a statement as to the demographic assumptions used in making the valuation, showing how they relate to the events which have actually occurred in relation to members of the scheme since the last valuation.

(9) The authority must provide the actuary preparing a valuation or a rates and adjustment certificate with the consolidated revenue account of the fund and such other information as he requests.

(10) The authority must send copies of any valuation, report or certificate under this regulation or revision under regulation 78-

(a) to the Secretary of State,

(b) to each body with employees who contribute to the fund in question, and

(c) to any other body which is or may become liable to make payments to that fund.

(11) They must also send the Secretary of State-

(a) a copy of the consolidated revenue account with which the actuary was provided under paragraph (9), and

(b) a summary of the assets of the fund at the valuation date (unless such a summary is contained in the report).

Special circumstances where revised actuarial valuations and certificates must be obtained

78.-(1) When obtaining a transfer statement under regulation 75(5) an administering authority must also obtain from the actuary a rates and adjustments certificate for the admission agreement fund for each remaining year of the period covered by the most recent such certificate for their main fund.

(2) Where an admission agreement ceases to have effect, the administering authority who made it must obtain-

(a) an actuarial valuation as at the date it ceases of the liabilities of the fund in respect of current and former employees of the admission body which is a party to that admission agreement ("the outgoing admission body "), and

(b) a revision of any rates and adjustments certificate for any fund which is affected, showing the revised contributions due from the outgoing admission body.

(2A) But where it is not possible for any reason to obtain revised contributions from the outgoing admission body, or from an insurer or any person providing an indemnity or bond on behalf of that admission body, the administering authority may obtain a further revision of any rates and adjustment certificate for the fund, showing - 

(a) in the case where the outgoing admission body is a transferee admission body within the meaning of regulation 5A(2)(a), the revised contributions due from the body which is the Scheme employer in relation to that outgoing admission body, and

(b) in any other case, the revised contributions due from each employing authority who contributes to the fund.

(2B) An administering authority may obtain from an actuary a certificate specifying, in the case of an admission body, the percentage or amount by which, in the actuary's opinion,-

(a) the contribution at the common rate should be adjusted, or

(b) any prior individual adjustment should be increased or reduced,

with a view to providing that the value of the assets of the fund in respect of current and former employees of that admission body is neither materially more nor materially less than the anticipated liabilities of the fund in respect of those employees at the date that the admission agreement is to end.

(3) This paragraph applies where-

(a) an administering authority agree with an employing authority under regulation 52(6)(a) that the employing authority will pay increased contributions under regulation 79, or

(b) it appears to an administering authority that the amount of the liabilities arising or likely to arise in respect of members in employment with an employing authority exceeds the amount specified in, or likely as a result of, the assumptions stated for that authority in a rates and adjustments certificate by virtue of regulation 77(7).

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the administering authority must obtain a revision of the rates and adjustments certificate affected, showing the resulting changes as respects that employing authority.

Employers' liability to make payments

Employer's contributions

79.-(1) An employing authority must contribute to the appropriate fund in each year covered by a rates and adjustments certificate under regulation 77 or 78 the amount appropriate for that authority as calculated in accordance with the certificate and paragraph (4).

(2) During each of those years an employing authority must make payments to the appropriate fund on account of the amount required for the whole year.

(3) Those payments on account must-

(a) be paid at the end of the intervals determined under regulation 81(1), and

(b) equal the appropriate proportion of the whole amount due under paragraph (1) for the year in question.

(4) An employer's contribution for any year is the common percentage for that year of the pay on which contributions have during that year been paid to the fund under Part II by employees who are active members (other than contributions under regulation 18(3)), increased or reduced by any individual adjustment specified for that employer for that year in the rates and adjustments certificate.

(5) The common percentage is the common rate of employer's contribution specified in that certificate, expressed as a percentage.

(6) Where an employee - 

the pay on which the common percentage is calculated is the pay the employee would have received if she had not been absent.

Employer's further payments

80.-(1) Where an authority pass a resolution under regulation 52 they must pay the appropriate sum to the appropriate fund before the expiry of the relevant period (as defined in paragraph (7) of that regulation) unless before the end of that period they have agreed as mentioned in paragraph (6)(a) of that regulation.

(3) The appropriate sum for a member is such sum as is shown as appropriate in guidance issued by the Government Actuary.

(4) Any extra charge on the appropriate fund resulting from-

(a) a resolution under regulation 15 or 52 of these Regulations, or

(b) a member's becoming entitled to an ill-health pension calculated under regulation 28 by reference to an enhanced membership period,

must be repaid to the fund by the employing authority concerned (but, in the case of a resolution under regulation 52, only so far as not paid under paragraph (1)).

(5) The appropriate administering authority may require the employing authority concerned to make additional payments to the appropriate fund in respect of any extra charge on the fund resulting from a pension and retirement grant becoming immediately payable to a member under regulations 26, 31(1), 31(6) or 35(1A)..

Payments by employing authorities to appropriate administering authorities

81.-(1) Every employing authority must pay to the appropriate administering authority, on or before such dates falling at intervals of not more than 12 months as the appropriate administering authority may determine (but in the case of the amounts mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) not later than the time required under section 49(8) of the Pensions Act 1995)-

(a) all amounts from time to time deducted from the pay of their employees under these Regulations;

(b) any amount received by them under regulation 18, (by deduction or otherwise) during the interval;

(c) any extra charge payable under regulation 80 of which they have been notified by the administering authority during the interval; and

(d) a contribution towards the cost of the administration of the fund which shall include any amount specified in a notice given in accordance with regulation 81A(2).

(2) Paragraph (1)(d) does not apply where the cost is paid out of the fund under regulation 5(6) of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations 1998.

(3) If the annual amount payable under paragraph (1)(d) cannot be settled by agreement, it must be determined by the Secretary of State.

(3A) If the disagreement is about an amount specified in a notice given in accordance with regulation 81A(2), the Secretary of State shall have regard to—

(4) Every payment under paragraph (1)(a) is to be accompanied by a statement showing-

(a) the name and pay of each of the employing authority's employees who is an active member;

(b) which employees are paying voluntary contributions;

(c) the amounts which represent deductions from the pay of each of the employees and the periods covered by the deductions, distinguishing amounts representing deductions for voluntary contributions.

(5) An administering authority may direct the information mentioned in paragraph (4) to be given to them instead in such form and at such intervals (not exceeding 12 months) as they specify in the direction.

(6) Paragraphs (1) and (4) do not apply to an employing authority which is an administering authority.

(7) Voluntary contributions are contributions other than those under Part II.

Additional costs incurred by employing authority's level of performance
 81A. —(1) This regulation applies where, in the opinion of the appropriate administering authority, they have incurred additional costs which should be recovered from an employing authority because of that employing authority's level of performance in carrying out its functions under these Regulations.

(2) The administering authority may give written notice to the employing authority stating—

(a) the administering authority's reasons for forming the opinion mentioned in paragraph (1);

(b) the authority's opinion that the employing authority's contribution under regulation 81(1)(d) should include an amount specified in the notice in respect of the additional costs attributable to that authority's level of performance;

(c) the basis on which the specified amount is calculated; and

(d) where the administering authority have prepared a pension administration strategy, the provisions of the strategy which are relevant to the decision to give the notice and to the matters in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

Payments by administering authorities
81B. —(1) An administering authority must pay to the fund of which they are the administering authority their fair share of any contribution towards the cost of the administration of the fund in circumstances where they have required a contribution towards such cost from employing authorities as referred to in regulation 81(1)(d).

(2) An administering authority must also pay any additional costs due to the fund which are incurred because of their level of performance in carrying out their functions under these Regulations.

Interest

Interest

82.-(1) An administering authority may require an authority from which payment of any amount due under regulation 79, 80, 81, 91, or 125 is overdue by more than one month to pay interest on that amount.

(1A) An administering authority must pay interest on any amount due to be paid by them as an employing authority payment of which is overdue by more than one month.

(2) Interest under paragraphs (1) or (1A) or under regulation 87(2A), 89(5) or 94 must be calculated at one per cent. above base rate on a day to day basis from the due date to the date of payment and compounded with three-monthly rests.

 

CHAPTER II

MEMBERS' CONTRIBUTIONS

Discontinuance of additional contributions

83.-(1) A member paying additional contributions under regulation 55 may elect to stop payment and must do so if he ceases to be an active member.

(2) Such an election must be made by notice in writing to the administering authority and the employing authority.

(3) If a member stops paying such contributions before his NRD on leaving his employment because of such permanent incapacity as mentioned in regulation 27(1) or on his death, he is to be treated as having completed payment of those contributions.

(4) If a member stops paying such contributions before his NRD on leaving his employment by reason of redundancy at least 12 months after he elected to pay them, he may elect to make a lump sum payment to the appropriate fund.

(5) Such an election must be made by notice in writing to the administering authority given not later than the expiry of the period of three months beginning on the day after he leaves his employment (or such longer period as they allow).

(6) The amount of that payment must be calculated by an actuary appointed by the appropriate administering authority as representing the capital value of the unpaid contributions.

(7) If the member duly makes that payment before the expiry of the period of one month beginning with the date on which he is notified of its amount, he must be treated as having completed paying his additional contributions under regulation 55.

(8) If a member stops paying such contributions before his NRD and neither paragraph (3) nor (4) applies, such proportion of the original additional period covered by the election may be counted as part of his total membership as the length of the period during which he paid such contributions bears to the length of the full period during which they were to have been paid.

(9) If a member-

he may pay his employing authority in his new employment an amount equal to the additional contributions that would have been payable if he had not stopped contributing.

(10) If he pays that amount within three months after re-entering local government employment the election under regulation 55 continues in effect and the break in payments must be disregarded.

(11) This regulation does not apply if the member who stops paying contributions receives a return of contributions which includes additional contributions under regulation 55.

(12) In paragraph (4) "redundancy" includes retirement in the interests of efficiency or because the member held a joint appointment which has been ended because the other holder has left it.

Separate treatment of AVCs and SCAVCs from other contributions

84.-(1) Regulations 87 and 88 (return of contributions) do not apply to AVCs or SCAVCs payable under (or interest on late payments which relate to AVCs or SCAVCs under) Chapter IV of Part III or under any agreement made for the payment of AVCs before the commencement date.

(2) The regulations mentioned in paragraph (3) do not apply in relation to benefits under such a policy or agreement.

(3) Those regulations are-

Cost of calculations for transfer of AVCs or SCAVCs into the Scheme where no transfer is requested

86. Where-

they may deduct the cost of calculating the additional pension from the accumulated value of the additional contributions mentioned in regulation 64(2).

Rights to return of contributions

87-(1) If a member with less than 3 months' total membership-

he is entitled to be repaid his contributions from the appropriate fund.

(2A) If repayment of the contributions has not been made before the expiry of the period of one year beginning with the date when active membership ceases, the person is entitled to interest on the repayment which should have been made, calculated as provided in regulation 82(2), the due date being the date when active membership ceased.

(2B) If a member dies before repayment of the contributions have been made, these shall be treated as a lump sum death benefit for the purposes of Part 2 of Schedule 29 to the Finance Act 2004.

(3) A person who is entitled to a repayment of contributions under paragraph (1) may waive his entitlement for any period and, if he becomes an active member again before the expiry of that period, he shall cease to be so entitled (but without prejudice to any entitlement arising later under that paragraph in respect of those contributions).

(4) A person who continues as an active member in another employment he held concurrently with the employment in which he has ceased to be an active member may elect for an amount equal to the repayment to be treated as contributions to the Scheme as respects his membership in that concurrent employment, entitling him to a period of membership equal to the period of membership in the employment which has ceased, as reduced under regulation 11(4) if the employment which has ceased was part-time, multiplied by the fraction - 

whole-time rate of employment which has ceased
whole-time rate of employment which is continuing

where the rate of pay in each case is the annual rate of pay on the last day of employment in the employment which has ceased.

(5) A person who elects under paragraph (4) ceases to be entitled to that repayment (but without prejudice to any entitlement arising later in respect of the concurrent employment).

(6) The administering authority must deduct from any repayment under this regulation any tax to which they may become chargeable under section 598 of the Taxes Act (charge to tax on repayment of employee's contributions).

(7) The contributions which must be repaid under paragraph (1) are any contributions or payments paid by the member to any pension fund under Part II or Chapter III of Part III or by way of additional contributory payments or added period payments, or paid under any of the relevant old provisions (unless already returned and not repaid), which are attributable to a period of membership which might have counted under these Regulations in relation to the employment in which he has ceased to be a member, but not to any earlier period of membership in respect of which a benefit or transfer value has been paid.

(8) The relevant old provisions are regulations C4, C5, C6, C7, C13 and C14 of the 1995 regulations and regulations C2, C3, C3A, C4, C6A, C7, C7A, C8 and C8A of the 1986 regulations.

(9) Added period payments are payments made for the purposes of regulation C9 of the 1995 regulations, regulation C5 or C6 of the 1986 regulations, regulation D10 of the 1974 regulations, or section 2(1) of the Act of 1953 or any similar provision contained in a local Act scheme.

(10) "Additional contributory payments" has the meaning given in Schedule A1 to the 1995 regulations.

Exclusion of rights to return of contributions

88.-(1) A person is not entitled to a repayment under regulation 87(1) if-

(2) But where paragraph (1)(b) applies the employing authority may direct the payment out of the appropriate fund to him or, in a case of an offence of a fraudulent character, to him or to his spouse, civil partner or any dependant of his, of a sum equal to all or part of his contributions.

(3) A person is not entitled to a repayment under regulation 87(1) if-

(4) A person who is entitled to a repayment under regulation 87(1)(a) ceases to be entitled to it if he returns to local government employment before receiving it.

Deduction and recovery of member's contributions

89.-(1) An employing authority may deduct from a person's pay any contributions payable by him under these Regulations.

(2) Sums payable under regulation 17(4) or (7)(c) (reserve forces) may be deducted by the member's former employer from any payment made to him under Part V of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951, to the extent that they are payable in respect of the same period.

(3) The appropriate administering authority may recover any such sum remaining due and not deducted under paragraph (1) or (2)-

(4) But the sums mentioned in paragraph (2) are only recoverable under paragraph (3) if unpaid for 12 months after the person ceases to perform relevant reserve forces service.

(5) If-

(a) an employing authority deduct any amount in error from a person's pay or any other sum due to him in respect of contributions, other than contributions due to be repaid to him by virtue of his having left without any rights under the Scheme (which are dealt with under regulation 87), and

(b) the amount has not been repaid to him before the expiry of the period of one month beginning with the date of deduction,

the appropriate body must pay him interest on that amount calculated as provided in regulation 82(2), the due date being the date of deduction.

(5A) Where the employee's contributions have been paid into the appropriate fund, the repayment and interest shall be made out of that fund.

(6) "The appropriate body" for the purpose of paragraph (5) is-

(a) the appropriate administering authority where the employee's contributions have been paid into the appropriate fund, and

(b) the person's employing authority where the employee's contributions have not yet been paid into the appropriate fund.

 

CHAPTER III

PAYMENT OF BENEFITS ETC.

Pension increases and cash equivalents under the Pension Schemes Act 1993

90.-Any increase in a pension required by reason of Chapter III of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (protection of increases in guaranteed minimum pensions: anti-franking) must be paid from the appropriate fund.

Pension increases under the Pensions (Increase) Acts

91.-(1) Where a pension to which the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 ("the 1971 Act") applies is payable out of an appropriate fund, any increase under that Act or the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974 ("the 1974 Act"), must be paid from that fund.

(2) But Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act only has effect in relation to any such increase where-

(3) In a case where the last employing authority ceases after 31st March 1990 to be such a body, Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act has effect only so far as the cost of the increase has not, in the opinion of an actuary appointed by the administering authority of the fund, already been provided for by contributions under regulation 79.

(4) Where the last employing authority is a Water Act Company, the Environment Agency must reimburse the appropriate administering authority the cost of any increase payable under the 1971 Act or the 1974 Act on or after 1st April 1990 from the Closed Water Authorities Fund.

(5) The Closed Water Authorities Fund is the Closed Fund vested in the Environment Agency by regulation 2(1) of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Environment Agency) Regulations 1996.

(6) The amounts due under paragraph (4) or under Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act must be paid on or before such dates falling at intervals of not more than 12 months as the appropriate administering authority may determine.

(7) The administering authority shall credit to the appropriate fund any amounts paid to them under paragraph (4) or Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act and any interest paid on them.

(8) The last employing authority has the same meaning as in paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to the 1971 Act, except that if the pension became payable by reason of service with a relevant body, it means that body.

(9) Relevant bodies are-

(10) A Water Act Company is-

Contributions equivalent premiums

92.-(1) Where a Scheme employer pays a contributions equivalent premium under section 55 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 in respect of a member, that employer may recover or, if an administering authority, retain from the appropriate fund a sum not exceeding the premium.

(2) But if the Scheme employer may recover or retain any sum under section 61 of that Act in respect of the premium, then only the balance may be recovered or retained under paragraph (1).

(3) Where a contributions equivalent premium is refunded under regulation 54(1)(c) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations 1996 (re-entry into employment which is contracted-out by reference to the same scheme), the authority to whom it is refunded must pay to the appropriate fund a sum equal to the amount of the premium.

Commencement of pensions

93.-(1) The first period for which any retirement pension which is payable immediately on a member leaving any employment is payable begins with the day after the date with which his employment ends.

(2) The first period for which any retirement pension under regulation 31 is payable begins-

(3) Any short-term pension payable on the death of a member is payable in respect of a period beginning with the day after the date on which he dies.

(4) The first period for which any long-term pension is payable on the death of a member in a case where no short-term pension is payable begins with the day after the date on which he dies.

Interest on late payment of certain benefits.

94.-(1) Where all or part of a pension or lump sum payment due under these Regulations or the 1995 regulations is not paid within the relevant period after the due date, the appropriate administering authority must pay interest on the unpaid amount to the person to whom it is payable- calculated from the due date as provided in regulation 82(2).

(1A) The relevant period-

(2) In the case of a pension the due date is the date on which it becomes payable.

(2A) In the case of a retirement grant, the due date is the date on which it is payable.

(3) In the case of a death grant, the due date is the date on which the member dies.

(4) In the case of an ill-health grant, the due date is the day after the member ceased to hold his employment.

(5) In the case of a payment of a lump sum under regulation 49, 50, 156 or 157 the due date is the day after the member would otherwise become entitled to payment of a pension.

(6) In this regulation, references to "member" include reference to a pension credit member and the reference in paragraph (2A) to the "retirement grant" includes the lump sum grant referred to in regulation 147(2)(a).

Payments due in respect of deceased persons

95.-(1) If when a person dies the total amount due to his personal representatives under the Scheme (including anything due to him at his death) ("the amount due") does not exceed the small payments amount, the appropriate administering authority may pay the whole or part of the amount due from their pension fund-

without the production of probate or letters of administration of his estate.

(2) The small payments amount is the amount specified in any order for the time being in force under section 6 of the Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965 and applying in relation to his death.

(3) Such a payment discharges the appropriate administering authority from accounting for the amount paid.

Non-assignability.

96.-(1) Every benefit to which a person is entitled under Scheme is payable to or in trust for him.

(2) No such benefit is assignable or chargeable with his or any other person's debts or other liabilities.

(3) On the bankruptcy of a person entitled to a benefit under the Scheme no part of the benefit passes to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of the creditors, except in accordance with an income payments order under section 310 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Treatment of other benefits

96A. Any payment of employment-related benefits made to a member by an administering authority other than in accordance with regulations made under section 7 of the Superannuation Act 1972 shall be treated as if it had been made under the Scheme.

 

CHAPTER IV

DETERMINATIONS, INFORMATION AND RECORDS

Initial determinations of questions

First instance decisions

97.-(1) Any question concerning the rights or liabilities under the Scheme of any person other than a Scheme employer must be decided in the first instance by the person specified in this regulation.

(2) Any question whether a person is entitled to a benefit under the Scheme must be decided - 

(a) in the case of a person entitled to a pension credit or a pension credit member and in relation to his pension credit rights or pension credit benefits, by his appropriate administering authority, and

(b) in any other case by the Scheme employer who last employed him.

(3) That decision must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the earlier of the date the employment ends or the date specified in the notification mentioned in regulation 8(3).

(4) Where a person is or may become entitled to a benefit payable out of a pension fund, the administering authority maintaining that fund must decide its amount.

(5) That decision must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the event by virtue of which the entitlement arises or may arise.

(6) In relation to any employment in which a person is a member or prospective member, the appropriate administering authority must decide-

(7) Those decisions must be made as soon as is reasonably practicable after the person becomes a member in the employment.

(8) Other questions in relation to any member or prospective member must be decided by his employer as soon as is reasonably practicable after he becomes a member or a material change affects his employment.

(8A) But any question in relation to a person entitled to a pension credit or a pension credit member and his pension credit rights or pension credit benefits must be decided by his appropriate administering authority as soon as is reasonably practicable after the question arises.

(9) Before making a decision as to whether a member may be entitled under regulation 27 or under regulation 31 on the ground of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body, the Scheme employer must obtain a certificate from an independent registered medical practitioner who is qualified in occupational health medicine as to whether in his opinion the member is permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of the relevant local government employment because of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body.

(9A) The independent registered medical practitioner must be in a position to certify, and must include in his certification a statement, that - 

(10) If the Scheme employer is not the member's appropriate administering authority, before referring any question to any particular registered medical practitioner under paragraph (9) the Scheme employer must obtain the approval of the appropriate administering authority to their choice of registered medical practitioner.

(11) In paragraphs (2) and (4) "benefit" includes a return of contributions.

(12) In paragraph (4) benefit includes a benefit specified in regulation F6(12) or (16) of the 1986 regulations.

(13) For this Chapter, references to the Scheme employer or the appropriate administering authority of a prospective member are references to the body that would be his employer or appropriate administering authority if he were to become an active member in the employment by virtue of which he would be eligible to join the Scheme.

(13A) For this Chapter, references to the appropriate administering authority of a person entitled to a pension credit are references to the body that would be his appropriate administering authority if he were to become a pension credit member.

(14) In paragraph (9)-

(a) "permanently incapable" has the meaning given by regulation 27(5), and

(b) "qualified in occupational health medicine" means—

Notification of decisions under regulation 97

98.-(1) Every person whose rights or liabilities are affected by a decision under regulation 97 must be notified of it in writing by the body who made it as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(2) A notification of a decision that the person is not entitled to a benefit must include the grounds for the decision.

(3) A notification of a decision as to the amount of a benefit must include a statement showing how it is calculated.

(4) Every notification must contain a conspicuous statement giving the address from which further information about the decision may be obtained.

(5) Every notification must also-

Resolution of disputes

Appointment of persons to resolve disputes

99.  - (1) For this Chapter an administering authority are the appropriate administering authority for the purpose of resolving disagreements in respect of which an application is made under regulation 102 if - 

    (2) Each administering authority shall determine - 

(a) the procedure to be followed by them when exercising their functions as an appropriate administering authority under regulation 102; and

(b) the manner in which those functions are to be exercised.

Right to apply to person to decide the disagreement

100.- (1) Where there is a disagreement about a matter in relation to the Scheme between a member or an alternative applicant and a Scheme employer, the member or, as the case may be, the alternative applicant may apply to - 

(a) the person specified under regulation 98(5)(c) to decide the disagreement; or

(b) the appropriate administering authority for them to refer the disagreement to a person to decide.

(2) These persons are alternative applicants-

(a) a widow, widower or surviving civil partner or dependant of a deceased member or any other person to whom benefits in respect of him may be paid;

(b) a prospective member;

(ba) a pension credit member;

(bb) a person entitled to a pension credit;

(c) a person who ceased to be a member or to fall within sub-paragraph (a), (b), (ba) or (bb) during the period of six months ending with the date of the application; and

(d) in the case of a disagreement relating to the question whether a person claiming to be a member or to fall within sub-paragraph (a), (b), (ba), (bb) or (c) does so, the claimant.

(3) The application for a decision must set out particulars of the disagreement, including a statement as to its nature with sufficient details to show why the applicant is aggrieved.

(4) An application by-

must set out his full name, address, date of birth, his national insurance number (if any) and the name of his employing authority.

(4A) An application by - 

(a) a person entitled to a pension credit or a pension credit member,

(b) a person who ceased to be such a person or member during the period of six months ending with the date of the application, or

(c) a person claiming to be a person or member within sub-paragraph (a) or (b),

must set out his full name, address, date of birth, and the name of his appropriate administering authority.

(5) An application by any other person must set out-

(6) The application must be signed by or on behalf of the applicant.

(7) The application must be accompanied by a copy of any written notification issued under regulation 98.

(8) The application must be made before the end of the period of six months beginning with the relevant date or such further period as the person deciding the disagreement considers reasonable (but see regulation 105(6)).

(9) Where the disagreement relates to a decision under regulation 97, the relevant date is the date notification of it is given under regulation 98.

(10) Otherwise, the relevant date is the date of the act or omission which is the cause of the disagreement or, if there is more than one, the last of them.

Notice of decisions under regulation 100

101.-(1) A decision on the matters raised by an application under regulation 100 must be issued by the person deciding the disagreement -

by notice in writing before the expiry of the period of two months beginning with the date the application was received.

(2) But, if no such notice is issued before the expiry of that period, an interim reply must immediately be sent to those persons, setting out the reasons for the delay and an expected date for issuing the decision.

(3) A notice under paragraph (1) must include-

(d) a reference to the rights of the applicant to refer the disagreement for reconsideration by the appropriate administering authority under regulation 102, specifying the time within which they may do so; and

(e) a statement that OPAS (the Pensions Advisory Service) is available to assist members and beneficiaries of the Scheme in connection with any difficulty with the Scheme which remains unresolved and the address at which OPAS may be contacted.

Reference of disagreement to the appropriate administering authority

102.-(1) Where an application about a disagreement has been made under regulation 100, an application may be made to the appropriate administering authority to reconsider the disagreement by the person who applied under regulation 100.

(2) The application must set out particulars of the grounds on which it is made, including a statement that the applicant under this regulation wishes the disagreement to be reconsidered by the appropriate administering authority

(3) An application made by the person who applied under regulation 100 must set out the matters required by paragraph (4) or, as the case may be, paragraph (5) of that regulation to be included in his application.

(4) The application must be accompanied by a copy of any written notification issued under regulation 98.

(5) Where notice of a decision on the application under regulation 100 has been issued, the application under this regulation must state why the applicant is dissatisfied with that decision and be accompanied by a copy of that notice.

(6) The application must be signed by or on behalf of the person making it.

(7) An application for reconsideration may only be made before the expiry of the period of six months beginning with the relevant date.

(8) Where notice of a decision on the matters raised by the application under regulation 100 has been issued, the relevant date is the date of that notice.

(9) Where-

the relevant date is the date with which that period expires.

(10) Where no notice of decision has been issued or interim reply has been sent before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the date the application under regulation 100 was made, the relevant date is the date with which that period expires.

Notice of decisions under regulation 102

103.-(1) The appropriate administering authority must issue their decision on the matters raised by an application under regulation 102 to the parties to the disagreement by notice in writing before the expiry of the period of two months beginning with the date the application was received (but see paragraph (2)).

(2) If no such notice is issued before the expiry of that period, an interim reply must be sent immediately to those parties, setting out the reasons for the delay and an expected date for issuing the decision.

(3) A notice under paragraph (1) must include-

Rights of representation

104.-(1) An application under regulation 100 or 102 may be made or continued on behalf of the applicant by a representative nominated by him.

(2) Where a person who has the right to make or has made such an application dies, the application may be made or continued on his behalf by his personal representative.

(3) Where such a person is a minor or is or becomes otherwise incapable of acting for himself, the application may be made or continued on his behalf by a member of his family or some other person suitable to represent him.

(4) Where a representative is nominated before an application is made, the application must specify his full name and address and whether that is to be used for service on the applicant of any documents in connection with the application.

(5) Where a representative's address is not to be so used, he must be sent a copy of a notification under 101(1) or 103(1) or an interim reply under 101(2) or 103(2).

Appeals by administering authorities

105.-(1) Where-

the administering authority maintaining the pension fund to which the Scheme employer pays contributions may appeal to the Secretary of State to decide that question.

(2) Such an appeal must be made by notice in writing given before the end of the period of six months beginning with the relevant date or such further period as the Secretary of State considers reasonable.

(3) Where the appeal relates to a decision notified under regulation 98(1), the relevant date is the date of the notification of that decision.

(4) Where the appeal relates to a failure to decide any question, the relevant date is the date of that failure.

(5) For paragraph (4) an employer is to be taken to have failed to decide a question at the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the administering authority have requested a decision by notice in writing.

(6) Where an appeal has been made under paragraph (1), the period within which an application may be made under regulation 100 may not be extended under regulation 100(8).

(7) The Secretary of State must issue his decision on the appeal by notice in writing to the appellant authority and to any other persons appearing to him to be affected by it.

(8) Where an appeal is made by an authority under this regulation and any other person-

the appeal shall be stayed pending notification of a decision under regulation 100 or, as the case may be, regulation 102 or until the application is withdrawn.

Information and records

Statements of policy concerning exercise of discretionary functions

106.-(1) Each administering authority and Scheme employer must formulate and keep under review their policy concerning the exercise of their functions under regulation 31 (early leavers), 35 (requirements as to time of payment) and under Part III.

(2) Before formulating that policy an administering authority must consult the authorities who employ active members for whom they are the appropriate administering authority.

(3) Before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the commencement date-

a written statement as to the policy which is being applied by that employer or, as the case may be, authority in the exercise of its functions on or after that date and each employer or authority shall publish that statement.

(4) Where, as a result of a review under paragraph (1), a Scheme employer or administering authority determine to amend their policy, they must send a copy of the statement of the amended policy to each relevant administering authority or, as the case may be, relevant Scheme employer before the expiry of the period of one month beginning with the date on which they so determine.

(5) A relevant administering authority, in relation to a Scheme employer, are any authority who are an appropriate administering authority for that employer's employees, and a relevant Scheme employer, in relation to an administering authority, is any Scheme employer for whose employees they are the appropriate administering authority.

(6) In formulating their policy under paragraph (1), an administering authority or Scheme employer must have regard to the extent to which the exercise of the functions could lead to a serious loss of confidence in the public service.

Annual benefit statements

106A.  - (1) An administering authority shall issue an annual benefit statement to each of its active, deferred and pension credit members.

(2) The first such statements must be issued on or before 1st April 2005 and subsequent statements must be issued on or before each 1st April thereafter.

 (3) An annual benefit statement shall contain an illustration of the amount of benefit entitlement, in respect of the rights that may arise under the Scheme, which - 

(a) has been accrued by the member at the relevant date, and

(b) in the case of an active member, is capable of being accrued by the member if he remains in the Scheme until his NRD.

(4) The illustration shall be calculated - 

(a) in the case of active members, on the member's pay (or, in the case of part-time employees, the whole-time equivalent) for the twelve-month period ending with the relevant date;

(b) in the case of deferred members, on the member's final pay; and

(c) in the case of pension credit members, in accordance with regulation 153, as if the "normal benefit age" is the relevant date.

 (5) The relevant date - 

(a) is 31st March prior to the date that the statement is issued, or

(b) such later date as the authority may choose.

Statements of policy concerning communications with members and employing authorities (including non-Scheme employers)

106B. —(1) An administering authority must prepare, maintain and publish a written statement setting out their policy concerning communications with—

(a) members;

(b) representatives of members;

(c) prospective members; and

(d) employing authorities.

(2) In particular, the statement must set out their policy on—

(a) the provision of information and publicity about the Scheme to members, representatives of members and employing authorities;

(b) the format, frequency and method of distributing such information or publicity; and

(c) the promotion of the Scheme to prospective members and their employing authorities.

(3) The first such statement must be published on or before 1st April 2006.

(4) The statement must be revised and published by the administering authority following a material change in their policy on any of the matters referred to in paragraph (2).

(5) References in paragraphs (1) and (2) to employing authorities include references to non-Scheme employers.

Information to be supplied by employees

107.-(1) Before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the date a person becomes a member, the Scheme employer must ask him in writing for the documents specified in paragraph (2).

(2) Those documents are-

(3) They must also ask for those documents before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the occurrence of any change as respects his employment which is material for the Scheme.

(4) A request under paragraph (1) or (3) must include a conspicuous statement that it is important that the member gives full and accurate information, especially for ascertaining his rights under the Scheme.

(5) The Scheme employer need not request any documents if satisfied that they or the appropriate administering authority (if different) already have all material information.

(6) The old regulations are the 1995 regulations, the 1986 regulations, the 1974 regulations, the Local Government Superannuation (Administration) Regulations 1954 and the Local Government Superannuation (Administration) Regulations 1938.

Exchange of information by authorities

108.-(1) A Scheme employer which is not an administering authority must inform the appropriate administering authority of all decisions made by the employer under this Chapter concerning members and give that authority such other information as they require for discharging their functions under the Scheme.

(2) If-

that authority must give that employer that information.

Provision of information, charging and prescribed persons
     108A.  - (1) For the purposes of section 172(1) of the Pensions Act 1995 ("the Pensions Act") (prescribed circumstances in which information may be provided) ("the prescribed circumstances") the prescribed circumstances are that the individual to whom the information relates, or, where he has died, his personal representatives, has requested or consented in writing to the provision of the information.

    (2) For the purpose of section 172(1) of the Pensions Act (persons to whom information may be provided and the imposition of reasonable fees in respect of expenses incurred in providing that information) the prescribed persons are those persons described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 5A.

    (3) For the purposes of section 172(2) of the Pensions Act (persons on whom fees may be imposed in respect of administrative expenses incurred in connection with admission, readmission or payment) the prescribed persons are the persons referred to in paragraph 2 of Schedule 5A.

    (4) For the purposes of section 172(4) of the Pensions Act (person prescribed in place of the Secretary of State in the case of an occupational pension scheme under section 7 of the Superannuation Act 1972) an administering authority is a prescribed person.

    (5) Where - 

(a) information is requested by a prescribed person in the prescribed circumstances in relation to an individual to whom regulation 122A applies for the purpose of establishing what payment would need to be made to the Scheme in respect of the individual to restore the position to what it would have been if the individual had been an active member of the Scheme throughout the period in question ("the restitution payment"), or

(b) an individual to whom regulation 122A applies, applies to become a member of the Scheme or applies to have a restitution payment accepted having become a member of the Scheme after the period in question

the administering authority who maintain the pension fund which would be the appropriate pension fund for that individual shall calculate the restitution payment in accordance with the provisions of regulation 122A.

 

CHAPTER V

SPECIAL ADJUSTMENTS

Abatement during new employment

Statements of policy concerning abatement of retirement pensions in new employment

109.-(1) Each administering authority must formulate and keep under review their policy concerning abatement (that is, the extent, if any, to which the amount of retirement pension payable to a member from any pension fund maintained by them under the Scheme should be reduced (or whether it should be extinguished) where the member has entered a new employment with a Scheme employer, other than one in which he is eligible to belong to a teachers scheme).

(2) Before formulating that policy an administering authority must consult with the authorities who employ active members for whom they are the appropriate administering authority.

(3) Before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the commencement date, each administering authority shall publish a statement as to the policy which is being applied by them where a member who is so entitled enters such a new employment on or after that date.

(4) Where, as a result of reviewing their policy concerning abatement, an administering authority determine to amend it, they must publish a statement of the amended policy before the expiry of the period of one month beginning with the date they determine to do so.

(5) In formulating their policy concerning abatement, an administering authority must have regard-

(6) In paragraph (5)(a) the reference to financial gain is a reference to the financial gain which it appears to the administering authority may be obtained by a member as a result of his entitlement both to a pension and to pay under the new employment.

Application of abatement policy in individual cases

110.-(1) Where a member who is entitled to the payment of a retirement pension proposes to enter a new employment with a Scheme employer, he must inform the employer about that entitlement.

(2) If such a member enters such a new employment he must immediately notify in writing the body from whom he has become entitled to receive the pension.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply where the new employment is employment in which the person is eligible to belong to a teachers scheme.

(4) The authority which is the member's appropriate administering authority as respects the retirement pension to which he is entitled-

(5) But no reduction under paragraph (4) of the pension of a person who was a member immediately before the commencement date may exceed the reduction which would have applied under the 1995 regulations if those regulations had applied when the member entered his new employment.

Misconduct

Forfeiture of pension rights after conviction of employment-related offences.

111.-(1) If a member is convicted of a relevant offence, the Secretary of State may issue a forfeiture certificate.

(2) Where a forfeiture certificate is issued the member's former employing authority may direct that any of the rights in respect of him under these Regulations or the 1995 regulations as respects his previous membership are forfeited.

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

(4) A forfeiture certificate is a certificate that the offence-

(5) If the former employing authority incurred loss as a direct consequence of the relevant offence, they may only give a direction under paragraph (2) if they are unable to recover their loss under regulation 113 or 115 or otherwise, except after an unreasonable time or at disproportionate cost.

(6) A direction under paragraph (2) may only be given if an application for a forfeiture certificate has been made by the former employing authority before the expiry of the period of three months beginning with the date of the conviction.

(7) Where a former employing authority apply for a forfeiture certificate, they must at the same time send the convicted person and the appropriate administering authority a copy of the application.

Interim payments directions

112.-(1) If-

his former employing authority may give an interim payments direction to the appropriate administering authority.

(2) But they may not give such a direction if they have-

(3) An interim payments direction is a direction to make interim payments to any person who appears to the former employing authority to be a person who would be entitled to receive payment of a benefit under the Scheme if no forfeiture direction were given.

(4) The person to whom payments must be made and the amounts must be specified in the direction.

(5) The amounts must not exceed the amounts which the person specified would be entitled to be paid if no forfeiture direction were given.

(6) An interim payments direction is not a decision under regulation 97 as to any person's entitlement to a benefit.

(7) Payments in accordance with an interim payments direction shall be deemed to be payments in respect of a benefit to which the recipient was entitled (regardless of any contrary forfeiture direction or decision under regulation 97).

Recovery or retention where former member has misconduct obligation.

113.-(1) This regulation applies where a person-

(2) The former employing authority may recover or retain out of the appropriate fund-

whichever is less.

(3) The rights specified in paragraph (2)(b) do not include rights enjoyed by virtue of the receipt of a transfer value or credited by virtue of regulation 66(4) (including that regulation as it applies by virtue of regulation 72).

(4) The former employing authority must give the former employee-

(5) If there is any dispute over the amount of the monetary obligation specified in paragraph (1)(b), the former employing authority may not recover or retain any amount under paragraph (2) until the obligation is enforceable under an order of a competent court or the award of an arbitrator.

Protection of GMP rights

114.-(1) The power-

may not be exercised so as to deprive a person of his guaranteed minimum pension or any widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's guaranteed minimum pension.

(2) But such a power may be so exercised if the person left his employment-

Transfer of sums from the pension fund to compensate for former member's misconduct.

115.-(1) This regulation applies where-

(2) If the former employing authority are an administering authority, they may transfer an appropriate amount from their pension fund to the appropriate fund or account.

(3) Otherwise, the appropriate administering authority must pay the former employing authority an appropriate amount out of the pension fund, if requested to do so.

(4) But if a payment in lieu of contributions is due or has been made in respect of the former employee, the administering authority may reduce a payment under paragraph (3) by half the amount of the payment in lieu of contributions.

(5) An appropriate amount is an amount not exceeding-

whichever is the less.

(6) If after making a payment under paragraph (3) the appropriate administering authority are required to make any transfer payment under Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 or under regulation 119 or to make a payment under regulation 125 for a former employee, the former employing authority must repay it, if requested to do so.

CHAPTER VI

TRANSFERS

Transfers out

Application of Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993

116.-(1) For sections 12C (requirements as to transfer, commutation etc. for contracting-out), 19 (discharge of liability) and 20 (transfer of accrued rights) and Chapter IV of Part IV (transfer values) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and any regulations made under any of those sections or that Chapter, the managers of the Scheme in relation to a member are the fund authority.

(2) Despite regulation 2 of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations 1996 (pre-1986 leavers), Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 shall apply to all members of the Scheme regardless of the date of termination of their pensionable service.

(3) The references in regulation 4 of those regulations to regulation 3 of those regulations include a reference to regulation K7(2) of the 1995 regulations and any corresponding earlier provisions.

(4) Regulation 5 of those regulations (treatment of a number of employments as a single employment) only applies if the employments are treated as a single employment for the purposes of the Scheme.

(5) Sub-paragraph (a) of regulation 10(2) of those regulations (interest on late payment of cash equivalents) does not apply where the member has required the cash equivalent to be paid to a club scheme.

(6) Regulation 18 of those regulations (termination of pensionable service in certain circumstances to be disregarded) only applies if-

(a) in the case of a termination before the commencement date, no election was made under regulation D12(1)(c) of the 1995 regulations (or any corresponding earlier provision) in respect of the service which terminated, and

(b) in any case, no election has been made under regulation 32(1) to have the service which terminated aggregated with later service.

(7) For this regulation and regulation 117, the fund authority, in relation to a member, is the body maintaining the pension fund to which he was contributing immediately before his pensionable service terminated.

(8) But if that fund has been closed, the fund authority is the body which would be liable to pay him his pension for that employment if he had been entitled to receive payment of such a pension when his pensionable service terminated.

Rights to payment out of fund authority's pension fund

117.-(1) The amount of any transfer payment due in respect of a member under Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 is payable by the fund authority from their pension fund.

(2) Where such a transfer payment is to be or has been paid from a fund, no other payment or transfer of assets may be made from the fund as respects the accrued rights covered by the transfer payment.

(3) Paragraph (2) overrides anything to the contrary in the the former regulations, any local Act scheme, the 1974 regulations, the 1986 regulations, the 1995 regulations or any other provision of these Regulations or the Transitional Regulations.

Contracting-out requirements affecting transfers out

118.-(1) There must be deducted from the transfer payment to be made in respect of any person-

(a) the amount of any contributions equivalent premium payable pursuant to section 55 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993; or

(b) an amount sufficient to meet the liability in respect of his contracted-out rights.

(2) But the amount mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) may not be deducted where-

(a) the transfer payment is made to an occupational pension scheme which is contracted-out or an appropriate personal pension scheme, and

(b) that scheme's trustees or managers undertake to accept liability for his contracted-out rights.

(3) Where the amount mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) is deducted, if the appropriate administering authority think fit, that amount may be used in preserving the liability mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) in the appropriate fund.

(4) Otherwise, it must be used in paying the premium.

(5) Contracted-out rights, in relation to a member, are-

(a) his and his surviving spouse's or civil partner's rights to guaranteed minimum pensions, and

(b) his section 9(2B) rights (as defined in regulation 1(2) of the Occupational Pension Schemes Contracting-out) Regulations 1996).

Bulk transfer arrangements

Bulk transfers (transfers of undertakings) etc.

119.-(1) This paragraph applies where-

(a) two or more members' active membership ends on their joining an approved non-local government scheme (the new scheme),

(b) it is agreed by-

(c) the members agree in writing that that payment should be made instead of any payment which they otherwise might require to be made under Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and waive any rights they might have under that Chapter by virtue of the cessation of their active membership.

(2) The appropriate administering authority must not give their agreement under paragraph (1)(b) unless they are satisfied that the rights that each of the members will acquire under the new scheme are at least equivalent to those which he would have obtained if a transfer value had been paid to the same scheme under Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993, as it applies by virtue of regulation 116, (assuming in any case where the member would not be entitled to such a payment that he was).

(3) The appropriate administering authority must provide each member with sufficient information in writing to check that fact before he agrees as mentioned in paragraph (1)(c).

(4) Where paragraph (1) applies, the appropriate administering authority must-

(a) set aside (whether in cash or in assets or both) such part of the appropriate fund ("the transfer payment") as an actuary appointed by them and an actuary appointed by the scheme managers of the new scheme for the purpose may agree as appropriate for the acquisition of such rights in that scheme as they may so agree, and

(b) pay or transfer it to the trustees or managers of the new scheme for the benefit of the relevant members.

(5) The appropriate administering authority must certify to the new scheme's trustees or managers the amount included in the transfer payment which represents each member's contributions and interest on them.

(6) Where a transfer payment is to be or has been made under this regulation, no other payment or transfer of assets shall be made from the pension fund by reason of membership covered by the transfer payment.

(7) Paragraph (6) overrides anything to the contrary in the former regulations, any local Act scheme or any provision of the 1974 regulations, the 1986 regulations, the 1995 regulations or these Regulations.

Calculation of amount of transfer payment under regulation 119

120.-(1) The amount of the transfer payment to be paid under regulation 119 is the amount determined by an actuary appointed by the members' appropriate administering authority to be equal to the value at the date they join the new scheme of the actual and potential liabilities payable from their fund which have then accrued in respect of the members and the persons who are or may become entitled to benefits under the Scheme through them.

(2) The actuary may make such adjustments as he thinks fit in calculating that amount and, in particular, as respects the period from that date to the date of actual payment of the transfer value.

(3) He must specify in his valuation the actuarial assumptions he has used in making it.

(4) The employing authority shall bear the costs of determining the appropriate part of the fund and apportioning the fund.

(5) But if there is more than one employing authority involved, each shall bear such part of the costs as the actuary determines to be appropriate.

Transfers in

Inward transfers of pension rights

121.-(1) If a person who becomes an active member has relevant pension rights, he may request his fund authority to accept a transfer value for some or all those rights from the relevant transferor.

(2) Relevant pension rights are accrued rights under-

(a) an occupational pension scheme (other than the Scheme),

(b) a personal pension scheme,

(c) a retirement annuity contract approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under section 620 or 621 of the Taxes Act, or

(d) a self-employed pension arrangement,

but do not include rights to benefits under the scheme, contract or arrangement which are attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit

(3) Accrued rights include rights to preserved benefits and rights appropriately secured under section 19 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.

(4) For this regulation and the following regulations of this Chapter the fund authority, in relation to a transferring person, are the body maintaining the pension fund of the Scheme to which he is contributing.

(5) The relevant transferor is the trustees or managers of the scheme, contract or arrangement under which the transferring person's relevant pension rights arise.

(6) But the relevant transferor for the rights specified in paragraph (3) is the trustees or managers of the scheme, contract or arrangement, or the insurance company, to which a payment in respect of his accrued rights has been made.

(7) A request from a transferring person under paragraph (1) must be made by notice in writing.

(8) That notice must be given before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date he became an active member (or such longer period as his employer may allow).

(9) Where a request under paragraph (1) is duly made the fund authority may accept the transfer value and credit it to their pension fund.

Right to count credited period

122.-(1) Where a transfer value has been accepted under regulation 121, the member may count the credited period as a period of membership for these Regulations (but see Schedule 3).

(2) If the transfer value-

(a) is paid by the trustees or managers of a club scheme,

(b) represents all the rights relating to the member in that scheme,

(c) has been calculated-

(i) in a case where Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 applies, in accordance with that Chapter, and

(ii) otherwise, in a manner consistent with that prescribed under that Chapter,

the credited period is the period which, if used to calculate a transfer value to be paid by the Scheme, would produce an amount equal to the transfer value received.

(3) If the transfer value is not paid by the trustees or managers of a club scheme, the credited period must be calculated in a manner consistent with that Chapter.

(4) In calculating the credited period under paragraph (3) due allowance must be given for the expected increase in the member's pensionable pay between the date he became a member (or, if more than twelve months later, the date on which the transfer value is received) and his NRD.

(5) If the member is a man, the credited period must be treated as a period after 5th April 1978.

(6) If the member is a woman, the credited period must be treated as a period after 5th April 1988.

(6C) A credited period arising from a request to accept a transfer value under regulation 121 which is made by a person who was an active member immediately before1st April 2008 shall be treated as a period of membership before that date.

(6D) A credited period arising from a request to accept a transfer value under regulation 121 which is made by a person who becomes a member on or after 1st April 2008 shall be treated as a period of membership after that date.

(7) The fund authority must give the member a written notice stating the period of membership he may count under paragraph (1).

(8) The notice must contain a statement of the kind required by regulation 98(4).

Credited periods for transferring members with mis-sold pension rights
122A.  - (1) Regulation 122(3) does not apply where - 

(a) the transferring person is a person about whom information may be given under section 172(1) of the Pensions Act 1995 (mis-sold personal pensions), as it has effect in the case of the Scheme (see regulation 108A), and

(b) the transfer value satisfies the conditions specified in paragraph (2)

(and regulation 122(6D) does not apply to a transfer value credited under this regulation).

(2) Those conditions are - 

(a) that it is paid by the trustees or managers of the personal pension scheme mentioned in section 172(1)(a)(ii),

(b) that it represents all the rights relating to the member in that scheme,

(c) that it is paid on an application made to the appropriate administering authority before the expiry of the period of 12 months beginning with the date the transferring person becomes an active member (or such longer period as they may allow); and

(d) that in the opinion of the appropriate administering authority it is not less than the restitution amount.

(3) Where paragraph (1) applies, the credited period is the period of membership the transferring person could have counted if he had been an active member throughout the personal pension period.

(4) The restitution amount is the aggregate - 

(a) of the amount that would be necessary (as at the date on which the request for the calculation of the restitution amount is received by the appropriate administering authority) to purchase a period of membership for these regulations equal to the length of the personal pension period on the basis of a transfer from a scheme which is not a club scheme (including the value of rights under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 and the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974),

(b) of the transfer value paid out of the Scheme to the personal pension scheme, and

(c) of interest on any such transfer value at such rate as is approved for the time being by the Government Actuary, calculated over the period from the date on which that transfer value was paid out of the Scheme to the date as at which the transfer value is taken to be paid to the Scheme.

(5) The appropriate administering authority must determine the amount mentioned in paragraph (4)(a) in such manner as is for the time being indicated in guidance issued by the Government Actuary.

(6) The personal pension period is the period for which the transferring person was eligible to be an active member but in respect of which he made contributions to the personal pension scheme instead.

(7) Where a transfer value has been accepted in relation to a woman to whom this regulation applies and in respect of whom a transfer value had been paid previously by an administering authority to a personal pension scheme any part of which transfer value was attributable to membership before 5th April 1988, then the credited period shall be apportioned as membership before 6th April 1988 and as membership after 5th April 1988 in the same proportions as it would have been had the woman become or remained a member of the Scheme throughout the personal pension period.

(8) If in the opinion of the appropriate administering authority the transfer value does not satisfy the conditions specified in paragraph (2) for the reason only that it is less than the restitution amount, the appropriate administering authority may accept the transfer value on the basis that the credited period which the member may count is such proportion of the personal pension period as the appropriate administering authority determine.

Rights as to service not matched by credited period

123.-(1) Where the member's transferred-in service exceeds the credited period, he may count the excess as a period which counts towards his total membership for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (2).

(2) Those provisions are-

(a) regulation 19(1) (general qualification for benefits);

(c) regulation 41(4) and (5) (amount of active member's surviving spouse's or civil partner's long-term pension);

(d) regulation 87(1) (return of contributions).

(3) A period which may be counted under paragraph (1) counts at its actual length.

(4) The fund authority must give the member a written notice stating the period of membership he may count under paragraph (1).

(5) The notice must contain a statement of the kind required by regulation 98(4).

(6) The transferred-in service of a transferring member is the service in respect of which he has accrued rights to benefits under his previous occupational pension scheme or appropriate policy (whether or not the transfer value covers all those rights).

(7) The period of that service is the period certified by the trustees or managers of that scheme or issuers of that policy.

Community scheme transferees

Community scheme transferees

124.-(1) Community scheme transferees and their surviving spouses or civil partners, dependants and children are entitled to such rights under the Scheme as are specified in guidance issued by the Government Actuary.

(2) A Community Scheme transferee is a person who became employed by a Community institution after having been employed in local government employment.

Payments between funds and authorities

Changes of fund

125.-(1) This regulation applies where-

(a) a pension fund becomes an active member's appropriate fund,

(b) immediately before it does so, another fund was his appropriate fund,

(c) in a case where regulation 32(1) applies to him, he has made an election under that regulation.

(2) Where the member's appropriate administering authority has also changed, the authority which has ceased to be the member's appropriate administering authority must make such payment to his later appropriate administering authority as is indicated in guidance issued by the Government Actuary for this regulation (but see paragraphs (3) and (3A)).

(3) Where paragraph (2) applies as respects 10 or more members by virtue of a single event, the amount of the payment under that paragraph shall be determined by agreement between the actuary appointed by the administering authority by which the payment must be made and the actuary appointed by the administering authority to which it must be made.

(3A) Where the actuaries cannot agree on the amount within 12 months of the date of transfer or, where there is more than one date of transfer, the date of the last transfer which relates to the single event, the matter shall be referred to a third actuary, chosen by agreement between the actuaries or, in default of agreement, by the President of the Institute of Actuaries, and his determination shall be final.

(3B) The costs of determining the amount to be transferred shall be paid in equal shares by the members' former appropriate fund and the members' new appropriate fund.

(4) Any payment under paragraph (2) must be credited to the new appropriate administering authority's fund.

(5) Where the member's appropriate administering authority has not changed, they must arrange for a payment such as is indicated in guidance issued by the Government Actuary for this regulation to be made from the member's former appropriate fund to his new appropriate fund.

(6) Paragraph (1) does not apply where a member enters an employment which is concurrent with another in which he is also an active member.

 

 


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