Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Leaving the Scheme

B11.—(1) Subject to regulation B2(2) and (4), a person shall cease to be a member of the Scheme if—

(a) he wishes to do so, or

(b) he ceases to be eligible for membership.

(2) A person who wishes to cease to be a member of the Scheme shall so notify his employer in writing.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), a person giving a notification under paragraph (2) shall cease to be a member of the Scheme—

(a) in a case where a date of cessation (being a date not earlier than the date of the notification) is specified in the notification, from that date, and

(b) otherwise, from the first day of the first, or if the LGPS employer so determines, the second payment period following the notification.

(4) In paragraph (3)(b), “payment period” means a period of service to which the employee’s payment of wages or salary relates.

(5) Where a person gives a notification under paragraph (2) within three months after first becoming a member of the Scheme, he shall be treated as never having been a member.

(6) Where—

(a) a person to whom regulation C8 (absence on reserve forces service) applies has given notification under paragraph (2) before ceasing his former employment or beginning his leave of absence in order to perform his relevant service (within the meaning of that regulation), and

(b) he is still a member immediately before he commences his relevant service,

then, subject to paragraph (7), the notification shall be of no effect.

(7) A person may elect that paragraph (6) is not to apply, by notice given in writing to the Committee before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the end of his relevant service (or within such longer period as it may allow), and it shall take all practicable steps to ensure that a person entitled to make such an election is notified of his entitlement.

(8) Any contributions paid by a person with respect to a period during which, by virtue of a notification under paragraph (2), he is not a member of the Scheme shall be returned to him.