79.—(1) A person (P) is qualified for retirement benefits in respect of a period of pensionable service if—
(a)P has at least 2 years’ qualifying service; or
(b)after P enters pensionable service, a transfer value payment or cash transfer sum is accepted under Part 10 (transfers) in respect of P’s rights accrued under a personal pension scheme.
(2) In these Regulations, a period of qualifying service is the total of the following—
(a)any period of pensionable service under this scheme (other than a period of post-benefit service);
(b)if after P enters pensionable service under this scheme a transfer value payment or cash transfer sum has been accepted under Part 10 in respect of rights accrued under another occupational pension scheme, a period equal to the person’s period as an active member in that scheme;
(c)for a transition member with continuity of service, any period of pensionable service under the existing scheme before the closing date.
(3) Any pensionable service in respect of which a person’s rights under this scheme or the existing scheme are extinguished is not qualifying service.
80.—(1) A person (P) is re-qualified for retirement benefits under these Regulations if—
(a)P has at least 12 months’ post-benefit qualifying service; or
(b)a transfer payment otherwise than from another occupational pension scheme has been accepted in relation to P during P’s post-benefit service.
(2) In these Regulations, a period of post-benefit qualifying service is the total of the following—
(a)any period of post-benefit service under this scheme;
(b)for a transition member in respect of post-benefit service, any period of post-benefit service under the existing scheme before the member’s transition date;
(c)if after P enters a period of post-benefit service a transfer payment has been accepted in respect of rights accrued under another occupational pension scheme, a period equal to the person’s period of pensionable service under that scheme.
(3) For the purpose of these Regulations, P enters a period of “post-benefit service” when—
(a)P re-enters pensionable service—
(i)on or after reaching normal pension age; and
(ii)after a retirement pension (other than a phased retirement pension) or a short-service serious ill-health grant becomes payable; or
(b)P re-enters pensionable service—
(i)before reaching normal pension age; and
(ii)after a retirement pension (other than an ill health pension or phased retirement pension) or a short-service serious ill-health grant becomes payable.
(4) For the purpose of these Regulations, P does not enter a period of “post-benefit service” if P re-enters pensionable service—
(a)before reaching normal pension age; and
(b)after an ill-health pension or phased retirement pension becomes payable.
(5) Any period of service in respect of which P’s rights under this scheme or the existing scheme are extinguished is not included in a period of post-benefit service(1).
81. For the purpose of calculating benefits in respect of a period of post-benefit service, P is taken to enter pensionable service for the first time when P enters the period of post-benefit service.
Regulation 183(4) provides for extinguishment of rights following the refund of the member’s contributions. Regulation 197(6) provides for extinguishment of rights following a transfer value payment.