The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) and Health and Personal Social Services (Injury Benefits) (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Insertion of new regulation 59

13.  After regulation 58 (Special terms for transfers out (bulk transfers etc)) add—

“Member’s right to transfer a preserved pension to the 2008 Scheme

59.— (1) If a member meets the conditions referred to in paragraph (3), and subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a member may require the Department to use the cash equivalent of the member’s rights under the scheme referred to in these Regulations to acquire rights in the 2008 scheme.

(2) A member’s right to require the Department to use the cash equivalent of the member’s rights in the way referred to in paragraph (1) may only be exercised once.

(3) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the member—

(a) is entitled to a deferred benefit under regulation 49;

(b) may not join the scheme in respect of any further HSC employment by virtue of regulation 7(1)(k); and

(c) becomes an active member of the 2008 scheme before attaining the age of 60.

(4) The Department shall provide a member to whom this regulation applies with a statement of the amount of the cash equivalent of the member’s benefits accrued in accordance with these Regulations at the guarantee date (“a statement of entitlement”).

(5) In this regulation “the guarantee date” means any date that—

(a) falls within the required period;

(b) is chosen by the Department;

(c) is specified in the statement of entitlement; and

(d) is within the period of 10 days ending with the date on which the member is provided with the statement of entitlement.

(6) In counting the period of 10 days referred to in paragraph (5)(d), Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday are excluded.

(7) In paragraph (5), “the required period” means—

(a) the period of three months beginning with the date that the Department receives notification from the member’s employing authority that the member has joined the 2008 scheme; or

(b) such longer period beginning with that date (but not exceeding six months) as may be reasonably required if, for reasons beyond the control of the Department, the requisite information cannot be obtained to calculate the amount of the cash equivalent.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (9) to (11), the member’s guaranteed cash equivalent shall be equal to the capitalised value of all of the member’s rights to benefits accrued under these Regulations and any associated rights under Part I of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland)1971(1).

(9) The Department shall—

(a) take advice from the Scheme actuary before determining the factors to be used in the calculation of the member’s guaranteed cash equivalent; and

(b) calculate and verify the amount of the guaranteed cash equivalent in accordance with the Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

(10) Except in the case of a transfer payment accepted under regulation 62A (Transfers in respect of members to whom regulation 9A applies who elect to join or re-join the scheme), a member’s cash equivalent will be at least equal to the amount of any transfer payments accepted in respect of the member under regulation 60(4) (which deals with the crediting of additional service upon transfer), plus the amount of the member’s contributions to the scheme.

(11) Any part of the cash equivalent that relates to the service before 6th September 1988 will be calculated as described in the previous Regulations as applicable immediately before that date, if this would be more favourable to the member.

(12) A member who has received a statement of entitlement in accordance with paragraph (4) may apply to the Department for the cash equivalent of the member’s rights under the scheme to be used to acquire rights under the 2008 scheme.

(13) An application under this regulation must be made in respect of each and every portion of the cash equivalent and shall be—

(a) made in writing on the form provided for this purpose by the Department;

(b) made before the end of the period of three months beginning with the guarantee date;

(c) irrevocable.

(14) On the making of such an application—

(a) a member becomes entitled to be credited with a period of pensionable service or an equivalent increase to the member’s pensionable earnings in the 2008 scheme in respect of the cash equivalent value of the member’s benefits under the scheme calculated in accordance with whichever of regulations 108A or 235A of the 2008 scheme apply to the member; and

(b) the member’s rights under the scheme are extinguished on the day that the member is credited with a period of pensionable service or pensionable earnings in accordance with regulation 108A or 235A (as the case may be) of the 2008 scheme.”.

(1)

1971 c. 35 (N.I.)