The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

2.  For regulation 37 (early payment of retirement pension on ill-health grounds: deferred members) substitute—

“37.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2), if a councillor member who has ceased to be a member of a council before the councillor member is entitled to the immediate payment of retirement benefits (apart from under this regulation) becomes permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of that office because of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body the councillor member may make a written request to the Committee to receive payment of retirement benefits immediately, whatever the councillor member’s age, provided the councillor member has total membership of at least two years.

(2) Before determining whether to agree to a request under paragraph (1), the Committee shall obtain a certificate from the IRMP, appointed under regulation 38, as to whether in the IRMP’s opinion the councillor member is permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of that office because of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body and, if so, whether the councillor member has a reduced likelihood of being capable of undertaking any gainful employment (whether in local government or otherwise) before reaching normal pension age.”.