PART 9 Early leavers: Cash Transfer Sums and Contribution Refunds

32
In this Part “the Early Leavers Regulations” means the Occupational Pension Schemes (Early Leavers: Cash Transfer Sums and Contribution Refunds) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 .
S.R. 2006 No. 49; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2008 Nos. 370 and 388

33 Cash transfer sum: cash balance benefits etc treated as money purchase benefits
1 Where the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are met, a cash transfer sum to which the member has acquired a right under section 97AB of the 1993 Act (right to cash transfer sum and contribution refund) is to be calculated as if it related to money purchase benefits.
Sections 97AA to 97AI were inserted by Article 241 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
2 The conditions specified in this paragraph are that—
(a) before the appointed day the member has acquired a right to a cash transfer sum or to a contribution refund in accordance with section 97AB of the 1993 Act;
(b) at any time, the trustees or managers of the scheme have, in accordance with section 97AC of the 1993 Act (notification of right to cash transfer sum or contribution refund), given to the member a statement in writing specifying the amount of the cash transfer sum to which the member has acquired a right under section 97AB of that Act;
(c) the statement specifying the amount of the cash transfer sum relates to cash balance benefits, a defined benefit minimum (in relation to money purchase underpin benefits or cash balance underpin benefits) or top-up benefits which the trustees or managers of the scheme treated as money purchase benefits (whether or not the statement also relates to other benefits);
(d) the cash transfer sum relating to those benefits specified in the statement has been calculated as if the benefits were money purchase benefits, and
(e) the trustees or managers of the scheme have been notified in accordance with section 97AD of the 1993 Act (exercise of right under section 97AB) that the member wishes to take a cash transfer sum in accordance with section 97AB(1)(a).
3 Where—
(a) the conditions specified in paragraph (2) are met;
(b) the cash transfer sum to which the member acquires a right has been calculated in the manner specified in paragraph (2)(d), and
(c) the trustees or managers of the scheme have (at any time) done what is needed to carry out the requirement specified in the member's notice under section 97AD(2)(b) of the 1993 Act,
the trustees or managers of the scheme are discharged from any obligation in respect of any rights (including contingent rights) of, or in respect of, the member to the benefits to which the cash transfer sum relates, or to make any other payment by way of refund of contributions made by or in respect of the member (other than any pension credit or amount attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit).

34 Amendment of the Early Leavers Regulations
1 The Early Leavers Regulations are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (7).
2 In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)—
(a) after the definition of “actuary” insert—

““cash balance benefit” has the meaning given by regulation 2 of the Pensions (2012 Act) (Transitional, Consequential and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014;”

;
(b) after the definition of “discount rates” insert—

““final salary”, in relation to a member to or in respect of whom benefits under a pension scheme are payable, means the member's pensionable earnings, or highest, average or representative pensionable earnings, in a specified period ending at, or defined by reference to, the time when the member's pensionable service in relation to that scheme ends;”

;
(c) after the definition of “insufficiency report liabilities” insert—

““pensionable earnings”, in relation to a member of a pension scheme, means earnings by reference to which benefits under the scheme are calculated;”

.
3 In regulation 2 (manner of calculation and verification of cash transfer sums – general provisions)—
(a) in paragraph (1)(a)(i) after “salary related benefits” insert “ other than cash balance benefits in respect of which the available sum is not calculated by reference to final salary ”;
(b) in paragraph (1)(a)(ii) after “money purchase benefits” insert “ and cash balance benefits in respect of which the available sum is not calculated by reference to final salary ”;
(c) for paragraph (5) substitute—

“5 Where a portion of the cash transfer sum relates to a benefit specified in paragraph (1)(a)(i) and a portion relates to a benefit specified in paragraph (1)(a)(ii), the initial cash transfer sum is to be calculated—
(a) for the portion falling within paragraph (1)(a)(i), in accordance with regulations 2A and 2B, and
(b) for the portion falling within paragraph (1)(a)(ii), in accordance with regulation 2C.”

.
Regulations 2 and 2A to 2D were substituted for regulation 2 by paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to S.R. 2008 No. 370
4 In regulation 2A (manner of calculation of initial cash transfer sums for salary related benefits)—
(a) in the heading at the end insert “ other than cash balance benefits not calculated by reference to final salary ”;
(b) in paragraph (1) after “salary related benefits” insert “ other than cash balance benefits in respect of which the available sum is not calculated by reference to final salary ”.
5 In regulation 2B (initial cash transfer sum for salary related benefits: assumptions and guidance)—
(a) in the heading after “salary related benefits” insert “ other than cash balance benefits not calculated by reference to final salary ”;
(b) in paragraph (1) after “salary related benefits” insert “ other than cash balance benefits in respect of which the available sum is not calculated by reference to final salary ”.
Regulation 2B was amended by regulation 4 of S.R. 2008 No. 388
6 In regulation 2C (manner of calculation of initial cash transfer sums for money purchase benefits)—
(a) in the heading at the end insert “ and cash balance benefits not calculated by reference to final salary ”;
(b) in paragraph (1) for “For” substitute “ For cash balance benefits in respect of which the available sum is not calculated by reference to final salary and ”;
(c) for paragraph (4) substitute—

“4 The realisable value must include—
(a) for money purchase benefits, any increases to the benefits resulting from a payment of interest made in accordance with the scheme rules, or
(b) for cash balance benefits—
(i) any interest (including notional interest) which, in accordance with the scheme rules, applies to the available sum in respect of which the benefits are calculated;
(ii) any guarantee which, in accordance with the scheme rules, applies to the available sum in respect of the benefits or to the contributions made by the member or by another person in respect of the member;
(iii) any options the member has which would increase the value of the member's benefits under the scheme (adjusted to reflect the proportion of members that the trustees determine are likely to exercise those options), and
(iv) any discretionary benefits which the trustees determine should be taken into account, having regard to any established custom for awarding the benefits and any requirement for consent before they are awarded.”

.
Regulation 2C was amended by regulation 4 of S.R. 2008 No. 388
7 In regulation 4 (reduction of cash transfer sums and contribution refunds)—
(a) in paragraph (1) for “if the insufficiency conditions are met.” substitute—

“if—
(a) the insufficiency conditions are met, and
(b) the cash transfer sum relates to salary-related benefits.”

;
(b) in paragraph (3) after “initial cash transfer sum” insert “ which does not relate to money purchase benefits ”;
(c) in paragraph (7) after “the initial cash transfer sum or contribution refund” insert “ , where it does not relate to money purchase benefits, ”.
Regulation 4 was substituted by paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to S.R. 2008 No. 370