The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

CHAPTER 4 Transfer of pension account entries to another scheme manager

Requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate

154.—(1) The scheme manager must provide an active member who has ceased to be employed by the Board in scheme employment and has taken up scheme employment with another authority with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account, or pension accounts if more than one, at the date of the certificate;

(b) the period of pensionable service in the scheme employment, or employments, with the Board; and

(c) the date on which the certificate is given.

(2) Where a deferred member has taken up scheme employment with another authority after a gap in pensionable service not exceeding 5 years, that member must request the scheme manager in relation to the earlier period of pensionable service to provide the member with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account, or pension accounts if more than one, at the date of the certificate;

(b) the period of pensionable service in the scheme employment, or employments, with the Board;

(c) the date on which the member had ceased to be employed in scheme employment by the Board; and

(d) the date on which the certificate is given.

(3) Where the scheme manager is required to provide a certificate under paragraph (1), and the scheme manager had established an added pension account for that member the scheme manager must provide the member with a certificate stating—

(a) the entries in the added pension account at the date of the certificate;

(b) the date on which the certificate is given; and

(c) details of the member’s added pension election where the contributions period has not ended.

(4) Where a scheme manager is required to provide a certificate under paragraph (2), or where a deferred member intends to make an added pension election having taken up scheme employment after a gap in pensionable service exceeding 5 years, and the scheme manager in relation to a previous period of pensionable service had established an added pension account, that scheme manager must provide the member with a certificate, where the member requests one, stating—

(a) the entries in the pension account at the date of the certificate;

(b) the date on which the member had ceased to be employed in scheme employment by that employer; and

(c) the date on which the certificate is given.

(5) Where an active member has two or more active member’s accounts, and that member intends to make, or has made an added pension election, that member may request a certificate from the scheme manager who established the added pension account so that that certificate may be provided to the scheme manager for another authority in respect of a different active member’s account so that the entries may be transferred to an added pension account established by the scheme manager.

(6) The scheme manager must provide a certificate under this regulation—

(a) within three months of the date on which the active member leaves scheme employment; or

(b) within three months of the date on which the deferred member notifies the scheme manager for another authority.

Request to confirm details on certificate

155.  Where a member has been provided with a certificate under regulation 154 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) and is dissatisfied with the information stated on the certificate, that member may within the period of three months commencing on the date on which the certificate was received, request the scheme manager to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in it or to provide an amended certificate.

Dispute concerning entries on the certificate

156.—(1) Where a member (P) is not satisfied with the entries on the certificate, or amended certificate, after P has made a request under regulation 155 (request to confirm details on certificate), P may, by written notice given to the scheme manager within 28 days of the notification date, require the scheme manager to deal with the disagreement by means of arrangements implemented by it pursuant to the requirements of Article 50 (resolution of disputes) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(1) and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Internal Dispute Resolution Procedures) (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(2).

(2) In paragraph (1) “the notification date” is the date on which P is treated as having received from the scheme manager confirmation of the certificate provided or provision of an amended certificate following P’s request under regulation 155 (request to confirm details on certificate).

Transfer of pension account entries

157.—(1) A member who has been provided with a certificate under paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) of regulation 154 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) must give the certificate to that member’s new employer.

(2) If the number of pension accounts in respect of which details have been provided by the former scheme manager under paragraph (1) or (2) of regulation 154 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) is greater than the number of active member’s accounts established by the scheme manager for another authority, the member must decide, following consultation with that scheme manager, from which pension account entries should be transferred to the new active member’s account of that other authority or accounts and notify that scheme manager of this.

(3) Where paragraph (2) applies and there are one or more pension accounts from which entries are not transferred, those accounts must be closed and the scheme manager must establish a deferred member’s account in respect of each of those accounts.

(4) Where a member has taken up scheme employment with the Board and one or more other authorities and intends to make an added pension election, the member may choose to which scheme manager the certificate provided under paragraph (3) or (4) of regulation 154 (requirement for scheme manager to provide a certificate) is to be given.

(5) The scheme manager is not required to make any payment to the scheme manager of another authority in connection with the transfer of pension account.

(1)

S.I. 1995/3213 (NI 22)

(2)

SR 2008 No 116.