PART 3BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS, ETC.

CHAPTER 3.K2008 SECTION OPTANTS

Miscellaneous provisions

Circumstances in which a member of the 1995 Section may defer making an option to join this Section of the scheme under regulation 3.K.23

1

This regulation applies to a person who—

a

on, or after, 1st October 2009—

i

is an active member of the 1995 Section; or

ii

is a member of that Section who is absent from work because of illness or injury and whose earnings have ceased in the circumstances described in regulation P2(3) (absence because of illness or injury) of the 2011 Regulations;

b

submitted a form AW8 (or such other form as the Scottish Ministers accept) together with supporting medical evidence (if not included on the form) for the purposes of an ill health pension payable in accordance with regulation E3 (early retirement pension on ill health grounds (post 1st April 2008)) of the 2011 Regulations;

c

that form and supporting medical evidence was received by the Scottish Ministers—

i

before the date on which a comparative statement of benefits under the 1995 Section and this Section of the scheme is sent to the person (whether by electronic communication or otherwise) in accordance with regulation 3.K.2 (option for a member of the 1995 Section to join this Section of the scheme); or

ii

such a statement has been issued to that person, before the date specified by the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of paragraph (3) of that regulation.

2

A person to whom paragraph (1) applies may opt to join this Section of the scheme in accordance with paragraph (3).

3

Subject to paragraph (4), the option under paragraph (2) may only be exercised if—

a

the person gives notice in writing to the scheme administrator in such form as the Scottish Ministers require; and

b

that notice is received by the scheme administrator within a period of four months starting with the day on which—

i

that person is sent a written notification of the Scottish Ministers' decision as to whether, in consideration of the form and medical evidence referred to in paragraph (1), that person has met the lower tier or the upper tier condition specified in regulation E3 (early retirement pension on ill health grounds (post 1st April 2008)) of the 2011 Regulations (“the first decision”);

ii

that person is sent a written notification of the Scottish Ministers' decision in respect of the stage 1 dispute (“stage 1 decision”);

iii

that person is sent a written notification of the Scottish Ministers' decision in respect of the stage 2 dispute (“stage 2 decision”); or

iv

that person is sent written notification of the final determination by the Pensions Ombudsman.

4

Paragraph (3) must cease to apply to any person if at any time that person—

a

returns to practitioner service; or

b

claims a pension under regulation E11 (early retirement pension (with actuarial reduction)) or E12 (preserved pension) of the 2011 Regulations.

5

In this regulation—

  • “stage 1 dispute” means a request made to the Scottish Ministers for a review of the first decision under section 50 (resolution of disputes) of the 1995 Act, that is received by the Scottish Ministers within a period of 6 months starting with the date on which that person was sent written notification of the original decision;

  • “stage 2 dispute” means a request made to the Scottish Ministers to review the stage 1 decision under section 50 of the 1995 Act that is received by the Scottish Ministers within a period of 6 months starting with the day on which that person is sent a written notification of a stage 1 decision; and

  • “final determination by the Pensions Ombudsman” means a written determination under section 151 (determinations of the Pensions Ombudsman) of the 1993 Act made as the result of the investigation of a complaint by the person in respect of the stage 2 decision that was received by the Pensions Ombudsman within a period of three years starting with the day on which the person is sent written notification of the stage 2 decision.