Applications to resolve disagreements
72.—(1) This regulation applies where there is a disagreement about a matter in relation to the Scheme between a member (or an alternative applicant) and a Scheme employer or the administering authority.
(2) These persons are alternative applicants—
(a)a widow, widower or surviving civil partner or cohabiting partner (as defined in Schedule 1) of a deceased member;
(b)a dependant of a deceased member or any other person to whom benefits in respect of him or her may be paid;
(c)a prospective member;
(d)a person who ceased to be a member, or to fall within any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), during the period of six months ending with the date of the application; and
(e)in the case of a disagreement relating to the question whether a person claiming to be a member or to fall within any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) does so, the claimant.
(3) The member or, as the case may be, the alternative applicant may apply to—
(a)the person specified under regulation 71(5)(c) (notification of first instance decision) to give a decision on the disagreement; or
(b)the appropriate administering authority for that authority to refer the disagreement to a person for decision.
(4) An application for a decision must—
(a)set out the applicant’s full name, address and date of birth;
(b)include a statement giving details of the nature of the disagreement and the reasons why the applicant is aggrieved;
(c)be signed by or on behalf of the applicant; and
(d)be accompanied by a copy of any written notification under regulation 71 (notification of first instance decision).
(5) An application by—
(a)a member or prospective member;
(b)a person who ceased to be a member or prospective member during the period of six months ending with the date of the application; or
(c)a person claiming to be a person within sub-paragraph (a) or (b),
must also set out his or her national insurance number (if any) and the name of his or her Scheme employer.
(6) An application by any other person must also set out—
(a)that person’s relationship to the member; and
(b)the member’s full name, address, date of birth and national insurance number (if any) and the name of the member’s employing authority.
(7) An application must be made before the end of—
(a)the period of six months beginning with the relevant date; or
(b)such longer period as the person giving the decision on the disagreement considers reasonable.
(8) The relevant date is—
(a)in the case of a disagreement relating to a decision under regulation 70 (first instance decisions), the date notification of the decision is given under regulation 71 (notification of first instance decision); and
(b)in any other case, the date of the act or omission which is the cause of the disagreement or, if there is more than one, the last of them.
(9) Paragraph (7)(b) does not apply where an appeal has been made under regulation 77(1) (appeals by administering authorities) in respect of a matter that is the subject of an application under this regulation.