The Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations 1991

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation) Regulations 1991.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 28th February 1991.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

“Schedule 1A” means Schedule 1A to the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 (revaluation of pensions and transfer values); and

“short service benefit” means the same as in Schedule 16 to the Social Security Act 1973(1) (requirements as to preservation of benefit under occupational pension schemes).

Benefits payable later than normal pension age

3.—(1) This regulation applies where the member’s normal pension age is earlier than 60.

(2) The references to “normal pension age” in paragraphs 1(2)(a) and 2(2)(a) of Schedule 1A are to be treated as references to the age at which short service benefit is made payable to the member under the rules of the scheme. Paragraphs 1(2)(a) and 2(2)(a) are modified accordingly.

Hybrid benefits

4.—(1) This regulation applies to hybrid benefits.

(2) In this regulation, “hybrid benefit” means a benefit the rate or amount of which is calculated by reference to the greatest, or smallest, of two or more of the following—

(a) an average salary benefit,

(b) a flat rate benefit,

(c) a money purchase benefit, and

(d) some other benefit to which paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A applies.

(3) Schedule 1A is modified so as to require that—

(a) before deciding which benefit is the greatest or smallest, each benefit must be revalued in accordance with whichever of paragraphs 2 to 5 of Schedule 1A applies to it, and

(b) the rate or amount of the hybrid benefit must be calculated by reference to the greatest, or smallest, of those benefits as revalued.

Benefits consisting of two or more components

5.—(1) This regulation applies to any benefit consisting partly of a component to which paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A applies (whether directly or by virtue of paragraph 3(3)(b) or 4(3)(b) of Schedule 1A) and partly of a component to which that paragraph does not apply.

(2) Schedule 1A is modified so that, for the purpose of revaluing the component to which paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A applies, B, C and D in the formula set out in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1A are to be calculated by reference only to the component to which that paragraph applies and the pensionable service which qualified the member for that component.

Administrative expenses in relation to money purchase benefits

6.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to money purchase benefits that are revalued in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 1A.

(2) The trustees or managers of the scheme may deduct from any pension or other retirement benefit that is revalued in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 1A an amount in respect of the administrative expenses incurred by them in carrying that paragraph into effect. The amount deducted must not exceed an amount equal to the smaller of—

(a) the administrative expenses incurred, and

(b) the administrative expenses that would have been incurred in providing the corresponding benefit if the member’s pensionable service had not terminated before normal pension age.

Benefits other than short service benefit

7.—(1) This regulation applies where a scheme provides so that a member becomes entitled to benefit when his pensionable service terminates before normal pension age, even if the member does not become entitled to short service benefit.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 7 of Schedule 1A, any provision contained in the scheme that would be a protected provision in relation to short service benefit is to be treated as a protected provision in relation to any benefit to which a member becomes entitled as described in paragraph (1) above. Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1A is modified accordingly.

Commutation, forfeiture and surrender

8.—(1) Paragraph 9 of Schedule 1A is modified so that it does not apply in the cases specified in this regulation.

(2) Paragraph 9 does not apply to commutation of a benefit where the lump sum to which the whole or part of the pension is commuted is, itself, revalued in accordance with Schedule 1A.

(3) Paragraph 9 does not apply to forfeiture of the whole or part of a pension where the forfeiture applies only after the pension has been revalued in accordance with Schedule 1A.

(4) Paragraph 9 does not apply to surrender of the whole or part of a pension where it is to provide benefit for the widow or widower or a dependant of the member and the scheme provides for that benefit to be revalued in accordance with Schedule 1A.

Retirement benefits varied at pensionable age

9.—(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) a scheme provides that the pension or other retirement benefit payable under the scheme to a member at normal pension age is to be varied at pensionable age, and

(b) that benefit is subject to revaluation by the method specified in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A.

(2) Paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A is modifeid so that, when the pension or other retirement benfit payable under the scheme is varied, there is a corresponding variation in the appropriate amount to be added to the benefit.

Rounding

10.—(1) This regulation applies where paragraph 2 of Schedule 1A applies to a benefit under the scheme and the scheme provides that, in calculating the amount of that benefit, a member’s pensionable service is to be calculated in whole months.

(2) Schedule 1A is modified so that the scheme may provide for both B and C in the formula set out in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1A to be calculated to the nearest, next highest or next lowest whole month. Where a scheme provides for rounding as described in this paragraph, it must provide for both B and C to be rounded in the same way.

Schemes with an overseas element

11.—(1) This regulation applies to schemes with any overseas element, as described in paragraph 21 of Schedule 16 to the Social Security Act 1973 (requirements as to preservation of benefit under occupational pension schemes).

(2) Schedule 1A is modified so that Part I (revaluation of pensions) applies to schemes with any overseas element only to the extent that the preservation requirements apply to the scheme(2).

Breaks in pensionable service

12.—(1) This regulation applies in the case of a member whose pensionable service is broken. For this purpose, a member’s pensionable service is broken if, after it terminates, the member returns to pensionable service under the same scheme.

(2) Schedule 1A is modified so that it does not apply if, when the member returns to pensionable service under the scheme—

(a) the member exercises an option to surrender the benefits that had accrued before the break to acquire entitlement to further benefits under the same scheme, or

(b) the scheme provides that the member’s pensionable service before and after the break is to be treated as continuous for the purpose of qualifying the member for long service benefit under the scheme.

Lump sum in respect of service before 6th April 1975

13.—(1) This regulation applies where a lump sum (whether or not being or including a payment by way of a refund of contributions) has been paid to a member in respect of any period of pensionable service before 6th April 1975.

(2) Schedule 1A is modified so that—

(a) the period of pensionable service in respect of which the lump sum is paid is excluded from C in the formula set out in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1A, and

(b) D in that formula is reduced by an amount equal to the part of the pension or other benefit that would have been payable in respect of that period if the lump sum had not been paid.

Revocations

14.  The Regulations specified in Column 1 of the Schedule to these Regulations are revoked to the extent specified in Column 2.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security.

Nicholas Scott

Minister of State,

Department of Social Security

1st February 1991