The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 1995

Part–time employment

R5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (6) and (10), a member’s pensionable service in part– time employment will not count at its full length but will be calculated as described in paragraphs (2) or (3), whichever is applicable, as its whole–time equivalent.

(2) If the member’s part–time employment is expressed as a specified number of half– days or sessions a week, the whole–time equivalent of the member’s pensionable service in respect of that employment will be calculated by multiplying the full length of that service by the following fraction—

(3) In any case where paragraph (2) does not apply, the whole–time equivalent of the member’s pensionable service in respect of part–time employment will be calculated by multiplying the full length of that service by the following fraction—

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), for the purpose of calculating a member’s final year’s pensionable pay in respect of part–time employment, the member’s pensionable pay will be the amount that the Secretary of State determines would have been paid in respect of a single comparable whole–time employment.

(5) Paragraph (4) does not apply to the calculation of final year’s pensionable pay for the purposes of—

(a) regulations F1(2) and F2(2) (lump sum payable on death in pensionable employment or after pension becomes payable);

(b) regulation S2 (reduction of pension on return to NHS employment).

(6) If a member with pensionable service in part–time employment becomes entitled to a pension under regulation E2 (early retirement pension on grounds of ill health)—

(a) the member’s pensionable service in part–time employment will count at its full length for the purpose of calculating whether, and (if so) to what extent, the pensionable service upon which the pension is based should be increased under regulation E2;

(b) the pension will be based on the whole–time equivalent of the period of part– time employment and the increase under regulation E2 will be limited to such amount as bears the same proportion to the amount that would have been paid had the pensionable service not been part–time as the whole time equivalent bears to comparable whole time employment.

(7) If a member in part–time pensionable employment elects to buy additional service as described in regulation Q1 (right to buy additional service), the period of additional service will be calculated in accordance with Table 1 or Table 3 of Schedule 1 (whichever is applicable) and then reduced by multiplying the full length of that additional service by the following fraction—

where—

“part–time pensionable employment” means the number of hours, half–days or sessions that the member was required to work under his contract of employment during the period by reference to which “remuneration” was calculated for the purposes of Table 1 of Schedule 1 or regular additional contributions were paid in accordance with regulation Q6 (paying by regular additional contributions); and

“comparable whole–time pensionable employment” means the number of hours, half–days or sessions that would have constituted comparable whole–time pension– able employment during that period.

(8) If a member in part–time pensionable employment elects to buy an unreduced retirement lump sum as described in regulation Q2 (right to buy an unreduced retirement lump sum), the period referred to in Table 2 or Table 4 of Schedule 1 (whichever is applicable) will be reduced in like manner as described in paragraph (7) above.

(9) Paragraphs (7) and (8) above also apply for the purposes of regulation Q7 (part payment for additional service or unreduced retirement lump sum).

(10) A member’s pensionable service in respect of part–time employment will count at its full length (and concurrent periods of employment will be treated as a single employment) for the purposes of regulations C2(3) (limit on pensionable service that counts for benefits) and C3(1) (qualifying service).