The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

24.—(1) In prescribed circumstances, a person entitled to periodic compensation under paragraph 5, 8, 11 or 15 may opt to commute for a lump sum a portion of the periodic compensation with effect from the time it becomes payable.

(2) Except in such circumstances as may be prescribed, the portion commuted under sub-paragraph (1) must not exceed 25%.

(3) Any reduction required to be made under paragraph 26 (compensation cap) must be made before determining the amount of a person’s periodic compensation which may be commuted under this paragraph.

(4) Where a person opts to commute any part of his periodic compensation under this paragraph, the lump sum payable under sub-paragraph (1) is the actuarial equivalent of the commuted portion of the periodic compensation calculated from tables designated for this purpose by the Board.

(5) The Board must publish in such manner as it considers appropriate the tables designated by it for the purposes of sub-paragraph (4).

(6) Regulations may prescribe the manner in which an option to commute periodic compensation under this paragraph may be exercised.

(7) This paragraph does not apply where—

(a) before the assessment date, the person concerned has received benefits under the scheme rules which were in the form of a lump sum (otherwise than as a result of the commutation of any part of a pension) and were attributable to his own service under the scheme, or

(b) immediately before the assessment date, the person concerned has rights to a lump sum under the admissible rules (otherwise than by commutation of any part of a pension) and those rights are attributable to such service.

(8) The Department may, by order, amend sub-paragraph (2) to substitute a different percentage for the percentage for the time being specified in that sub-paragraph.