The Teachers' Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

PART 10 N.I. Transfers

CHAPTER 1 N.I. Preliminary

Application of Part N.I.

197.  This Part—

(a) supplements the rights conferred by or under Chapter 4 of Part 4 of the Pension Schemes Act (transfer values); and

(b) is without prejudice to that Chapter or Chapter 5 of that Part (early leavers: cash transfer sums and contribution refunds).

Interpretation of Part N.I.

198.  In this Part—

“cash equivalent” means an amount calculated in accordance with regulations made under section 93 of the Pension Schemes Act;

“club transfer statement of entitlement”, in relation to a member's accrued earned pension under this scheme, means a statement by the Department of the club transfer value as at the guarantee date;

“club transfer value”, in relation to earned pension accrued under this scheme or under another club scheme, means an amount calculated—

(a)

in accordance with the club transfer arrangements; and

(b)

by reference to the guidance and tables provided by the Government Actuary for this purpose that are in use on the date used for the calculation;

“guarantee date” means—

(a)

for a transfer value, the date specified in the statement of entitlement as the date by reference to which the cash equivalent is calculated; and

(b)

for the club transfer value, the date specified in the club transfer statement of entitlement as the date by reference to which the club transfer value is calculated;

“guaranteed cash equivalent”, in relation to accrued rights to benefits under this scheme, means the cash equivalent of those accrued rights as at the guarantee date, as specified in a statement of entitlement;

“statement of entitlement”, in relation to a member's accrued rights to benefits under this scheme, means a statement by the Department of the cash equivalent of those rights as at the guarantee date;

“transfer value”, in relation to accrued rights other than rights to earned pension accrued under this scheme or under another club scheme, means—

(a)

for accrued rights to benefits under this scheme, an amount equal to the guaranteed cash equivalent of those accrued rights; and

(b)

for accrued rights under another pension scheme, an amount—

(i)

determined by the scheme actuary of that scheme; and

(ii)

specified in a statement of accrued rights provided by the scheme manager of that scheme.

CHAPTER 2 N.I. Transfers on a cash equivalent basis

SECTION 1 N.I. Application of Chapter

Application of Chapter N.I.

199.  This Chapter applies to the payment and receipt of transfer values.

SECTION 2 N.I. Transfers out

Application of this Section N.I.

200.—(1) This Section applies to a person (P) who—

(a) has left all pensionable service under this scheme;

(b) has become subject to—

(i) another registered pension scheme which is not a connected scheme; or

(ii) a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 (see section 169(2) of that Act); (in either case, referred to in this Section as “the receiving scheme”); and

(c) has not reached normal pension age.

(2) This Section does not apply if—

(a) P is not qualified for retirement benefits under this scheme and a repayment of the balance of contributions has been made to P; or

(b) P is qualified for retirement benefits under this scheme and a retirement pension (other than a phased retirement pension) or a short-service serious ill-health grant has become payable to P in respect of that pensionable service.

Application for a statement of entitlement N.I.

201.—(1) A person (P) may apply for a statement of entitlement by written notice to the Department.

(2) The application must be made within 12 months after the day on which P becomes subject to the receiving scheme.

Application for payment of a transfer value N.I.

202.—(1) A person who is provided with a statement of entitlement may apply for a transfer value to be paid to the receiving scheme.

(2) The application must—

(a) be made within 12 months after the day on which P becomes subject to the receiving scheme

(b) be by notice to the Department;

(c) specify the pension scheme or other pension arrangement to which the transfer value is to be paid; and;

(d) meet any other conditions the Department requires.

Payment of a transfer value N.I.

203.—(1) On receipt of the application under regulation 202, the Department may make a transfer value payment in respect of P.

(2) A member of this scheme may only require the Department to use a transfer value in a way specified in section 91(2) of the Pension Schemes Act.

(3) The whole of the transfer value must be applied.

(4) A transfer value payment in respect of a member's accrued rights under this scheme may only be made to the receiving scheme.

(5) A transfer value payment in respect of any pension credit rights or pension credit benefits must not be made under this regulation.

(6) If a transfer value payment is made in respect of a person's rights under this scheme, those rights are extinguished.

SECTION 3 N.I. Transfers in

Application for acceptance of a transfer value N.I.

204.—(1) A person (P) may apply for payment of a transfer value to be accepted from—

(a) another registered pension scheme; or

(b) a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 (see section 169(2) of the Act) (in either case, referred to in this Section as “the sending scheme”).

(2) The application must—

(a) be made within 12 months after the day on which P enters pensionable service under this scheme;

(b) be by written notice to the Department;

(c) specify the pension scheme from which the transfer value will be received; and

(d) meet any other conditions the Department requires.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Reg. 204(2)(a) applied (with modifications) (1.10.2023) by The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Remediable Service) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/131), regs. 1, 55

Acceptance of a transfer value N.I.

205.—(1) The Department may not accept payment of a transfer value from the sending scheme if—

(a) P has reached 75;

(b) retirement benefits have become payable to P under this scheme or under the sending scheme; or

(c) the sending scheme was a money purchase arrangement to which P's previous employer made no contribution.

(2) A transfer value payment in respect of any pension credit rights or pension credit benefits must not be accepted under this regulation.

Amount of transferred pension N.I.

206.  The amount of transferred pension a person is entitled to count under this Part is an amount determined by the Department.

CHAPTER 3 N.I. Club Transfers

SECTION 1 N.I. Application of Chapter

Application of Chapter N.I.

207.  This Chapter applies in relation to the payment and receipt of club transfer values.

SECTION 2 N.I. Transfers out

Application of this section N.I.

208.—(1) This Section applies to a person (P) who—

(a) has left all pensionable service under this scheme;

(b) has become subject to another club scheme (“the receiving scheme”); and

(c) has not reached 75.

(2) This Section does not apply if—

(a) P is not qualified for retirement benefits under this scheme and a repayment of the balance of contributions has been made to P; or

(b) P is qualified for retirement benefits under this scheme and a retirement pension (other than a phased retirement pension) or a short-service serious ill-health grant has become payable to P in respect of that pensionable service.

Application for a club transfer statement of entitlement N.I.

209.—(1) A person (P) may apply for a club transfer statement of entitlement by written notice to the Department.

(2) The application must be made within 12 months after the day on which P becomes subject to the receiving scheme.

Application for payment of a club transfer value N.I.

210.—(1) A person (P) who is provided with a club transfer statement of entitlement may apply for a club transfer value to be paid to another public service pension scheme (“ the receiving scheme”).

(2) The application must—

(a) be made within 12 months after the day on which P becomes subject to the receiving scheme;

(b) be by notice to the Department;

(c) specify the pension scheme to which the club transfer value is to be paid; and

(d) meet any other conditions the Department requires.

Payment of a club transfer value N.I.

211.—(1) On receipt of the application, the Department may pay a club transfer value in respect of P.

(2) A transfer value payment in respect of any pension credit rights or pension credit benefits must not be made under this regulation.

(3) If a transfer value payment is made in respect of a person's rights under this scheme, those rights are extinguished.

SECTION 3 N.I. Transfers in

Application for acceptance of a club transfer value N.I.

212.—(1) A person (P) may apply for payment of a club transfer value to be accepted from another club scheme.

(2) The application must—

(a) be made within 12 months after the day on which P enters pensionable service under this scheme;

(b) be by written notice to the Department;

(c) specify the pension scheme from which the club transfer value is to be received; and

(d) meet any other conditions the Department requires.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Reg. 212(2)(a) applied (with modifications) (1.10.2023) by The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Remediable Service) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/131), regs. 1, 55

Acceptance of a club transfer value N.I.

213.—(1) On receipt of an application, the Department may accept payment of a club transfer value from another club scheme (“ the sending scheme”) if—

(a) P has not reached 75;

(b) retirement benefits have not become payable to P under this scheme or under the sending scheme; and

(c) the sending scheme was a money purchase arrangement to which P's previous employer made contributions.

(2) A transfer value payment in respect of any pension credit rights or pension credit benefits must not be accepted under this regulation.

Amount of club transfer earned pension N.I.

214.  The amount of club transfer earned pension a person is entitled to count under this Part is an amount determined by the Department.

CHAPTER 4 N.I. Making a bulk transfer payment

Application of Chapter N.I.

215.—(1) This Chapter applies in relation to all persons who were in an eligible employment.

(2) This Chapter does not apply in relation to any person without that person's agreement.

Making a bulk transfer payment N.I.

216.—(1) The Department may make a transfer payment to another occupational pension scheme in respect of each person to whom this Chapter applies as part of a bulk transfer payment.

(2) In this Chapter, “bulk transfer payment” means a single transfer payment in respect of all persons to whom this Chapter applies.

CHAPTER 5 N.I. Accepting a bulk transfer payment

Application of Chapter N.I.

217.  This Chapter applies in relation to all persons who were in an eligible employment.

Accepting a bulk transfer payment N.I.

218.—(1) The Department must accept a transfer payment from another occupational pension scheme in respect of each person to whom this Chapter applies as part of a bulk transfer payment if it is offered.

(2) In this Chapter, “bulk transfer payment” means a single transfer payment in respect of all persons to whom this Chapter applies.