22.—(1) This paragraph applies to a person (P) who—
(a)is in pensionable service under this scheme in relation to an employment; and
(b)has not reached normal pension age under this scheme.
(2) P may elect, in relation to an employment, to pay contributions to accrue earned pension at a faster accrual rate in a financial year (“faster accrual election”).
(3) A faster accrual election must state the faster accrual rate which is to apply to P's pensionable earnings in that employment for that financial year.
(4) A faster accrual election must be made—
(a)if P was not in pensionable service in relation to that employment in that financial year, within one month after P enters pensionable service in relation to that employment; or
(b)otherwise, in the financial year before the financial year to which it relates.
(5) A faster accrual election has effect as follows—
(a)if sub-paragraph (4)(a) applies, from one month after the election is received by the Department; or
(b)otherwise, from the start of the financial year to which it relates.
(6) A faster accrual election ceases to have effect at the end of the financial year to which it relates unless it is revoked before then.
23.—(1) A faster accrual election must be made by written notice to the Department.
(2) The notice of election must specify—
(a)if the member (P) is in more than one eligible employment, the name of the employer who is to deduct the contributions;
(b)P's name;
(c)P's date of birth;
(d)P's annual amount of pensionable earnings for that employment in the financial year to which the faster accrual election relates.
(3) The Department may request further information to be provided.
24.—(1) The Department may accept a faster accrual election by giving written notice to—
(a)the member (P); and
(b)P's employer.
(2) For the purpose of these Regulations, a faster accrual election is accepted when P receives notice from the Department.
25. The Department must determine the amount of the monthly payment to be paid in respect of a faster accrual election.
26.—(1) A member (P)—
(a)must make the first monthly payment within 2 months after the end of the month in which the faster accrual election is accepted; and
(b)must continue to make the monthly payments until the end of the contributions payment period.
(2) The final monthly payment is due in the last month of the financial year to which the faster accrual election relates.
(3) P is taken to revoke a faster accrual election if—
(a)a monthly payment is missed; and
(b)the payment is not made within 3 months after P receives a written demand from the Department.
27.—(1) A member (P) may revoke a faster accrual election at any time before the end of the contributions payment period.
(2) A revocation must be by written notice to the Department.
(3) A revocation has effect from the date it is received by the Department (“date of revocation”).
(4) P is taken to revoke a faster accrual election if P leaves pensionable service in the employment to which the election relates before the end of the contributions payment period.
(5) If P revokes or is taken to revoke a faster accrual election and P is not entitled to be repaid the balance of contributions under regulation 189—
(a)P's monthly payments cease to be payable on the date of revocation; and
(b)P's active member's account (or if P has left all pensionable service, P's deferred member's account or pensioner member's account) must be credited with an amount determined by the Department.
(6) If P revokes or is taken to revoke a faster accrual election and P is entitled to be repaid the balance of contributions under regulation 189—
(a)P's monthly payments cease to be payable on the date of revocation; and
(b)P's rights under this scheme are extinguished.
28.—(1) This paragraph applies if a member (P) leaves all pensionable service under this scheme before P is qualified for retirement benefits in respect of that service.
(2) On an application by P for a repayment of the balance of contributions, any monthly payments made by P before the last day of pensionable service must be refunded to P.