The Police Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Qualifying service

86.—(1) In these Regulations, “qualifying service” means the total of—

(a) any continuous period of pensionable service under this scheme not counting—

(i) any gap in service;

(ii) any career break;

(iii) any other period of unpaid leave;

(b) if a transfer payment has been received by this scheme in respect of a member’s accrued rights under another occupational pension scheme, the member’s period of pensionable service under that scheme;

(c) for a 2006 transition member with continuity of service, the member’s period of pensionable service under the 2006 scheme before the transition date(1); and

(d) for a 1988 transition member with continuity of service, the period of pensionable service the member is entitled to reckon under the 1988 scheme before the member’s transition date(2).

(2) In calculating the member’s qualifying service for a member who falls within regulation 4(1)(a) or (c), a period of part-time service under this scheme or existing police pension scheme counts as if it were a period of full-time service.

(3) In calculating a member’s qualifying service for a member who falls within regulation 4(1)(b) or (d), a period of service under this scheme or existing police pension scheme counts as if it were a period of full-time service.

(4) None of the following is counted as qualifying service—

(a) any pensionable service under this scheme in respect of which a person’s rights under this scheme are extinguished(3);

(b) any pensionable service under the existing police pension scheme in respect of which a person’s rights under that scheme are extinguished;

(c) any service transferred into the 1988 scheme after the member’s closing date;

(d) any unauthorised absence from eligible service.

(1)

This includes any service transferred into the 2006 scheme before the member’s transition date

(2)

This includes any service transferred into the 1988 scheme before the member’s transition date

(3)

Regulation 176 provides for extinguishment of rights following the refund of all members’ contributions and payments for added pension made by the member. Regulation 185 provides for extinguishment of rights following the making of a transfer value payment.