9.—(1) The periodical payments are payable by deduction by the member’s employer from the member’s pay during the periodical payment period.
(2) The periodical payment period—
(a)begins with—
(i)if the member exercises the option within 3 months after joining this scheme, the first appropriate pay period beginning on or after the date on which the scheme manager receives the option notice; or
(ii)in any other case, the first appropriate pay period of the scheme year beginning on or after the date on which the scheme manager receives the option notice; and
(b)ends on the earlier of—
(i)the date on which the member ceases to be an active member of this scheme; and
(ii)the date specified in the option notice.
(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4), during a period of assumed pay the member may—
(a)stop the periodical payments; or
(b)continue the periodical payments as if the member were receiving pensionable earnings at the rate that applied at the beginning of the period of assumed pay.
(4) During any period in which the member is receiving statutory maternity pay within the meaning of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits(Northern Ireland) Act 1992(1) or is on paid maternity leave, paid adoption leave, paid maternity support leave, paid adoption support leave, paid parental leave or paid paternity leave, the member may—
(a)stop the periodical payments; or
(b)make periodical payments of an amount determined by reference to the member’s actual pay during that period.
(5) If a member stops the periodical payments during a period of assumed pay, the member may, by written notice to the scheme manager resume the periodical payments in the next pay period after the period of assumed pay ends.