(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations further amend the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(S.R.1995 No. 95) (“the 1995 Regulations”), the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) (Additional Voluntary Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 294) (“the 1999 Regulations”), the Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008 No.256) (“the 2008 Regulations”), the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015 No. 120) (“the 2015 Regulations”), the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023 No. 33) and the Health and Social Care Pension Schemes (Remediable Service) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (“the 2023 Remediable Regulations”) S.R. 2023 No.132.
These Regulations come into operation on 18th June 2025, although regulations 1(3) to (9) provide for certain provisions to take effect from an earlier date and regulation 1(2) provides for a provision to come into force on 6th April 2025. Section 12(1) of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (c. 11) and section 3(3)(b) of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 25) provide that Scheme Regulations may make retrospective provision.
Regulations 3, 10, 22 and 31(2) amend the 1995, 2008 and 2015 Regulations to make provision regarding overtime worked by part time workers during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2024.
Regulations 4, 6, 14, 20 and 27 amend the 1995, 2000, 2008 and 2015 Regulations to make amendments in consequence of the abolition of the pension tax life time allowance. The amendments are made with retrospective effect from 6th April 2024.
Regulations 8, 11, 15 and 17 correct cross-references to types of authorised leave in the 2008 Regulations so that they include parental bereavement leave. The amendments are made with retrospective effect from 6th April 2022.
Regulations 9 and 16 correct an error in the 2008 Regulations regarding when 1995 Section service counts as qualifying service in the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme. The amendments are made with retrospective effect from 1st April 2015.
Regulations 12 and 18 amend the 2008 Regulations to correct an error in provisions governing eligibility to continue accrual in the 2008 Section of the HSC Pension Scheme with retrospective effect from 1st April 2015.
Regulations 13 and 19 correct cross-references in the 2008 Regulations relating to the forfeiture of lump sum payments, with retrospective effect to 1st April 2008. Regulation 30 corrects a similar cross-reference in the 2015 Regulations, with retrospective effect from 1st April 2015.
Regulations 23(2) to (4) amend the 2015 Regulations to insert references to types of authorised leave under the scheme.
Regulations 23(5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10), 24, 25 and 28 make amendments to the 2015 Regulations and regulations 3, 34 and 35 amend the 2023 Regulations in respect of how member contributions are calculated when a member has a period of reduced pay as a result of a specified absence. The amendments in regulations 23 have retrospective effect from 1st April 2015, the amendments in regulations 24, 25 and 28 have effect retrospectively from 1st November 2022 and the amendments in regulations 34 and 35 have retrospective effect from 1st April 2023.
Regulation 26 amends the 2015 Regulations to align them with the 1995 and 2008 Regulations in respect of how the cost of additional pension is calculated when new factors apply.
Regulation 29(2) and (3) amends the 2015 Regulations to require the provision of a revised certificate of pensionable earnings by medical practitioners and non-GP providers in circumstances where provisional figures have been used.
Regulation 37 amends the Remediable Service Regulations to provide for the revocation or lapse of a deferred choice election before the cancellation deadline.