Pensionable earnings: breaks in service
3.A.8.—(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of—
(a)illness or injury;
(b)maternity leave;
(c)adoption leave;
(d)paternity leave; or
(e)parental leave.
(2) If the earnings used to calculate a member’s pensionable earnings are reduced during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—
(a)for the purpose of calculating the member’s contributions to this Section of the scheme under regulations 3.C.1 (contributions by members) and 3.C.2 (members’ contribution rate), pensionable earnings for the period of absence are to be calculated on the basis of the member’s reduced earnings; and
(b)for all other purposes, the member’s pensionable earnings for the period of absence are to be calculated in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) or (b).
(3) In the case of a member who—
(a)is one of a number of practitioners who have elected as described in regulation 3.A.9(2) (calculating pensionable earnings of medical practitioners in partnership), each practitioner’s or non-GP provider’s pensionable earnings are to be calculated as if the partnership’s aggregate pensionable earnings were equal to the amount of the partnership’s aggregate pensionable earnings during the 12 month period ending immediately before the member’s earnings were reduced or ceased; and
(b)except where the member’s pensionable earnings fall to be calculated as described in sub-paragraph (a), the member will be treated as having continued to receive the same average rate of pensionable earnings as during the 12 month period ending immediately before the member’s earnings were reduced or ceased.
(4) If the earnings used to calculate a member’s pensionable pay cease during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—
(a)a practitioner falling within paragraph 1(a) is, subject to sub-paragraph (b), to be treated as having continued in pensionable employment for a period of 12 months from the date on which the member’s earnings ceased and the member is to be treated as having left pensionable employment until the end of that 12 month period; and
(b)a member falling within paragraph 1(b) to (e) who paid contributions on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph 3(a) must, subject to paragraph (6), continue to pay contributions at that rate, except that no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the member actually leaves pensionable employment.
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a)—
(a)during the 12 month period, the member’s pensionable earnings are to be calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) (whichever is applicable); and
(b)at the end of the 12 month period, when the member is regarded as having left pensionable employment, no refund of contributions or other benefit is to be payable until the member actually leaves employment.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), the rate of contributions payable is the rate that would have been payable on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (2)(a) had the member’s reduced earnings excluded any earnings for a day during which the member, whilst on maternity leave, returned to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.
(7) If a member fails to pay any contributions which are required to be paid to this Section of the scheme in respect of a period of absence to which this regulation applies, the member is to be treated as having left pensionable employment except that no refund of contributions or other benefit is payable unless the member actually leaves pensionable employment.
(8) If a member to whom this regulation applies leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (5)(b) or (7), is treated as having left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, if the member later returns to pensionable employment, regulation 3.A.6(4) (qualifying service: disregard of breaks in service) applies as if the reference to 12 months was a reference to three years.
(9) The benefits payable on the death of a member whose earnings ceased during a period of absence to which this regulation applies are to be calculated as if the member had died in pensionable employment on the day before the member’s earnings ceased.
(10) For the purposes of making contributions to this Section of the scheme under regulations 3.C.1 and 3.C.3 (contributions by employing authorities: general), during any period of absence which counts as pensionable service under regulation 3.A.4(3) or (4) (pensionable service: breaks in service), amounts equal to the rate of the member’s pensionable earnings calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) are treated as pensionable earnings.
(11) Before a calculation of a member’s pensionable earnings can be made in accordance with paragraph (3), written notice of the length of the period of absence to which this regulation applies must be given to the Scottish Ministers by—
(a)the member, where the member is a principal practitioner or a non-GP provider; or
(b)in all other cases, the relevant Health Board or someone appointed to act on their behalf.
(12) The notice referred to in paragraph (11) must be provided to the Scottish Ministers in such form and manner as the Scottish Ministers may stipulate from time to time.