Opting–out of the scheme
B4.—(1) A person who does not wish to, or who no longer wishes to, participate in the scheme may opt–out of the scheme at any time by giving notice in writing to his employing authority and such person will be treated as having left pensionable employment on the date the notice takes effect.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the notice will take effect from the first day of the pay period immediately following its receipt by the employing authority, unless a later date is specified in the notice.
(3) A person who opts–out of the scheme before the end of the pay period during which the employing authority included that person in the scheme will be treated as never having been included in the scheme.
(4) A notice under paragraph (1) will apply to any subsequent employment with the same employing authority.
(5) Subject to paragraph (6), a person who has opted–out of the scheme may, if eligible to do so, join or rejoin the scheme by giving notice in writing to the employing authority and on so doing will be included in the scheme on the first day of the first pay period after the notice is received or such later date (which must be the first day of a pay period) as is specified in the notice.
(6) A person who has opted–out may not join or rejoin the scheme during a period of absence from work for any reason.
(7) A person shall not be treated as having retired from pensionable employment by reason only of having opted–out of the scheme.