3.—(1) Before delivering a declaration a person must have given the Secretary of State written notice of his intention to make an allocation.
(2) The notice is to be given—
(a)in the case of a retiring employee, no later than his application for payment of retirement benefits, and
(b)in any other case, no earlier than 4 months before the later of—
(i)the date on which the person becomes qualified for retirement benefits, and
(ii)his relevant birthday.