The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2015

Effect of being absent or leaving and rejoining scheme during contributions payment period

68.—(1) This paragraph applies if, during the contributions payment period, a member (M) who has made an election under regulation 55—

(a) is absent from work because of illness or injury;

(b) is on maternity leave;

(c) is on adoption leave;

(d) is on paternity leave;

(e) is on parental leave; or

(f) is within regulation 21(4) or (6).

(2) If paragraph (1) applies—

(a) the contributions payable under regulation 64 continue to be payable unless M ceases paying basic contributions;

(b) M may resume paying contributions under regulation 64 only if—

(i) M ceases to pay basic contributions; but

(ii) resumes paying basic contributions before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which M first ceased to pay basic contributions.

(3) This paragraph applies if—

(a) a member (M) has made an election under regulation 55;

(b) M ceases to be an active member during the contributions payment period; and

(c) before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which M ceased to be an active member, M becomes an active member again.

(4) If paragraph (3) applies, M may continue to make contributions in accordance with the election unless a repayment of contributions has been made to M under regulation 40.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), it is immaterial whether M has paid any repaid contributions back to the scheme manager.

(6) In this regulation, “basic contributions” means contributions payable under regulation 30 or 31.