Public Employees (Pension
Scheme) (Membership and Benefits) (Jersey) Regulations 2015
PART 1
Interpretation
1 Interpretation[1]
In these Regulations, unless the context indicates
otherwise –
“accrual rate” shall be construed in accordance with Regulation 7
of the Funding and Valuation Regulations;
“active member” means a person who is in Scheme
employment and is eligible to be an active member of the Scheme under Regulation 8;
“active member pension record” shall be construed in
accordance with Regulation 21;
“Actuary” means a person appointed in accordance with Regulation 10
of the Administration Regulations, to give actuarial advice in respect of the
fund;
“Administration Regulations” means the Public Employees (Pension
Scheme) (Administration) (Jersey) Regulations 2015;
“Administrator” shall be construed in accordance with Regulation 19
of the Administration Regulations;
“admission agreement” has the meaning given in paragraph 1
of Schedule 1;
“admitted employer” means an employer other than the
States Employment Board –
(a) admitted
to the Scheme under –
(i) Regulation 7
and paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to these Regulations,
(ii) Regulation 16(1)
of the Transitional Regulations, or
(iii) Article 10(5)
of the Law; or
(b) treated
as if admitted to the Scheme under any enactment which provides for that
employer to become an employer for the purposes of the Scheme in respect of
members of the Scheme whose employment with the States Employment Board is
transferred to that employer;
“air traffic control unit” has the meaning given in
Article 1(1) of the Air Navigation (Jersey)
Law 2014;
“annual pension increase” shall be construed in
accordance with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations;
“approved Jersey scheme” has the meaning given in Article 130
of the Income Tax Law;
“child-related leave” means “adoption leave”,
“compulsory maternity leave”, “ordinary maternity leave”,
“parental leave” and “parental bereavement leave” construed in accordance with Part 5A
of the Employment (Jersey)
Law 2003 and includes any paid or unpaid time off in relation to the birth,
death or adoption of a child, permitted under the terms of an active
member’s contract of employment;
“children’s pension” means a pension payable to an
eligible child under Regulation 47;
“civil partnership” and “civil partners”
shall be construed in accordance with Article 2 of the Civil Partnership (Jersey)
Law 2012;
“cohabiting partner” has the meaning given in
Regulation 3;
“Committee” means the “Committee
of Management” construed in accordance with Article 4 of the Law and
Regulation 2 of the Administration Regulations;
“continuing member of the 1967 Scheme” means a
contributing member of that scheme construed in accordance with Regulation 3(2)(b)
of the Transitional Regulations;
“contributing member of the 1967 Scheme” means –
(a) a
“contributory member” within the meaning of Regulation 4 of
the Public Employees
(Contributory Retirement Scheme) (Jersey) Regulations 1967;
(b) a
“category A member” and a “category B member”
within the meaning of Regulation 1 of the Existing Members Regulations and
Regulation 1 of the New Members Regulations;
(c) a
“category C” member within the meaning of Regulation 1 of
the New Members Regulations;
(d) a
“member” within the meaning of Regulation 1 of the Existing
Members Regulations and Regulation 1 of the New Members Regulations, who
is not a category A, category B or category C member (within the
meaning of those Regulations); and
(e) a
“member” within the meaning of Regulation 1 of the Public Employees
(Contributory Retirement Scheme) (Former Hospital Scheme) (Jersey)
Regulations 1992;
“contributions” shall be construed in accordance with Regulation 14;
“cost neutral amount” means such amount as is calculated
by the Actuary so as to produce an amount which is not expected to result in
additional cost to the fund or a net contribution to the fund;
“death in Scheme employment lump sum” means a lump sum
payable under Regulation 43;
“deferred member” has the meaning given in Regulation 11;
“deferred member pension record” shall be construed in
accordance with Regulation 22;
“dependant” in relation to a deceased member of the
Scheme, means any one or more persons other than an eligible child, who in the
opinion of the Committee was at the time of the member’s death –
(a) financially
dependent on the member for the provision of all or most of the ordinary
necessities of life;
(b) in a
mutually dependent financial relationship with the member; or
(c) dependent
on the member because of physical or mental impairment which, subject to such
medical examination of the person as the Committee requires, the Committee
determines is likely to be permanent;
“earned pension” means pension –
(a) accrued
at the accrual rate under Regulation 7 of the Funding and Valuation
Regulations, in respect of pensionable earnings paid in a scheme year
(irrespective of whether those earnings relate to work carried out in that
year); or
(b) credited
to a person’s pension record in accordance with Regulation 23(4)(b)(i)
of the Administration Regulations;
“eligible child” has the meaning given in Regulation 2;
“employee” means –
(a) a
person employed by an employer who the employer certifies is –
(i) a full-time or
part-time employee, and
(ii) employed
on a permanent or fixed-term contract of employment; or
(b) a
person referred to in Article 1(2) of the Law;
“employer” means an admitted employer or the States
Employment Board;
“enhanced level ill-health pension” shall be construed
in accordance with Regulation 36(4)(b);
“Existing Members Regulations” means the Public Employees
(Contributory Retirement Scheme) (Existing Members) (Jersey)
Regulations 1989;
“financial year” means a period of 12 months
beginning on 1st January and ending on 31st December;
“Funding and Valuation Regulations” means the Public Employees (Pension
Scheme) (Funding and Valuation) (Jersey) Regulations 2015;
“former member” means a deferred member or a pensioner
member;
“General Regulations” means the Public Employees
(Contributory Retirement Scheme) (General) (Jersey) Regulations 1989;
“gainful employment” means paid employment for not less
than 30 hours in each week for a period of not less than 12 months;
“ill-health pension” shall be construed in accordance
with Regulation 36;
“Income Tax Law” means the Income Tax (Jersey)
Law 1961;
“Independent Occupational Health Adviser” means a person
who is appointed by the States Employment Board (the “Board”) for
the purpose of enabling the Board to discharge its function of ensuring the
health, safety and well-being of States’ employees under Article 8(1)(c)
of the Employment of States of
Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005;
“Law” means the Public Employees (Pensions)
(Jersey) Law 2014;
“member of the 1967 Scheme” means a
contributing member of the 1967 Scheme;
“Minister” means the Chief Minister;
“New Members Regulations” means the Public Employees
(Contributory Retirement Scheme) (New Members) (Jersey) Regulations 1989;
“normal pension age” shall be construed in accordance
with Article 9 of the Law;
“notional pensionable earnings” shall be construed in
accordance with Regulation 5;
“opening balance” means the amount of benefits accrued
under a pension record as at the beginning of the scheme year;
“ordinary member” means an active member of the Scheme
who is not a uniformed member;
“pension administration strategy” means a written
statement of policies, procedures and obligations governing the administration
of the respective schemes, prepared under Regulation 20 of the Administration
Regulations;
“pensionable allowances” shall be construed in
accordance with Regulation 6;
“pensionable earnings” has the meaning given in Regulation 4;
“pensioner member” shall be construed in accordance with
Regulation 12;
“pensioner member pension record” is a pension record
opened in the circumstances set out in Regulations 23 and 24;
“pension record” is a record established and maintained
in accordance with Regulation 20;
“pensionable service” in relation to the Scheme, means a
period of Scheme employment computed in years and complete days;
“respective schemes” has the meaning given in Article 1(1)
of the Law, and “schemes” shall be construed accordingly;
“revaluation rate” shall be construed in accordance with
Regulation 9(3) of the Funding and Valuation Regulations;
“Scheme” means the Public Employees Pension Scheme
referred to in Article 2(1) of the Law;
“Scheme employment” means employment by virtue of which
a person is eligible to be an active member of the Scheme;
“scheme year” means a period of 12 months beginning
on 1st January and ending 31st December;
“spouse” means a widow or a widower;
“standard level ill-health pension” shall be construed
in accordance with Regulation 36(4)(a);
“survivor member” means a person entitled to a survivor pension
or a children’s pension;
“surviving partner” in relation to a deceased active,
deferred or pensioner member of the Scheme, means a spouse, surviving civil
partner or surviving co-habiting partner;
“survivor pension” means a pension payable under Regulations 44
or 45;
“Transitional Regulations” means the Public Employees (Pension
Scheme) (Transitional Provisions, Savings and Consequential Amendments)
(Jersey) Regulations 2015;
“Treasurer” means the Treasurer of the States;
“UK Finance Act” means the Finance Act 2004
(c. 12) of the United Kingdom;
“uniformed member” means an active member
employed –
(a) as an
air traffic control officer in the air traffic control
unit maintained at Jersey Airport
(who for the purposes of the Scheme, shall be taken to be serving in uniform);
(b) as
the chief ambulance officer or assistant chief ambulance officer, or an
emergency ambulance officer for the purposes of discharging the States of Jersey’s
ambulance service;
(c) as the
Chief Officer or Deputy Chief Officer of, or a police officer in the States
Police Force within the meaning of Article 1 of the States of Jersey Police Force
Law 2012;
(d) as
a firefighter within the meaning of Article 1 of
the Fire and Rescue Service
(Jersey) Law 2011;
(e) as an
officer in the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service within
the meaning of Article 1 of the Fire and Rescue Service
(Jersey) Law 2011;
(f) as
the prison Governor or a prison officer within the meaning of Article 1(1)
of the Prison (Jersey) Law 1957.
2 Meaning
of “eligible child”
(1) An “eligible
child”, in relation to a deceased active, deferred or pensioner member,
means –
(a) a
natural or adopted child of a member who meets any of the conditions in
paragraph (2), and who was born before, on or in the case of a natural
child, within 12 months of the member’s death; or
(b) a
step-child or child accepted by the deceased member as a member of the family
who –
(i) meets any of the
conditions in paragraph (2), and
(ii) was
dependent on the member at the date of death.
(2) The conditions referred
to in paragraph (1) are that –
(a) the
person is under the age of 18;
(b) the
person is in full-time education or vocational training and has not reached the
age of 23 (but the Committee may continue to treat a person as fulfilling
this condition notwithstanding any break in a course of education or vocational
training, although the person does not fulfil the condition during such a
break);
(c) the
person is unable to engage in gainful employment because of physical or mental
impairment and either –
(i) has not reached
the age of 23, or
(ii) the
impairment is, subject to such medical examination of the person as the
Committee requires, in the opinion of the Committee likely to be permanent, and
the person was dependent on the member at the date of the member’s death
because of that physical or mental impairment.
3 Meaning
of “cohabiting partner”[2]
(1) For
the purposes of this Regulation “member” (“M”) means an
active, deferred or pensioner member.
(2) A
“cohabiting partner” means a person (“P”) who meets all
the conditions set out in paragraph (3) for a continuous period of 2 years
up to the date of M’s death.
(3) Subject
to paragraph (4), P is entitled to receive benefits under Part 6 (survivor
benefits) if –
(a) M
was married to, or had formed a civil partnership with, P;
(b) M
and P were living together as if they were spouses or as if they were civil
partners;
(c) neither
M nor P was living with a third person as if they were spouses or as if they
were civil partners; and
(d) either
P was financially dependent on M or M and P were financially interdependent.
(4) Benefits
under Part 6 are not payable unless P provides the Committee with such evidence
as the Committee requires to show that the conditions set out in
paragraph (3) have been satisfied for the period specified in
paragraph (2).
4 Meaning
of “pensionable earnings”
(1) Subject to paragraph (2)
and Regulation 5, an active member’s pensionable earnings is the
total of all the salary or wages, and pensionable allowances paid by an
employer in a scheme year.
(2) An active
member’s pensionable earnings do not include –
(a) any
sum which has not had any income tax liability determined on it;
(b) any
travelling, subsistence or other allowance paid in respect of expenses incurred
in relation to an employment;
(c) any
overtime payments;
(d) any
payment in respect of untaken annual leave;
(e) any
payment in lieu of notice to terminate a contract of employment;
(f) any
amount treated as the money value to the person of the provision of a motor
vehicle or any amount paid in lieu of such provision;
(g) any
payment in consideration of loss of future pensionable earnings or benefits; or
(h) from 1st January 2019, any payment of a temporary nature.[3]
5 Notional
pensionable earnings
(1) This Regulation applies
to an active member under the circumstances set out in paragraph (2), in
relation to a period where such a member is notionally taken as being paid
pensionable earnings (“notional pensionable earnings”) in respect
of an employment, calculated in accordance with paragraph (3).
(2) The circumstances
referred to in paragraph (1) are where the member –
(a) commences
a period of –
(i) child-related
leave, or
(ii) leave
due to ill-health or injury,
and is on reduced contractual pay or no pay;
(b) dies;
or
(c) under
Regulation 36, retires before normal pension age with payment of the
enhanced level ill-health pension.
(3) A member’s
notional pensionable earnings for the purposes of accruing benefits under the
Scheme shall be calculated by reference to the best 365 consecutive days
of pensionable earnings paid by an employer in respect of that member in the 3 years
before the day on which any of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2)(a)
to (c) occur.
(4) Where the member has
been employed for less than 3 years but more than one year before the
day on which any of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2)(a)
and (b) occur, the member’s notional pensionable earnings shall be
calculated by reference to the best 365 consecutive days of pensionable
earnings paid by an employer in respect of that member’s actual period of
employment.
(5) Where the member has
been employed for one year or less before the day on which any of the
circumstances referred to in paragraph (2)(a) and (b) occur, the
member’s notional pensionable earnings shall be calculated by reference
to the whole year equivalent of pensionable earnings that would have been paid
by an employer in respect of that member’s actual period of employment.
6 Pensionable
allowances
(1) Subject to paragraph (2),
an employer may from time to time declare to be a pensionable allowance any
payment or allowance which is routinely paid to an active member in addition to
that member’s basic salary or wages.
(2) A pensionable allowance
shall not include any of the items listed in Regulation 4(2).
(3) A declaration may only
be made with the consent of the Committee and the Minister in consultation with
the Actuary.
(4) A declaration
shall –
(a) define
the payment or allowance;
(b) specify
the date from which the declaration takes effect, which may include a date
preceding the date of consent given under paragraph (3) (“date of
consent”), so as to apply in relation to any payment or allowance made
before the date of consent;
(c) subject
to paragraph (5), specify whether or not any such payment or allowance
received by an active member or former member before the date of consent, shall
count towards the computation of benefits payable under these Regulations; and
(d) specify
whether or not by virtue of the declaration, a pensioner member or survivor
member shall be entitled to additional payments in respect of benefits paid
before the date of consent.
(5) If in accordance with
paragraph (4)(c) the employer’s declaration specifies that the pensionable
allowance received by an active or former member before the date of consent
shall count towards the computation of benefits –
(a) the
Actuary shall calculate and advise the Committee and the Minister of the sum of
the total for all members and former members of the value of the additional
benefits and costs to the fund arising from any pensionable allowance paid
before the date of consent, including the value and cost of any additional
payments in respect of any benefits under paragraph (4)(d);
(b) additional
contributions shall be payable by –
(i) employers
of any such active or former members who receive improved benefits as a result
of the declaration, and
(ii) any
such active or former members who receive improved benefits as a result of the declaration,
of such an amount as the Minister and the
Committee shall determine having taken the Actuary’s advice;
(c) the
value of the additional contributions under sub-paragraph (b) shall be
equal to the value of the additional benefits arising as calculated by the
Actuary under sub-paragraph (a);
(d) the
additional contributions payable under sub-paragraph (b) may consist
of –
(i) a single cash
payment to the fund,
(ii) a
series of equal cash payments to the fund over a period determined by the
Minister on the advice of the Actuary, having regard to the additional benefits
arising, or
(iii) any
combination of payments described in clauses (i) and (ii) as the
Minister may determine in consultation with the employer and the Committee.
(6) Contributions deducted
from an active member’s pensionable earnings under Regulation 11(8)
of the Funding and Valuation Regulations –
(a) where
they are due before the date the declaration takes effect, shall be based on
the member’s salary excluding the pensionable allowance; and
(b) where
they are due on or after the date the declaration takes effect, shall be based
on the member’s salary including the pensionable allowance.
(7) Contributions payable
by employers under Regulation 11(7) of the Funding and Valuation
Regulations –
(a) where
they are due before the date the declaration takes effect, shall be based on
members’ salaries excluding the pensionable allowance; and
(b) where
they are due on or after the date the declaration takes effect, shall be based
on members’ salaries including the pensionable allowance.
(8) Subject to paragraph (9),
an employer may revoke a pensionable allowance declaration on giving the
Minister and the Committee at least 6 months notice of the intention to do
so.
(9) The revocation of a pensionable allowance declaration takes effect
upon the expiry of the notice given by the employer under paragraph (8).[4]
Part 2
Membership
7 Power
to extend application of Scheme – admitted employers
Schedule 1 sets out the provisions which shall apply in respect
of the admission of certain employers and their employees to the Scheme and
provisions in respect of any such employers who employ members of the 1967 Scheme,
and for the admission of such employers to the 1967 Scheme.
8 Active
membership
(1) Subject to Regulation 9(1)
and (2), and the provisions of this Regulation, a person becomes an active
member of the Scheme on the day that person’s Scheme employment begins.
(2) In the case of a person
employed under a fixed-term contract of employment entered into on or after the
coming into force of these Regulations –
(a) he or
she must before that employment commences, give such notification as the Administrator
requires as to whether or not he or she wishes to become an active member;
(b) who
under sub-paragraph (a) notifies the Administrator that he or she wishes
to become an active member, that notification shall apply to any subsequent
renewal of the fixed-term contract unless, before that renewal, the person
notifies the Administrator that he or she no longer wishes to be an active
member;
(c) a
notification given under sub-paragraph (a) is binding for the duration of
the contract;
(d) who
upon the expiry of that contract enters into a permanent contract of employment
and –
(i) is an active
member (by virtue of a notification under sub-paragraph (a)), that person
shall remain an active member,
(ii) is
not an active member (by virtue of a notification under sub-paragraph (a)),
that person shall automatically become an active member.
(3) This paragraph applies
to a person employed under a fixed-term contract of employment –
(a) entered
into before the date of the coming into force of these Regulations and which
continues after that date; and
(b) who
on the day before the day these Regulations come into force, is not a
contributing member of the 1967 Scheme under the New Members
Regulations.
(4) If the contract in
relation to a person to whom paragraph (3) applies is renewed, that person
shall before the date of renewal give such notification as the Administrator
requires as to whether or not he or she wishes to become an active member of
the Scheme, and paragraph (2)(b) to (d) shall apply as if that person
is employed under a fixed-term contract of employment entered into on or after
the coming into force of these Regulations.
(5) In the case of an
employer admitted under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, an employee of
that employer is, subject to the terms of the admission agreement, entitled to
become an active member.
(6) A contributing member
of the 1967 Scheme shall become an active member of the Scheme in
accordance with Regulation 2, 3(2)(a) or (c), or 4 of the Transitional
Regulations.
9 Restrictions
on active membership
(1) An employee employed by
an employer under a contract of employment which does not require the employer
to provide the employee with any minimum working hours and does not require the
employee to accept any of the working hours offered, is not eligible to become
an active member of the Scheme.
(2) A person aged 75
or over is not eligible to become an active member of the Scheme.
(3) An active member of the
Scheme who with the agreement of his or her employer is absent from his or her
employment (other than by reason of child-related leave, ill-health, or injury)
for a period not exceeding one year shall, during his or her period of
absence, continue to be an active member but shall not be entitled –
(a) to
make any contributions to the fund; or
(b) to
accrue any pensionable service in respect of that period of absence,
but, notwithstanding sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), a
death in Scheme employment lump sum and a survivor pension shall (if
applicable) be payable, should that member die during his or her period of
absence.
10 Ending
active membership
A person ceases to be an active member of the Scheme –
(a) on the day after he or
she leaves Scheme employment;
(b) notwithstanding that he
or she has not left Scheme employment, on the day he or she attains the age
of 75;
(c) in the case of a person
employed on a fixed-term contract of employment –
(i) on
the day after the contract ends, or if the person is employed concurrently on
more than one such contract, on the day after the last of the concurrent
contracts ends,
(ii) who
in accordance with Regulation 8(2)(b), notifies the Administrator that he
or she no longer wishes to be an active member, on the day the contract is
renewed, or if the person is employed concurrently on more than one such
contract, on the day the last of the concurrent contracts is renewed; or
(d) on the day the
6 months’ notice referred to in paragraph 8 of Schedule 1,
expires.
11 Deferred
membership
(1) A person is a deferred
member of the Scheme in relation to a period of active membership if –
(a) the
person is no longer an active member of the Scheme;
(b) the
person has not started to receive any retirement benefits under the Scheme in
relation to that period of active membership; and
(c) the
person has not reached the age of 75.
(2) A person may be a
deferred member of the Scheme –
(a) in
respect of benefits accrued in relation to a period of active membership as an
ordinary member of the Scheme, notwithstanding the fact that the same person is
also concurrently an active uniformed member of the Scheme;
(b) in
respect of benefits accrued in relation to a period of active membership as a
uniformed member of the Scheme, notwithstanding the fact that the same person
is also concurrently an active ordinary member of the Scheme; or
(c) in
respect of benefits accrued in relation to a period of active membership,
notwithstanding the fact that the same person is also concurrently a pensioner
member of the Scheme in respect of benefits accrued in relation to another
period of active membership.
12 Pensioner
membership
(1) A person is a pensioner
member of the Scheme if that person was formerly an active or deferred member
of the Scheme and is in receipt of retirement benefits under the Scheme.
(2) A person may be a
pensioner member of the Scheme in respect of benefits accrued in relation to
one period of active membership notwithstanding the fact that the same person
is also concurrently an active or deferred member of the Scheme in respect of
benefits accrued in relation to another period of active membership.
13 Survivor
membership
A person is a survivor member of the Scheme if that person is
entitled to a survivor pension under any of Regulations 44 to 45.
Part 3
Contributions
14 Compulsory
contributions and recovery of member contributions
(1) An active member and
that member’s employer must pay such contributions to the fund as are
required under Part 3 of, and Schedules 1, 2 or 4 to the Funding and
Valuation Regulations.
(2) The recovery of any
contributions or sum remaining due and not deducted under Regulation 11(8)
of the Funding and Valuation Regulations may be effected as set out in paragraph (3).
(3) Where the recovery of
contributions or sum referred to in paragraph (2) concerns –
(a) an
active member, his or her employer may deduct any outstanding amount due (in
addition to the contributions deductible under Regulation 11(8) of the Funding
and Valuation Regulations) from that member’s pensionable pay; or
(b) an
active, deferred, pensioner or deceased member, the Committee may make such
recovery as a civil debt; or
(c) a
deferred, pensioner or deceased member, the Administrator may make such
recovery by deducting any outstanding amount due from any payment by way of
benefits to or in respect of a person entitled to a pension or other benefits
under the Scheme.
15 Additional
voluntary contributions
(1) An active member may
apply to the Administrator to enter into an arrangement to pay additional
voluntary contributions (“AVCs”) to the fund so as to increase the
amount of –
(a) annual
retirement benefits to which that member is entitled upon retirement; and
(b) survivor
pension to which a survivor member is entitled upon the death of that active
member.
(2) The amount by which an
annual pension is increased through an AVC arrangement under paragraph (1)
shall be determined by the Committee –
(a) upon
the advice of the Actuary; and
(b) upon
the basis that such an amount is not expected to incur any additional cost to
the fund.
(3) [5]
(4) An application under
paragraph (1) must be made in such manner as the Administrator requires
and must specify whether the AVCs will be by way of –
(a) a single
payment deducted from the member’s weekly or monthly pensionable earnings
(as the case may be) by a specified amount; or
(b) a
regular contribution of a fixed percentage of, or specified amount of
pensionable earnings deducted from the member’s weekly or monthly
pensionable earnings (as the case may be).
(5) If at any time, as a
result of actuarial advice, any change occurs or is likely to occur in respect
of the amount referred to in paragraph (2), the Committee shall notify the
member accordingly.
(6) An active member may at
any time apply to the Administrator to –
(a) enter
into more arrangements under paragraph (1); or
(b) reduce
or cancel the amount of AVCs deducted under an AVC arrangement.
16 Contributions
during child-related leave
(1) An active member on
child-related leave and that member’s employer must pay contributions on
pensionable earnings paid during that period of leave.
(2) Where, during the
period of child-related leave an active member’s pensionable earnings are
reduced, the member and that member’s employer must pay contributions
based upon the member’s notional pensionable earnings in respect of the
period of leave where the member’s pensionable earnings are reduced.
(3) This paragraph applies
to an active member who intends to pay contributions in respect of child
related leave in relation to which that member is not entitled to the payment
of pensionable earnings.
(4) Where paragraph (3)
applies, and subject to paragraph (5), the active member must, before
taking child-related leave other than parental bereavement leave, give notice
in writing to the Administrator of the member’s intention.[6]
(5) Where paragraph (3)
applies and the active member is employed by an admitted employer, that member
must, before giving any notice required under paragraph (4), obtain that
employer’s agreement to the payment of contributions in respect of unpaid
child-related leave.[7]
(6) Where an active member
and that member’s employer are paying contributions in respect of unpaid
child-related leave, those contributions shall be based upon the member’s
notional pensionable earnings in respect of that unpaid period of leave.
17 Contributions
during absence for ill-health etc.
(1) Where an active member
is absent from his or her employment by reason of ill-health or injury, that
member and his or her employer must pay contributions on pensionable earnings
paid during that period of absence.
(2) If an active
member’s absence under this Regulation is for a period of up to
2 years and during that period –
(a) the
member’s pensionable earnings are reduced, the contributions payable by
that member and his or her employer shall be based on the reduced amount of
pensionable earnings paid in respect of that member; or
(b) the
member is no longer entitled to the payment of pensionable earnings, that
member and his or her employer shall cease to pay contributions.
(3) For the purposes of
calculating benefits accrued in respect of an active member to whom paragraph (2)(a)
or (b) applies, that member shall be treated as if he or she, and his or
her employer had paid contributions based upon the member’s notional
pensionable earnings in respect of the period of absence where the
member’s pensionable earnings were reduced or not paid.
18 Contributions
in relation to reduced contractual salary
(1) This Regulation applies
to an active member –
(a) who
has had his or her contractual salary reduced because the nature of the
member’s employment or the skills or duties required in that employment
have changed; or
(b) who has
been re-deployed to a different employment in consequence of which that
member’s salary is reduced in relation to that employment.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3)
or (5), a member to whom this Regulation applies may within 3 months
before the date on which the reduction takes effect, give notice in writing to
the Administrator that the member wishes to continue to pay contributions based
on the salary which the employer is paying to that member immediately before
the date the reduction takes effect (the “accustomed salary rate”).
(3) A member must, before
giving notice under paragraph (2), obtain his or her employer’s
agreement to the payment of contributions at the accustomed salary rate.
(4) If an employer agrees
to a member’s request under paragraph (3) or if paragraph (5)
applies, the employer must continue to pay contributions based on that
member’s salary immediately before the date the reduction takes effect.
(5) Paragraph (3) does
not apply to a member who is within 5 years of his or her normal pension
age.
(6) For the purposes of
calculating benefits accrued in respect of a member who is paying contributions
at the accustomed salary rate, that member shall be treated as if he or she is
being paid a salary equal to the salary the member was being paid immediately
before the date the reduction takes effect.
(7) Contributions at the
accustomed salary rate shall cease upon –
(a) the
member giving notice in writing to the Administrator that he or she no longer
wishes to pay contributions at that rate;
(b) the member
being paid a salary in that employment in excess of the salary the member was
being paid immediately before the date the reduction took effect; or
(c) the
member ceasing active membership of the Scheme.
19 Deferred
pension, refund of contributions or transfer value
(1) This paragraph applies
to an active member who leaves Scheme employment having completed less than
5 years pensionable service including any earlier aggregated periods of
service recorded within that member’s active member pension record.[8]
(2) A member to whom
paragraph (1) applies shall be entitled –
(a) to a
deferred pension once that member becomes so eligible under Regulation 29(5)
or (6);
(b) to
apply to the Administrator for a refund of –
(i) his or her contributions
(under Regulation 14) in relation to that member’s active
membership,
(ii) AVCs
under an arrangement in accordance with Regulation 15, or
(iii) subject
to Regulation 24(4) of the Administration Regulations, any contributions
included in a transfer payment received under Regulation 23 of the Administration
Regulations; or
(c) to
apply to the Administrator for a transfer payment out of the fund in accordance
with Regulation 22 of the Administration Regulations.[9]
(3) If a member who has
applied for a refund under paragraph (2)(b) dies before the payment is
made, the Administrator must pay the sum due to the member’s estate.
(4) This paragraph applies
to an active member who leaves Scheme employment having completed at least
5 years pensionable service including any earlier aggregated periods of
service recorded within that member’s active member pension record.[10]
(5) A member to whom
paragraph (4) applies shall be entitled to a deferred pension once that
member becomes so eligible under Regulation 29(5) or (6), or to apply
to the Administrator for a transfer payment out of the fund in accordance with
Regulation 22 of the Administration Regulations.
(6) A refund of
contributions or a transfer payment under this Regulation shall –
(a) not
be made until the former active member’s employer has –
(i) paid the relevant
amount of pensionable earnings due to that member, and
(ii) in
accordance with the Funding and Valuation Regulations, paid into the fund the
relevant amount of employer contributions;
(b) extinguish
a former active member’s rights to any other benefits under the Scheme,
as well as the rights of any person contingently entitled to any benefit
payable upon that former active member’s death.
(7) Any application
referred to under this Regulation shall be made in such manner as the Administrator
requires.
Part 4
Pension records
20 Management
of pension records
(1) The Administrator shall
establish and maintain one or more pension records for each active, deferred,
pensioner or survivor member of the Scheme and a new record must be established
on each occasion any active, deferred or pensioner member changes his or her
membership of the Scheme.
(2) A pension record may be
kept in any form the Administrator considers appropriate and must contain such
matters as are required by these Regulations.
(3) A pension record must
be closed if –
(a) a
transfer payment out of the fund is made in accordance with Regulation 22
of the Administration Regulations, the effect of which is that the member is no
longer entitled to any benefits from the Scheme in relation to that record;
(b) a
refund of contributions is made following an application under
Regulation 19(2)(b);
(c) a
lump sum payment is made under Regulations 33 or 34;
(d) the
member dies;
(e) the
last survivor member entitled to a benefit under a survivor member’s pension
record ceases to be entitled to a benefit under that record (by reason of death
or upon ceasing to be an eligible child);
(f) due
to the aggregation of the benefits under the record with a different record, it
is no longer required; or
(g) all
the benefits under the record are forfeited under Schedule 2.[11]
(4) Other than to correct
an administrative error, a pension record can only be adjusted as a consequence
of –
(a) a
transfer payment out of or into the fund in accordance with Regulations 22
and 23 of the Administration Regulations;
(b) a
payment or allowance declared from a date earlier than consent is given under Regulation 6(3)
and (4)(b);
(c) an
award of increased retirement benefits under Regulation 41;
(d) a
transfer into an active member’s pension record from a deferred member
pension record upon the merging of those records;
(e) the
conversion of retirement benefits into a lump sum under Regulation 31 or
32;
(f) the
payment of pensionable earnings received after the closure of a pension record;
(g) the Minister’s
determination to issue a forfeiture certificate under paragraph 4(1) of
Schedule 2.
21 Active
member pension record
(1) On 1st January of each
scheme year, an active member’s pension record must specify the opening
balance for that year calculated in accordance with this Regulation.
(2) At the end of each
scheme year the opening balance mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be
revalued in accordance with Regulation 9 of the Funding and Valuation
Regulations.
(3) At the end of each
scheme year, the closing balance for an active member’s pension record
shall be calculated by taking the revalued opening balance mentioned in
paragraph (2) and adding –
(a) the
amount of earned pension (if any) for that scheme year;
(b) the
amount of pension accrued during that scheme year attributable to the payment
of AVCs under an arrangement in accordance with Regulation 15; and
(c) the
sum resulting from any pension record adjustment referred to in
Regulation 20(4) arising during that scheme year.
(4) The closing balance
calculated under paragraph (3) becomes the new opening balance for the
next scheme year.
(5) When an active member
becomes a deferred or pensioner member or dies, a closing balance for that
member’s pension record shall, at the end of the calendar month in which
that member ceases to be an active member, be calculated by adding the sum
of –
(a) the
opening balance for the scheme year in which the active member becomes a
deferred or pensioner member or dies;
(b) the
amount of earned pension (if any) for that scheme year;
(c) the
amount of pension accrued during that scheme year attributable to the payment
of AVCs under an arrangement in accordance with Regulation 15;
(d) anything
attributable to a pension record adjustment, under Regulation 20(4),
arising during that scheme year,
and applying the relevant revaluation rate or the revaluation rate
as at 31st December of that scheme year (whichever is applicable).[12]
(6) In paragraph (5),
the “relevant revaluation rate” means in respect of an active
member who becomes a deferred or pensioner member, or dies before
31st December in a scheme year, the revaluation rate as at
31st December of the preceding year, applied pro-rata according to the
number of days of pensionable service accrued by that member in the scheme year
in which he or she becomes a deferred or pensioner member.
(7) The closing balance
calculated under paragraph (5) becomes the new opening balance for that
member’s deferred or pensioner member pension record.
22 Deferred
member pension record
(1) When an active member
becomes a deferred member of the Scheme, the active member’s pension
record must be closed and a deferred member pension record must be opened.
(2) On the day the deferred
member pension record is opened, the record must –
(a) specify
an opening balance which is comprised of the closing balance calculated under Regulation 21(5);
and
(b) specify
the amount of any lump sum which that member has taken in accordance with Regulation 32.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
deferred member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (2)(a)) for the
first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in accordance
with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(4) The first annual
pension increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance
according to the number of days in respect of which the deferred member pension
record is open in the first scheme year.
(5) The balance with the
increase applied under paragraph (3) or (4) becomes the closing
balance for that same scheme year, and that closing balance becomes the new
opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January of
each subsequent scheme year, the deferred member pension record opening balance
for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(6) Subject to paragraphs (7)
and (8), if a deferred member re-enters Scheme employment –
(a) the
deferred member’s pension record must be closed and an active member
pension record must be opened;
(b) the
closing balance for that member’s deferred member pension record
shall –
(i) be calculated by
applying the annual pension increase as at 1st January of the scheme year
in which that member re-enters Scheme employment, pro-rata to the opening
balance for that deferred member pension record, according to the number of
days in respect of which that pension record was open in that scheme year, and
(ii) become
the new opening balance for that member’s active member pension record;
(c) the
new opening balance referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(ii) shall be revalued
in accordance with Regulation 21(2) and if required, by the relevant
revaluation rate (construed in accordance with Regulation 21(6)) applied
pro-rata according to the number of days of pensionable service accrued by that
member in the scheme year in which he or she becomes an active member.
(7) This paragraph applies
to –
(a) a
deferred ordinary member who re-enters Scheme employment as a uniformed member;
and
(b) a
deferred uniformed member who re-enters Scheme employment as an ordinary
member.
(8) Where paragraph (7)
applies, on re-entering Scheme employment, an active member pension record must
be opened in respect of the person concerned, but that person’s deferred
member pension record shall, notwithstanding paragraph (6)(a), remain open
and operate concurrently with that person’s active member pension record.
(9) The closing and opening
balance for an active member pension record opened under paragraph (8)
shall be calculated in accordance with Regulation 21, and the closing and
opening balance for the concurrent deferred member pension record referred to
in paragraph (8) shall continue to be calculated in accordance with paragraph (5).
23 Pensioner
member pension record – active member
(1) When an active member
becomes a pensioner member of the Scheme, the active member’s pension
record must be closed and a pensioner member pension record must be opened.
(2) On the day the
pensioner member pension record is opened, the record must –
(a) specify
an opening balance which is comprised of the closing balance referred to in
Regulation 21(7) –
(i) less any
reduction applied under Regulation 29(7),
(ii) less
any amount of retirement benefits exchanged in accordance with Regulation 31,
(iii) plus
any enhancement applied as a result of –
(A) enhanced
retirement benefits under Regulation 29(4), or
(B) an
enhanced level ill-health pension under Regulation 38; and
(b) specify
the amount of any –
(i) reduction applied
under Regulation 29(7),
(ii) benefits
exchanged in accordance with Regulation 31 or 32, or
(iii) enhancement
referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(iii).
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
pensioner member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (2)(a)) for the
first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in accordance
with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(4) The annual pension
increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance
according to the number of days in respect of which the pensioner member
pension record is open in the first scheme year.
(5) The balance with the
increase applied under paragraph (3) or (4) becomes the closing
balance for that same scheme year, and that closing balance becomes the new
opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January of
each subsequent scheme year, the pensioner member pension record opening
balance for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
24 Pensioner
member pension record – deferred member
(1) When a deferred member
becomes a pensioner member of the Scheme, the deferred member’s pension
record must be closed and a pensioner member pension record must be opened.
(2) On the day the pensioner
member pension record is opened, the record must –
(a) specify
an opening balance which is comprised of the closing balance referred to in
Regulation 22(5) –
(i) less any reduction
applied under Regulation 29(7),
(ii) less
any amount of retirement benefits exchanged in accordance with Regulation 31;
and
(b) specify
the amount of any –
(i) reduction applied
under Regulation 29(7), or
(ii) benefits
exchanged in accordance with Regulation 31 or 32.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
pensioner member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (2)(a)) for
the first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in accordance
with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(4) The annual pension
increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance according
to the number of days in respect of which the pensioner member pension record
is open in the first scheme year.
(5) The balance with the
increase applied under paragraph (3) or (4) becomes the closing
balance for that same scheme year and that closing balance becomes the new
opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January of
each subsequent scheme year, the pensioner member pension record opening
balance for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(6) Where, before
31st December in a scheme year, a deferred member becomes a pensioner
member or dies, the pension increase in respect of that year shall be applied
pro-rata to the closing balance of that deferred member pension record,
according to the number of days in respect of which the deferred member pension
record was open in that scheme year.
25 Survivor
member pension record – deceased active member
(1) In accordance with
Regulation 20(3)(d), on the death of an active member, his or her active
member pension record shall be closed and one or more survivor member pension
records shall be opened from the day following the member’s death.
(2) The closing balance of
the deceased member’s active member pension record is the amount of pension
accrued up to date of death.
(3) On the day the survivor
member pension record is opened, the record must specify –
(a) an
opening balance which shall be comprised of the amount of pension calculated
under Regulation 44(2) or (5) or Regulation 47 payable to the
deceased active member’s surviving partner, dependant or eligible child, minus
any reduction applied under Regulation 46;
(b) the
amount of any death in Scheme employment lump sum paid under Regulation 43;
and
(c) the
date from which the pension is to be paid.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
survivor member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (3)(a)) for
the first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in
accordance with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(5) The annual pension
increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance according
to the number of days in respect of which the survivor member pension record is
open in the first scheme year.
(6) The opening balance
with the increase applied under paragraph (4) or (5) becomes the
closing balance for that same scheme year and that closing balance becomes the
new opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January
of each subsequent scheme year, the survivor member pension record opening
balance for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with Regulation 8
of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
26 Survivor
member pension record – deceased deferred member
(1) In accordance with
Regulation 20(3)(d), on the death of a deferred member, his or her deferred
member pension record shall be closed and one or more survivor member pension
records shall be opened from the day following the member’s death.
(2) The closing balance of
the deceased member’s deferred member pension record is the amount of pension
accrued up to date of death with the pension increase applied pro-rata to that
closing balance, according to the number of days in respect of which the
deferred member pension record was open in that scheme year.
(3) On the day the survivor
member pension record is opened, the record must specify –
(a) an
opening balance which shall be comprised of the amount of pension calculated
under Regulation 45(2) or (4) or Regulation 47 payable to the
deceased deferred member’s surviving partner, dependant or eligible
child, minus any reduction applied under Regulation 46; and
(b) the
date from which the pension is to be paid.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
survivor member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (3)(a)) for
the first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in
accordance with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(5) The annual pension
increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance according
to the number of days in respect of which the survivor member pension record is
open in the first scheme year.
(6) The balance with the
increase applied under paragraph (4) or (5) becomes the closing
balance for that same scheme year and that closing balance becomes the new
opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January of
each subsequent scheme year, the survivor member pension record opening balance
for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
27 Survivor
member pension record – deceased pensioner member
(1) In accordance with
Regulation 20(3)(d), on the death of a pensioner member, his or her pensioner
member pension record shall be closed and one or more survivor member pension records
shall be opened from the day following the member’s death.
(2) The closing balance of
the deceased member’s pensioner member pension record is the amount of
pension which would have been payable to that member on the day following his
or her death.
(3) On the day the survivor
member pension record is opened, the record must specify –
(a) an
opening balance which shall be comprised of the amount of pension calculated
under Regulation 45(2) or (4) or Regulation 47 payable to the
deceased pensioner member’s surviving partner, dependant or eligible
child, minus any reduction applied under Regulation 46; and
(b) the
date from which the pension is to be paid.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5),
on 1st January of the scheme year following the scheme year in which the
survivor member pension record is first opened (the “first scheme
year”), the opening balance (referred to in paragraph (3)(a)) for
the first scheme year shall have an annual pension increase applied in
accordance with Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(5) The annual pension
increase shall, if required, be applied pro-rata to the opening balance according
to the number of days in respect of which the survivor member pension record is
open in the first scheme year.
(6) The balance with the
increase applied under paragraph (4) or (5) becomes the closing
balance for that same scheme year and that closing balance becomes the new
opening balance for the next scheme year and thereafter on 1st January of
each subsequent scheme year, the survivor member pension record opening balance
for the previous scheme year shall be increased in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
(7) Where, before
31st December in a scheme year, a pensioner member dies, the pension
increase in respect of that year shall be applied pro-rata to the closing
balance of that pensioner member pension record, according to the number of
days in respect of which the pensioner member pension record was open in that
scheme year.
Part 5
Retirement benefits
Retirement at, before or after normal pension
age
28 Normal
pension age – exception
The normal pension age of a person referred to in Article 9(1)
of the Law shall not apply to a uniformed member of the Scheme and the normal
pension age for such a person shall be 60.
29 Retirement
benefits
(1) An active member who
attains normal pension age shall, upon leaving Scheme employment, be entitled
to the payment of retirement benefits without actuarial reduction.
(2) An active member who
attains normal pension age, but who does not leave Scheme employment, may defer
payment of his or her retirement benefits to any date after that member’s
normal pension age up to the date when that member attains the age of 75.
(3) Where paragraph (2)
applies, the member and his or her employer must continue to pay their
respective contributions as required under the Funding and Valuation
Regulations.
(4) A member who under
paragraph (2) starts to receive payment of retirement benefits from a date
after his or her normal pension age is entitled to enhancement of those
benefits by a cost neutral amount.
(5) A deferred member who attains
normal pension age shall be entitled to the payment of retirement benefits
without actuarial reduction.
(6) Subject to paragraph (7) –
(a) an
active or deferred ordinary member who is within 10 years of, but has not
attained, his or her normal pension age; or
(b) an
active or deferred uniformed member who is within 5 years of, but has not
attained, his or her normal pension age,
may request the Administrator to arrange the payment of that
member’s retirement benefits.
(7) Retirement benefits
paid under paragraph (6) shall be actuarially reduced by a cost neutral
amount and in the case of an active member, that member is not entitled to
those benefits until he or she has left Scheme employment.
(8) Regulation 42
applies for the purposes of the payment of retirement benefits under this
Regulation.
30 Voluntary
early retirement
(1) An employer, with the
consent of the Minister, may subject to paragraph (2) offer voluntary
early retirement to an active member.
(2) To be eligible for
voluntary early retirement a member to whom paragraph (1) applies
must –
(a) have
attained at least age 55 but not have attained normal pension age; and
(b) have
volunteered to retire in consequence of the termination of his or her employment –
(i) by reason of
redundancy, or
(ii) by
mutual consent on the grounds of business efficiency.
(3) An eligible member
under paragraph (2) shall be entitled to receive payment of retirement
benefits calculated as at the date he or she leaves Scheme employment,
actuarially reduced by a cost neutral amount.
(4) An employer may, at the
request of an eligible member, pay into the fund from the moneys awarded to
that member as a consequence of the termination of his or her employment, a
lump sum of such an amount as the member requires, for the purchase of
additional pension.
(5) The Actuary shall
advise the Committee on the amount of additional pension purchased under paragraph (4).
(6) The Committee shall
notify the Administrator of the amount so advised under paragraph (4) and
which must be credited to the opening balance of the eligible member’s pensioner
member pension record in the year in which that record is opened.
(7) The Actuary shall,
before the end of every financial year provide a report to the Committee
certifying the costs to the fund arising in the previous financial year which
are attributable to the employer, as a consequence of an eligible
member’s retirement under this Regulation.
(8) Where, under paragraph (7)
the Actuary has certified an amount of additional costs to the fund, the
Committee shall require the employer to pay the whole of that amount into the
fund.
Alteration of how and when benefits may be taken
31 Conversion
of retirement benefits into lump sum
(1) Subject to Regulation 32(6) –
(a) an
active or deferred member who is entitled to the payment of his or her accrued retirement
benefits under Regulation 29 (with or without actuarial reduction);
(b) an
active member who is offered voluntary retirement under Regulation 30; or
(c) an
active member who is eligible to receive an ill-health pension,
may apply to the Administrator to exchange up to 30% of the amount
of those benefits for a lump sum payment.
(2) If a member makes an
application under paragraph (1), when those benefits become payable, the
sum of £13.50 shall be paid per £1.00 of retirement benefits
exchanged, so as to produce the lump sum payment.
(3) The amount of
retirement benefits once exchanged, may not be varied.
(4) An application under
this Regulation, Regulation 32 or 33 shall be made in such manner as the Administrator
requires.
32 Conversion
of retirement benefits into lump sum whilst in Scheme employment
(1) This Regulation applies
to –
(a) an
active ordinary member of the Scheme who is within 10 years of, but has
not attained, his or her normal pension age; or
(b) an
active uniformed member of the Scheme who is within 5 years of, but has
not attained, his or her normal pension age.
(2) A member to whom this
Regulation applies may apply to the Administrator to exchange up to 30% of the
amount of his or her retirement benefits accrued as at the date of the
application, for a lump sum payment payable whilst that member remains in
Scheme employment.
(3) If a member makes an
application under paragraph (2), the sum of £13.50 shall be paid per
£1.00 of retirement benefits exchanged, so as to produce the lump sum
payment which shall be actuarially reduced by a cost neutral amount.
(4) The amount of
retirement benefits once exchanged, may not be varied.
(5) The amount of
retirement benefits accrued as at the date of the application shall be reduced
by the percentage amount that the member has applied to exchange;
and –
(a) the
remaining balance of accrued benefits; and
(b) the
amount of the lump sum payment,
shall be recorded in that member’s active member pension
record.
(6) A member who has
received a lump sum payment under this Regulation is not entitled to make an
application under Regulation 31.
33 Conversion of retirement benefits into lump sum – terminal
illness
(1) This Regulation applies
to an active member who is eligible to payment of an ill-health pension under Regulation 36
and who the Independent Occupational Health Adviser certifies as having a life
expectancy of 12 months or less.
(2) A member to whom this
Regulation applies may apply to the Administrator to exchange the whole of his
or her retirement benefits accrued as at the date of the application, for a
lump sum payment equal to –
(a) the
maximum lump sum to which the member could have become entitled had he or she
made an application under Regulation 31(1)(c) as soon as the
member’s employer decided that he or she was eligible to an ill-health
pension; and
(b) the
remaining balance of accrued retirement benefits after the exchange effected
under paragraph (a), multiplied by 5,
which shall be payable immediately the member leaves Scheme
employment.
(3) A lump sum payment
under this Regulation shall extinguish a former active member’s rights to
any other benefits under the Scheme, but shall not extinguish the rights of any
person contingently entitled to any benefit payable upon that former active
member’s death.
34 Exchange of trivial
retirement benefits for lump sum[13]
(1) In
accordance with Article 131CE (permitted commutation – trivial pension)
of the Income Tax Law and this Regulation, an active or deferred member is
permitted to elect to exchange the whole of the capital value of his or her
retirement benefits accrued under the Scheme for a lump sum not exceeding such
amounts as are specified in Article 131CE of that Law.
(2) For
the purposes of this Regulation, Article 131CE of the Income Tax Law is to
be read as if for the words and phrases set out in column 1 of the following
table there were substituted the words and phrases set out in column 2 of the
table –
|
|
“An approved Jersey scheme”
|
“The Public Employees Pension Scheme referred to in
Article 2(1) of the Public Employees (Pensions)
(Jersey) Law 2014 (the “Scheme”)”
|
“commute”
|
“exchange”
|
“pension holder”
|
“active or deferred member of the Scheme”
|
“fund value”
|
“capital value of the active or deferred member’s
retirement benefits accrued under the Scheme”.
|
(3) An
exchange under paragraph (1) is not permitted where the capital value of the
active or deferred member’s retirement benefits accrued under the Scheme,
includes any amount transferred from another scheme, trust or contract (however
called and whether approved under any Article of the Income Tax Law or under
the jurisdiction of a country or territory outside Jersey).
(4) An
election under paragraph (1) must be made in such form and manner as the
Administrator specifies.
(5) The
calculation of the lump sum payable under this Regulation is to be determined
by the Committee after consulting the Actuary.
(6) Payment
of the lump sum –
(a) must
in the case of –
(i) an
active member, be made on the day after the member ceases Scheme employment, or
(ii) a
deferred member, be made not later than 3 months after the date of the
election under paragraph (1);
(b) extinguishes
the active or deferred member’s rights to any other benefits under the
Scheme, as well as the rights of any person contingently entitled to any
benefit payable upon that member’s death.
35 [14]
Ill-health retirement
36 Early
payment of retirement benefits on ill-health grounds
(1) Retirement benefits
payable under this Regulation shall be known as an ill-health pension and may
be paid at 2 different levels –
(a) the standard
level; or
(b) the enhanced
level.
(2) An ill-health pension
under paragraph (1) is payable to an active member –
(a) who
has completed 2 or more years pensionable service; and
(b) whose
employment is terminated on the grounds of ill-health, or mental or physical
impairment, before that member attains normal pension age,
provided that member’s employer is satisfied that he or she
meets the condition set out in paragraph (3).
(3) The condition is that
the member, as a result of ill-health, or mental or physical impairment is
permanently incapable of efficiently performing the duties of the Scheme
employment in which he or she is engaged.
(4) A member who meets the
condition in paragraph (3) is eligible to receive –
(a) the
standard level ill-health pension if his or her employer is satisfied that the
member is likely to be able to engage in any other employment (whether Scheme
employment or otherwise) before he or she attains normal pension age;
(b) the
enhanced level ill-health pension if his or her employer is satisfied that the
member is unlikely to be able to engage in any employment before he or she
attains normal pension age.
37 Role
of Independent Occupational Health Adviser
(1) A decision as to
whether a member is eligible under Regulation 36 to payment of an
ill-health pension, and if so whether it should be at the standard level or
enhanced level, shall be made by the member’s employer after that
employer has obtained a certificate from the Independent Occupational Health
Adviser as to –
(a) whether
the member satisfies the condition set out in Regulation 36(3); and
(b) the
likelihood or not (as the case may be) of the member being capable of engaging
in an employment before he or she attains normal pension age.
(2) The Independent
Occupational Health Adviser from whom the certificate is obtained under
paragraph (1) must not have previously advised, or given an opinion on, or
otherwise been involved in the particular case for which the certificate has
been requested.
38 Pension
records and calculation of ill-health pension
(1) When an ill-health
pension becomes payable under Regulation 36 –
(a) it
shall be payable to the member as if he or she had attained normal pension age
on the date the member’s employment is terminated on the grounds of
ill-health, or mental or physical impairment;
(b) the
member’s active member pension record shall be closed and a pensioner
member pension record shall be opened in accordance with Regulation 23(1);
and
(c) the
amount of standard level ill-health pension payable shall be calculated by
reference to the pensioner member pension record opening balance required under
Regulation 23(2).
(2) If a member is eligible
to receive the enhanced level ill-health pension, the amount of pension he or
she receives shall be enhanced in accordance with paragraph (3).
(3) The amount of
enhancement is calculated by –
(i) awarding
an additional period of notional service specified in column 2 of the
table by reference to the number of years of pensionable service accrued by the
eligible member, specified in column 1 of the table, and
(ii) applying
the amount of notional pensionable earnings that member would have been paid
over the additional period specified in column 2 of the table (calculated
in accordance with Regulation 5), at the accrual rate applicable as at the
date member’s employment is terminated as described in Regulation 36(2) –
1
|
2
|
Pensionable service accrued in last
continuous period of Scheme employment
|
Additional period of notional service
|
Not exceeding 5 years
|
nil
|
Exceeding 5 years but not exceeding 10 years
|
a period of the same length as in column 1
|
Exceeding 10 years but not exceeding 13⅓ years
|
a period that increases the period in column 1 to 20 years
|
Exceeding 13⅓ years
|
6⅔ years
|
(4) The
additional period referred to in column 2 of the table shall be limited so
that the member’s pensionable service (as notionally increased by the
additional period) does not exceed the period of pensionable service which
would have applied if the member had remained in Scheme employment until normal
pension age.
39 Review of
entitlement to ill-health pension
(1) The Committee may, from
time to time, require a person in receipt of an ill-health pension and who has
not attained normal pension age, to undergo such medical examination as the
Committee determines and in any case where the person refuses to undergo an
examination the person’s pension or such part of it as the Committee
deems appropriate shall be suspended until such time as the person undertakes
that examination.
(2) If as a result of a
medical examination carried out under paragraph (1), the Committee is
advised that a person in receipt of –
(a) the
enhanced level ill-health pension, is capable of
engaging in any employment before he or she attains normal pension age, that
person’s enhanced level ill-health pension shall, from such date as the
Committee determines, be substituted with the standard level ill-health pension
the amount of which shall be calculated in accordance with Regulation 38(1)(c)
as if the person had at the date of his or her ill-health retirement been
awarded the standard level ill-health pension; or
(b) either
the standard level ill-health pension or the enhanced
level ill-health pension, is capable of efficiently
performing the duties of the Scheme employment in which he or she was formerly
engaged, that person shall, from such date as the Committee determines, cease
to receive an ill-health pension.
(3) Where paragraph (2)(b)
applies –
(a) the person’s pensioner member pension record shall be closed
and a deferred member pension record shall be opened; and
(b) the
closing balance for the pensioner member pension record shall be calculated as
if it were a closing balance referred to in Regulation 23(5) with the
deduction of any enhancement applied under Regulation 38(2), and that
balance shall become the opening balance for that person’s deferred
member pension record.
40 Inappropriate
award of ill-health pension
(1) This Regulation applies
if as a result of a medical examination carried out under Regulation 39(1),
the Committee is advised that a person in receipt of an ill-health pension
should not have been determined by that person’s former employer as
satisfying the condition set out in Regulation 36(3).
(2) The Committee may
after –
(a) considering
such medical reports as the Committee deems necessary; and
(b) consulting
the Actuary,
require that person’s former
employer to meet such costs as are attributable to the payment of that ill-health
pension, as determined by the Actuary.
Increased retirement benefits and commencement
of retirement benefits
41 Increased
retirement benefits at request of employer
(1) Subject to paragraph (2),
the Administrator shall, at the request of an employer, increase the amount of
retirement benefits payable under the Scheme in respect of –
(a) an
employee or former employee; or
(b) any
specified class, category or description of such an employer’s employees
or former employees,
in accordance with this Regulation.
(2) An increase referred to
in paragraph (1) shall only be applied if the Administrator is satisfied
that –
(a) the
request is the result of an agreement between the employer and any of the
employees described in paragraph (1); and
(b) in
the case of a former employee, the agreement applies retrospectively, and in
the case of more than one employee described under paragraph (1)(b), the
agreement applies to some or all of them.
(3) Retirement benefits
shall –
(a) be
increased by such an amount as the employer determines as representing an
increase to the accrual of benefits under the Scheme;
(b) not
be increased in any case where the total benefits that would result, would be
more than any limits imposed by the Comptroller of Revenue under the Income Tax
Law;
(c) not
be increased more than 12 months after an employee enters or re-enters
Scheme employment, unless the Minister in any particular case agrees to extend
that period.[15]
(4) If increased retirement
benefits are payable under this Regulation, the employer shall pay to the fund
the additional contributions that the Committee, after receiving the advice of
the Actuary, determines is equal to the value of the increased benefits paid.
(5) The additional
contributions shall be paid in full by the time the increased benefits under
this Regulation become payable and may consist of –
(a) a
single cash payment to the fund;
(b) a
series of cash payments to the fund over a period; or
(c) a
combination of the payments referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b),
as determined by Committee after receiving the advice of the
Actuary.
(6) The Actuary shall,
before the end of every financial year provide a report to the Committee certifying
the costs to the fund arising in the previous financial year which are
attributable to the employer as a consequence of
the operation of this Regulation, such costs being calculated as the aggregate
of the additional contributions required under paragraphs (4)
and (5).
42 Commencement
of retirement benefits
(1) In relation to an
active member, retirement benefits under Regulation 29(1), (2) and (6),
Regulation 30 and Regulation 36 shall be paid at the end of the month
following the month in which the member leaves Scheme employment or attains
age 75 (as the case may be), and thereafter shall be paid at the end of
each month until the relevant pensioner member pension record is closed.
(2) In relation to a
deferred member, retirement benefits under Regulation 29(5) and (6)
shall, in respect of the first payment, be payable as soon as administratively
possible and thereafter at the end of each month until the relevant pensioner
member pension record is closed.
Part 6
Survivor benefits
Partners’ and
dependants’ benefits
43 Death in Scheme
employment – lump sum benefit
(1) In this Regulation
“lump sum recipients” in relation to a deceased active member,
means –
(a) any
of that member’s dependants or relatives;
(b) any
individual or person (including a person referred to in sub-paragraph (a))
nominated by that member, on such form as the Administrator requires, to
receive the whole or any part of a death in Scheme employment lump sum; or
(c) that
member’s estate.
(2) If an active member
dies before attaining the age of 75, the Committee shall pay a death in Scheme
employment lump sum to or for the benefit of one or more of that member’s
lump sum recipients.
(3) If, other than the
deceased active member’s estate, there is more than one lump sum
recipient, the Committee shall at its absolute discretion determine which of
those lump sum recipients and in what proportions the lump sum shall be
payable.
(4) The death in Scheme
employment lump sum shall be of an amount equal to 3 times the deceased
active member’s notional pensionable earnings calculated in accordance
with Regulation 5.
(5) Where an active member dies whilst absent –
(a) on
leave due to ill-health or injury; or
(b) under
Regulation 9(3),
that member shall be taken to have been paid notional pensionable
earnings equivalent to the annual pensionable earnings he or she would have
been paid (calculated in accordance with Regulation 5) had that member not
otherwise been absent.
(6) If the Committee has
not made payments under paragraphs (2) and (3) equalling in aggregate
the full amount of the death in Scheme employment lump sum before the expiry
of –
(a) 2 years
beginning with the date of the member’s death; or
(b) 2 years
beginning with the date on which the Committee could reasonably be expected to
have become aware of the member’s death,
it must pay an amount equal to the shortfall to the member’s
estate.
(7) In paragraph (1)(a)
“relatives” means any of the following persons –
(a) spouse;
(b) civil
partner or co-habiting partner;
(c) son
or daughter;
(d) brother
or sister;
(e) parent;
(f) grandparent;
(g) grandchild;
(h) uncle
or aunt;
(i) nephew
or niece.[16]
44 Survivor
pension – partners and dependants of deceased active members
(1) If an active member
dies leaving a surviving partner, that partner is entitled to a pension which
shall come into payment on the day following the member’s death.
(2) A pension payable under
paragraph (1) shall consist of 50% of the retirement benefits the deceased
active member –
(a) had
accrued up to the date of death (disregarding any amount by which those
benefits have been reduced if any exchange has been effected under
Regulation 32); and
(b) would
have accrued from the date of death until attaining normal pension age at the
accrual rate applicable as at the date of the member’s death, calculated
in accordance with Regulation 5, but
subject to any reduction applied under Regulation 46.
(3) Where, for the purposes
of calculating the amount of benefits accrued up to the date of death, an
active member died whilst absent –
(a) on
leave due to ill-health or injury; or
(b) from
employment under Regulation 9(3),
that member shall be taken to have been paid notional pensionable
earnings equivalent to the annual pensionable earnings he or she would have
been paid (calculated in accordance with Regulation 5) had that member not
otherwise been absent.
(4) If a deceased active
member leaves no surviving partner, a pension shall be payable to any person
who satisfies the Committee that he or she is a dependant of that member.
(5) A pension payable under
paragraph (4) shall –
(a) if
there is only one dependant, be of an amount equal to that which would have
been payable in respect of a surviving partner calculated under paragraph (2);
or
(b) if
there is more than one dependant, be of an amount equal to that which would
have been payable in respect of a surviving partner calculated under paragraph (2),
divided into 2 equal parts with –
(i) the first part
being distributed equally amongst the dependants, and
(ii) the
second part being distributed to one or more of the dependants in such
proportions as the Committee determines, and
on the death of any such dependant, each part shall be redistributed
amongst the remaining dependants accordingly.
45 Survivor
pension – partners and dependants of deceased deferred or pensioner members
(1) If a deferred or pensioner
member dies leaving a surviving partner, that partner is entitled to a pension
which shall come into payment on the day following the member’s death.
(2) A pension payable under
paragraph (1) shall consist of 50% of the retirement benefits (disregarding
any amount by which those benefits have been reduced if any exchange has been
effected under Regulation 31 or 32, as the case may be) the deceased
deferred or pensioner member would, subject to any reduction applied under
Regulation 46, have received on the day following his or her death.
(3) If a deceased deferred or
pensioner member leaves no surviving partner, a pension shall be payable to any
person who satisfies the Committee that he or she is a dependant of that
member.
(4) A pension payable under
paragraph (3) shall –
(a) if
there is only one dependant, be of an amount equal to that which would have
been payable in respect of a surviving partner calculated under paragraph (2);
or
(b) if
there is more than one dependant, be of an amount equal to that which would
have been payable in respect of a surviving partner calculated under paragraph (2),
divided into 2 equal parts with –
(i) the first part
being distributed equally amongst the dependants, and
(ii) the
second part being distributed to one or more of the dependants in such
proportions as the Committee determines, and
on the death of any such dependant, each part shall be redistributed
amongst the remaining dependants accordingly.
46 Amount
of survivor pension – reduction in specific cases
(1) In this Regulation
“dependant” means a person falling under paragraph (a) or (b)
of the definition “dependant” under Regulation 1.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3),
where a surviving partner or dependant entitled to a pension under Regulation 44
or 45 is younger than the deceased member by 20 years or more on
the day on which he or she dies, a reduction of 2.5% for each year by which the
deceased member’s age is 20 years or more than that of the
surviving partner or dependant, shall be applied to the amount of pension that
would otherwise be payable to that surviving partner or dependant.
(3) The application of a
reduction under paragraph (2) shall not operate so as to reduce a
surviving partner’s or dependant’s pension by more than 50%.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2),
a part of a year shall be treated as a whole year.
Children’s pensions
47 Children’s
pension – children of deceased active, deferred or pensioner members
(1) If an active, deferred
or pensioner member (“member”) dies leaving one or more eligible
children, those children shall be entitled to a children’s pension which
shall come into payment on the day following the member’s death.
(2) If a member dies
leaving a surviving partner or a dependant, a pension payable under paragraph (1)
shall be payable to that partner or dependant in respect of, and to be applied
for the benefit of an eligible child, consisting of an amount equal to 50% of
the retirement benefits payable to that surviving partner or dependant in
accordance with Regulation 44(2) or 45(2) (as the case may be).
(3) If a member dies
leaving a surviving partner or dependant and 2 or more eligible children
the pension payable in respect of those children shall consist of an amount
equal to 100% of the retirement benefits payable to that surviving partner or
dependant divided equally by the number of children.
(4) The Committee, if it is
satisfied that an eligible child is in the care of, or is being maintained by a
person other than the surviving partner, may at its absolute discretion pay the
children’s pension to that other person to be applied for the benefit of
that child.
(5) If a member dies
leaving no surviving partner or dependant, or if a surviving partner or all of
that member’s dependants die after a survivor pension has come into
payment, the amount of children’s pension shall be doubled.
(6) When an eligible child
ceases to be eligible to receive a pension or if an eligible child has his or
her pension temporarily suspended under paragraph (8), the amount payable –
(a) in respect
of any other eligible child, shall be equal to the amount payable under paragraph (2)
or (5) (as the case may be); or
(b) if
there is more than one eligible child, shall be of an amount equal to the
amount payable under paragraph (3) or (5) (as the case may be).
(7) This paragraph applies
in relation to an eligible child aged 18 or over but under the age
of 23 who is not for the time being in full-time education or vocational
training.
(8) Where paragraph (7)
applies, the Committee may temporarily suspend payment of a children’s
pension, if, having considered such evidence as is provided on behalf of the
child, it is satisfied that the child is expected to engage in, or resume
full-time education or vocational training before the age of 23.
(9) A decision under
paragraph (8) may be varied in the light of further evidence.
(10) When payment of a
children’s pension resumes following temporary suspension under paragraph (8) –
(a) that
pension shall have such annual pension increase applied in accordance with
Regulation 8 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations, as if it had
continued to be a pension in payment; and
(b) the
amount payable in respect of any other eligible child as increased under
paragraph (6) shall be decreased accordingly.
(11) The Committee may from time to
time request in respect of an eligible child who is aged 18 or over (but
under the age of 23), such evidence as the Committee requires –
(a) regarding
that child’s full-time education or vocational training; or
(b) regarding
that child’s physical or mental impairment, if he or she is not otherwise
engaged in gainful employment because of physical or mental impairment, and
if such evidence is not supplied or is not in the opinion of the
Committee satisfactory, the children’s pension may be suspended until
such evidence is supplied or satisfies the Committee.
Part 7
Miscellaneous and closing provisions
General matters
48 Interest
on late payment of Scheme benefits
(1) Where the Administrator
has failed to pay some or all of any retirement benefits under Part 5
within one year of the date those benefits became payable, the Committee shall
pay out of the fund, interest on the unpaid amount to the person in respect of
whom those benefits are payable.
(2) Where the Committee has
failed to pay some or all of any survivor benefits under Part 6 within
one year of the date on which the Committee has determined to pay those
benefits, the Committee shall pay out of the fund, interest on the unpaid
amount to the person in respect of whom those benefits are payable.
(3) Interest payable under
this Regulation is calculated at the Bank of England base rate on a day to day
basis from the date on which the benefits were payable, and compounded with
yearly rests.
49 Bankruptcy
and non-assignment of Scheme benefits
(1) If an active, deferred
or pensioner member becomes bankrupt, no part of his or her retirement benefits
under the Scheme are assignable or chargeable with that member’s or any
other person’s debts or liabilities, but at the date such benefits become
payable under these Regulations, those benefits –
(a) shall
vest in the Committee who may at its absolute discretion pay such benefits –
(i) to the member, or
(ii) to
that member’s husband or wife, civil partner, cohabiting partner or
dependant; or
(b) shall,
where the member has died, vest in the Committee, who may at its absolute
discretion pay such benefits to the member’s surviving partner, eligible
child or dependant in accordance with Part 6.[17]
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a)(ii),
“dependant” means in relation to an active, deferred or pensioner
member who has not died –
(a) a
child, if that child is a natural or adopted child of that member, or is a
step-child or child accepted by that member as a member of the family and is
dependent on that member, and –
(i) is under the age
of 18,
(ii) is
under the age of 23 and is in full-time education or vocational training,
or
(iii) is
under the age of 23 and, in the opinion of the Committee, is not otherwise
able to engage in gainful employment because of physical or mental impairment;
or
(b) a
person other than a child referred to in sub-paragraph (a), if, in the
opinion of the Committee –
(i) the person is
financially dependent on that member for the provision of most of the ordinary
necessities of life,
(ii) the
person is in a mutually dependent financial relationship with that member, or
(iii) the
person is dependent on that member because of physical or mental impairment
which, subject to such medical examination of the person as the Committee
requires, the Committee determines is likely to be permanent.
Forfeiture
50 Forfeiture
of Scheme benefits
Schedule 2 makes provision as to the forfeiture of accrued retirement
benefits and benefits in payment in respect of persons entitled to retirement
benefits or other benefits under the Scheme.
Closing
51 Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Public Employees (Pension
Scheme) (Membership and Benefits) (Jersey) Regulations 2015.
SCHEDULE 1[18]
(Regulation 7)
Extension of scheme –
admitted employers
1 Interpretation
In this Schedule –
“admission agreement” means an agreement between the
Minister and an employer described in paragraph 2(1) and (4)(b), which
sets out the terms upon which the employer is admitted to the Scheme;
“public utility undertaking” means any legal person
authorized by or under any enactment to carry on an electricity, or a gas,
postal services, telecommunications or water undertaking;
“statutory undertaking” means an undertaking established
under an enactment;
“valuation” has the meaning given in Regulation 3(1)
of the Funding and Valuation Regulations.
2 Participation
of certain employers and employees
(1) Subject
to paragraph 3, the Minister on the application of an employer
who –
(a) is a
parish;
(b) is a
public utility undertaking;
(c) is a
statutory undertaking;
(d) has
replaced an administration of the States (within the meaning of Article 1
of the Employment of States of
Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005);
(e) has
otherwise taken over the employment of any employees who are members of the
Scheme or the 1967 Scheme; or
(f) not
being one of the foregoing, satisfies the Minister that persons employed by the
employer are employed in work of a nature which might properly be undertaken by
a member,
may, after consulting the Committee and the Actuary, admit the
employer to the Scheme.
(2) If, following
consultation under sub-paragraph (1), an employer is accepted for
admission to the Scheme, the employer shall enter into an admission agreement
with the Minister, in accordance with paragraph 4.
(3) If –
(a) an
employer described in sub-paragraph (1)(d) is accepted for admission to
the Scheme under sub-paragraph (2), and on the date of admission employs
any person who immediately before the date of replacement of an administration
of the States by that employer was an employee of that administration, that
employee shall continue to be a member of the Scheme, or
the 1967 Scheme (as the case may be) notwithstanding the replacement
of that administration; or
(b) an
employer described in sub-paragraph (1)(e) is accepted for admission to
the Scheme under sub-paragraph (2) and on the date of admission employs
any person who immediately before the date of the taking over of his or her
employment is a member of the Scheme or the 1967 Scheme (as the case
may be), that person shall continue to be a member of the Scheme, or
the 1967 Scheme (as the case may be) notwithstanding the taking over
of his or her employment.
(4) This sub-paragraph
applies to –
(a) an
employer described in sub-paragraph (3); or
(b) an
employer treated as if admitted to the Scheme under any enactment which
provides for that employer to become an employer for the purposes of the Scheme
in respect of members of the Scheme whose employment with the States Employment
Board is transferred to that employer,
and who employs any person who is a member of the 1967 Scheme.
(5) An employer to whom
sub-paragraph (4) applies, shall be taken to be an employer admitted in
respect of the 1967 Scheme, and the 1967 Scheme Regulations
shall apply to the extent that the employer exercises any functions under those
Regulations in respect of any employees who are members of that scheme.
(6) An employer referred to
in sub-paragraph (4)(b) shall, for the purposes of the Scheme, enter into
an admission agreement with the Minister, in accordance with paragraph 4.
3 Pre-admission
requirements
(1) Before the Minister
admits an employer under paragraph 2(1) –
(a) the
Minister shall carry out an assessment taking account of actuarial advice, of
the level of risk arising on the premature ending of participation by reason of
insolvency, winding up or liquidation of the employer;
(b) the
Committee shall cause to be obtained –
(i) from the Actuary,
notwithstanding Regulation 3 of the Funding and Valuation Regulations, a
certificate as to the amounts to be contributed to the fund by the employer,
and
(ii) from
the employer –
(A) such evidence
as the Committee requires of the employer’s actual and long-term ability
to pay the contributions certified by the Actuary, and
(B) such
information as the Committee requires relating to the employer and the
employees that are to be admitted.
(2) the Actuary shall
review any certificate obtained under sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i) before the
expiry of 3 months after the date at which the valuation is presented
under Regulation 3(3) of the Funding and Valuation Regulations, and
following each review shall issue a new certificate as to the amounts to be
contributed.
4 Admission
agreement requirements
(1) Where an employer is
admitted to the Scheme, the employer shall, on entering into an admission
agreement comply with –
(a) the
terms and conditions specified in sub-paragraph (2); and
(b) such
other terms and conditions as the Minister may determine, which shall be also
be set out in that admission agreement.
(2) An admission agreement
must include –
(a) where
the employer is not one in respect of whom paragraph 2(3) or (4)(b)
applies, provision as to whether any named individual, class or category or
description of employee is, or is not eligible to become an active member of
the Scheme on the day his or her employment with an admitted employer begins;
(b) a
requirement that the employer will make good any shortfall in contributions
that arises from the employer’s error in respect of a change in the
salaries of the employees or from any other cause;
(c) a
requirement that the employer will not do anything to prejudice the status of
the Scheme as a recognized overseas pension scheme within the meaning of section 150(8)
of the UK Finance Act;
(d) a
requirement that where the employer is to make a decision under Regulation 37
as to an active member’s eligibility for, and level of ill-health
pension, that the employer must obtain a certificate from no person other than
the Independent Occupational Health Adviser, and that the employer shall pay
the costs of obtaining that certificate;
(e) a
requirement that the employer provide from time to time, on demand by the
Committee, such evidence as the Committee requires of the employer’s
actual and long-term ability to pay the contributions certified by the Actuary;
(f) a
requirement that the employer provide from time to time on demand by the
Committee, a certificate from the employer’s auditor certifying that the
employer has paid all contributions due to the fund and any other amounts
required to be paid by the employer under Scheme Regulations or the 1967 Scheme
Regulations;
(g) a
requirement that the employer provide all information that may reasonably be
required by the Actuary, Administrator, Committee or Minister in the exercise
of their functions under Scheme Regulations or the 1967 Scheme
Regulations;
(h) a
requirement that the employer notify the Minister of any matter which may
affect the employer’s participation in the Scheme;
(i) a
requirement that the employer notify the Minister of any actual or proposed
change in its status, including an amalgamation, reconstruction or take-over, bankruptcy,
insolvency, liquidation, receivership or winding up, or a material change to
the employer’s business or constitution;
(j) provision
for it to terminate in the event that an employer ceases to be an employer of a
description set out in paragraph 2(1);
(k) provision
as to the payment of a termination contribution in the event of an employer
being unable to give notice of termination in accordance with paragraph 8;
(l) a
right for the Minister to carry out from time to time a review risk assessment,
being an assessment described in paragraph 3(1)(a);
(m) a right for
the Minister to terminate the agreement in the event of –
(i) any of the
circumstances set out in clause (i),
(ii) a
material breach by the employer of any of the employer’s obligations
under the admission agreement or these Regulations which has not been remedied
within a reasonable time,
(iii) a
failure by the employer to pay any sums due to the fund within a reasonable
period after receipt of a notice from the Minister requiring the employer to do
so.
5 Indemnities
and bonds etc.
(1) Where the level of risk
identified by the assessment carried out under paragraph 3(1)(a) is such
as to require it, the Minister in consultation with the Committee and on taking
actuarial advice, may determine that the admission agreement include one of the
following requirements –
(a) that
the employer enter into an indemnity or bond in a form approved by the
Minister, with a person who is registered under Article 9 of the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998 to carry on financial service business within the meaning of Article 2
of that Law;
(b) that
the employer shall pay into a separate admission agreement fund, contributions
of such an amount as certified by the Actuary which are in addition to those
certified payable to the fund under paragraph 3(1)(b)(i); or
(c) that
the employer secures a guarantee in a form satisfactory to the Committee,
from –
(i) a person who
funds the employer, in whole or in part,
(ii) a
person who owns or controls the exercise of the functions of the employer, or
(iii) the
States of Jersey, where the employer is –
(A) an employer
falling under paragraph 2(1)(d), and
(B) established
by or under any enactment which makes provision for that employer to be funded
in whole or in part, by the States of Jersey.
(2) Where at any time after
an employer has entered into an admission agreement, a level of risk identified
by a review risk assessment described under paragraph 4(2)(l) is such as
to require it, the Minister on taking actuarial advice, may determine that the
employer enter into a supplementary agreement with the Minister which shall
include one or more of the requirements set out under sub-paragraph (1)(a)
to (c).
(3) Failure by an employer
to enter into a supplementary agreement may be taken to amount to a material
breach of the employer’s obligations such as to result in the termination
of the admission agreement, as described in paragraph 4(2)(m)(ii).
6 Contributions
and other payments
(1) The contributions
certified by the Actuary as payable by an admitted employer to the fund, the
admission agreement fund, and any other amounts required to be paid by the
employer under –
(a) Regulation 11(7)
and (8) of the Funding and Valuation Regulations;
(b) Regulation 14(3)(a);
or
(c) a
notice given by the Committee under paragraph 7(2)(b),
shall be paid by that employer on or before the expiry of one month
following the end of the month in which those contributions or other amounts
fall due, and any outstanding amounts due from that employer shall be
recoverable as a civil debt to the Committee.
(2) Every payment referred
to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b) must be accompanied by a statement showing –
(a) the
total pensionable earnings paid to active members during the period covered by
the statement (including any notional pensionable earnings members were treated
as being paid during that period);
(b) the
total member contributions deducted from the pensionable earnings referred to
in clause (a);
(c) the
total employer contributions in respect of the pensionable earnings referred to
in clause (a);
(d) the
total additional voluntary contributions paid by active members under Regulation 15,
during the period covered by the statement; and
(e) any
changes to an active member’s employment status.
(3) The Administrator may
direct that the information required under sub-paragraph (2) shall be
given in such form, and at such intervals (not exceeding 12 months) as the
Administrator specifies in the direction.
(4) The Actuary shall also
certify such other amount of contributions as the Actuary may
determine –
(a) as
being reasonably attributable to the employer in respect of the capitalized
value, from time to time, of the debt transferred to the fund in respect of the 1967 Scheme
when that scheme was amended with effect from 1st January 1988; or
(b) are
required from the employer so as to address any shortfall in assets
attributable to that employer, arising from any cause.
(5) Sub-paragraph (4)(a)
applies regardless of whether or not an employer employs a continuing member of
the 1967 Scheme.
7 Additional
costs arising from admitted employer’s level of performance
(1) This paragraph applies
where, in the opinion of the Committee, the fund has incurred additional costs
which should be recovered from an admitted employer because of that
employer’s level of performance in carrying out its functions under
Scheme Regulations or the 1967 Scheme Regulations.
(2) The Committee may give
written notice to the admitted employer –
(a) stating
the Committee’s reasons for forming the opinion mentioned in sub-paragraph (1);
(b) stating
the amount the Committee has determined the admitted employer should pay in
respect of those costs and the basis on which the specified amount is
calculated;
(c) stating,
where the Committee has prepared a pension administration strategy under Regulation 20
of the Administration Regulations, the provisions of the strategy which are
relevant to the decision to give the notice and to the matters in clauses (a)
and (b); and
(d) requiring
payment of the additional costs.
8 Ending
of participation
(1) An admitted employer
shall give 6 months’ notice to the Committee and the Minister that –
(a) some
of the employer’s employees; or
(b) all
of the employer’s employees and the employer,
participating in the respective schemes,
intend to cease participating in either one of or both of those schemes on the
date the notice expires.
(2) The Minister may,
provided the Committee so agrees having obtained the advice of the Actuary,
give an employer 6 months’ notice to cease participating in either
one of or both of the respective schemes.
(3) Upon expiry of the
notice given under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), the Committee shall arrange
for such part of the assets of the fund as are certified by the Actuary to be
appropriate to be set aside, to be applied or disposed of in accordance with
paragraph 9, for the benefit of such of those employees who cease to
participate in the respective schemes.
(4) Before the Actuary
certifies the assets to be set aside under sub-paragraph (3), the Actuary
shall issue a termination contribution as described in sub-paragraph (5) –
(a) in
respect of whichever of the schemes the notice under sub-paragraph (1) or
(2) applies; or
(b) for
each of the respective schemes if the notice under sub-paragraph (1) or
(2) applies to both schemes.
(5) Subject to
sub-paragraph (6), the termination contribution shall be –
(a) the
past service liabilities of the respective schemes attributable to the
employees who are to cease their participation in the Scheme, or
the 1967 Scheme, as the case may be; minus
(b) the
part of the assets that would be appropriate to be set aside and applied in
accordance with sub-paragraph (3), if no amount were paid in respect of
those assets under sub-paragraph (8).
(6) The termination
contribution in sub-paragraph (5) shall be zero if that part of the assets
mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(b) exceeds the past service liabilities
mentioned in sub-paragraph (5)(a).
(7) The past service
liabilities shall be calculated on the actuarial assumptions used in respect of
the most recent valuation of the fund undertaken in accordance with
Regulation 3 of the Funding and Valuation
Regulations, and shall include allowances for projected
salary and pension increases applied in accordance with those assumptions.
(8) The employer shall,
before the expiry of the 6 months’ notice period, pay into the fund
the amount of the termination contribution and that amount shall be included in
the part of the assets to be set aside as certified by the Actuary under sub-paragraph (3).
(9) If any part of a
termination contribution is left unpaid, the Committee is not required under
sub-paragraph (3) to apply or otherwise dispose of such of those assets
which correspond to the part of the contribution left unpaid.
9 Application
or disposal of assets for benefit of employees
(1) The assets set aside
under paragraph 8(3) may be applied or disposed of in any of the ways
described in this paragraph.
(2) Subject to
sub-paragraph (3), where an employer to whom paragraph 8 applies, has
established a pension scheme, such part of the assets of the fund as in the
opinion of the Actuary relate to any of those employees who becomes a member of
such a pension scheme, may be transferred to that scheme.
(3) A transfer under
sub-paragraph (2) shall occur provided that –
(a) by a
date specified by the Committee, the employer and employee both request such a
transfer of assets; and
(b) the
Committee is satisfied that the terms of the transfer are fair in all the
circumstances.
(4) Where –
(a) sub-paragraph (2)
does not apply; or
(b) an
employee becomes a member of his or her employer’s pension scheme
referred to in sub-paragraph (2), but no transfer of assets occurs in
respect of that employee,
the Committee shall apply or dispose of the assets set aside, in
accordance with sub-paragraphs (5) or (8).
(5) An employee may, by a
date specified by the Committee, request that the Committee –
(a) purchase
annuities in accordance with sub-paragraph (6) from an insurance company
or office of good repute, for the purpose of satisfying any pension or other
benefits which may in future become payable under the respective schemes by
virtue of the employee’s membership; or
(b) pay a
transfer value to the trustees or managers of –
(i) any other pension
scheme of which the employee becomes a member, or
(ii) the
employee’s personal pension scheme.
(6) Where annuities are to
be purchased under sub-paragraph (5)(a) –
(a) any
increase on pensions in payment and on deferred pensions shall (instead of
being as provided by Regulations 8 or 12 of the Funding and Valuation
Regulations) be as determined by the Committee on the advice of the Actuary,
having regard to the proportion of the assets of the fund which are to be set
aside; and
(b) any
annuity so purchased shall be purchased in the name of the employee or in the
name of a trustee or trustees for the employee’s benefit.
(7) The purchase of an
annuity in respect of an employee, or the payment of a transfer value under
this paragraph shall extinguish the employee’s rights to any pension or
other benefits under the Scheme, or the 1967 Scheme (as the case may
be), as well as the rights of any person contingently entitled to any benefit
upon the employee’s death.
(8) Where the Committee
receives no request under sub-paragraph (5), the employee shall be
entitled to a deferred pension under Regulation 29 or, where applicable,
under equivalent provisions of the 1967 Scheme Regulations, subject
to such adjustment (if any) as the Actuary thinks fit on taking into account
the value of the part of the assets certified under paragraph 8(3).
SCHEDULE
2[19]
(Regulation 50)
Forfeiture of scheme benefits
1 Interpretation
In this Schedule –
(a) “competent
court” means the Royal Court, Petty Debts Court, or Magistrate’s
Court;
(b) “judgment of the
court” includes a judgment of a superior court of any country outside
Jersey in respect of which an Act under Article 3 of the Judgments (Reciprocal
Enforcement) (Jersey) Law 1960 applies, provided such
judgment has been registered in accordance with Article 4 of that Law.
2 Circumstances
leading to forfeiture of benefits
(1) This Schedule applies
to –
(a) an
active member who is in Scheme employment at the time –
(i) an offence
described in sub-paragraph (4)(a) to (c) is committed (of which
the member is later convicted), or
(ii) monetary
loss occurs to an employer or the fund under sub-paragraph (4)(d);
(b) a
person described in sub-paragraph (4)(e) or (f).
(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3),
a person to whom this Schedule applies may have his or her accrued retirement
benefits or benefits in payment forfeited in any of the circumstances set out
in sub-paragraph (4).
(3) The reference to
“accrued retirement benefits” in sub-paragraph (2), shall not
include any retirement benefits transferred into the fund under Regulation 23
of the Administration Regulations in relation to forfeiture of accrued benefits
in the circumstances set out in sub-paragraph (4)(a) to (c).
(4) The circumstances referred
to in sub-paragraph (2) are –
(a) where
the member is convicted of an offence committed in connection with his or her
employment or office for which –
(i) in the case of
one offence, the member is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least
5 years, or
(ii) in
the case of more than one offence, the member is sentenced on the same occasion
to 2 or more consecutive terms of imprisonment amounting in aggregate to
at least 5 years;
(b) where
the member is convicted of treason;
(c) where
the member is convicted of an offence under the Official Secrets (Jersey)
Law 1952 for which –
(i) in the case of one
offence, the member is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least
10 years, or
(ii) in
the case of more than one offence, the member is sentenced on the same occasion
to 2 or more consecutive terms of imprisonment amounting in aggregate to
at least 10 years;
(d) where
the member has caused a monetary loss to an employer or the fund as a result of
a criminal act by him or her;
(e) where
a person entitled to receive retirement benefits or other benefits under the
Scheme fails to make a claim before the expiry of 7 years from the date
upon which the retirement benefits or other benefits become payable;
(f) where
the member’s surviving partner, dependant or eligible child is convicted
of the offence of murder or manslaughter of that member.
3 Application
for forfeiture certificate
(1) An employer may, in the
circumstances described in paragraph 2(4), apply to the Minister for forfeiture
of a person’s accrued retirement benefits or benefits in payment, and a
copy of the application must be provided to the person concerned.
(2) An application for
forfeiture must be made before the expiry of 6 months beginning with –
(a) the
date of the person’s conviction, or if later, the date at which any right
of appeal in relation to the conviction is finally determined; or
(b) the
date of any order or judgment of a competent court against, or in respect of
the person concerned, that requires a person to make good any monetary loss to
the employer or the fund or, if later, the date at which any right of appeal
against the order or judgment is finally determined.
(3) An application for a
forfeiture certificate in the circumstances described in paragraph 2(4)(e)
may be made at any time after the expiry the 7 year period referred to in
that paragraph.
4 Certificate
and extent of forfeiture
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this paragraph, the Minister may, in respect of an application
under paragraph 3, determine to issue a forfeiture certificate in respect
of a specified amount or percentage of benefits.
(2) In respect of an
application for forfeiture concerning conviction for an offence falling under
paragraph 2(4)(a), the Minister must certify that the commission of that
offence has been gravely injurious to the States of Jersey or is liable to lead
to a serious loss of confidence in the public service.
(3) In respect of an
application for forfeiture concerning conviction for an offence falling under
paragraph 2(4)(a) or (c), where the commission of the offence in
question is not discovered until after the member has left Scheme employment,
the Minister may in determining whether to issue a certificate and its amount,
take into account the period which has elapsed between the date of the
commission of the offence and the date of conviction.
(4) The member’s
accrued retirement benefits or benefits in payment under the Scheme may be
forfeited under paragraph 2(4)(d) only to the extent that those benefits do
not exceed the amount of the monetary loss in question, or (if less), the value
of the member’s accrued retirement benefits or benefits in payment as
determined by the Administrator upon the advice of the Actuary.
(5) Except in a case
falling under paragraph 2(4)(d), (e) or (f), the amount forfeited must not
include any amount representing the member’s own contributions.
5 Effect
of forfeiture
(1) Where a person to whom
this Schedule applies has had his or her retirement benefits or benefits in
payment forfeited in whole, or in part, a copy of the forfeiture certificate
issued under paragraph 4 must be provided to the person concerned, and
contain a statement showing the amount forfeited and the effect of the
forfeiture on the person’s future benefits under the Scheme.
(2) Where a forfeiture
certificate is issued under paragraph 4, the Administrator must, subject
to any appeal against the Minister’s determination under that paragraph,
transfer out of the person’s pension record, an amount representing the
value of the benefits to be forfeited and pay that amount to the fund, or in a
case falling under paragraph 2(4)(d), the person’s employer.
(3) If the effect of
forfeiture is to extinguish the person’s entitlement to any rights or
benefits under the Scheme, the Administrator must close the person’s
pension record.
(4) Where a person’s
accrued retirement benefits or benefits in payment are forfeited in whole, or
in part, the fund shall be discharged of any actual or contingent liability in
respect of those forfeited rights or benefits.
6 Appeals
(1) This paragraph applies
where a person is aggrieved by the Minister’s determination under paragraph 4.
(2) A person may give
notice of appeal to the Royal Court before the expiry of 28 days beginning
with the day of receipt of the forfeiture certificate provided under paragraph 5
and the Court may, after considering the case, make such order as appears to it
to be just.