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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND


2007 No. 476

POLICE

The Police Pension (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007

  Made 15th November 2007 
  Laid before Parliament
  Coming into operation 31st December 2007 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS


PART 1

GENERAL
1. Citation and commencement
2. Meaning of certain expressions and references — general provision
3. Disablement

PART 2

ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSION AWARDS, PENSIONABLE SERVICE AND RETIREMENT
Eligibility for pension awards
4. Application of Regulations
5. Pension contributions payable by police officers
6. Eligibility for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement
7. Election not to pay pension contributions
Pensionable service
8. Reckoning of pensionable service
9. Previous service reckonable without payment
10. Previous service reckonable on payment
11. Reckoning of part-time service
12. Service reckonable by reason of transfer value
13. Reckoning of service for purposes of awards
Retirement
14. Retirement
15. Voluntary retirement
16. Compulsory retirement on account of age
17. Compulsory retirement on grounds of efficiency of the service
18. Compulsory retirement on the ground of disablement
19. Effective date of retirement

PART 3

PENSIONABLE PAY AND CONTRIBUTIONS
20. Pensionable pay
21. Final pensionable pay
22. Average pensionable pay
23. Aggregate pension contributions for purposes of repayment

PART 4

PENSION AWARDS
Personal pensions
24. Police officer's ordinary pension
25. Calculation of ordinary pension
26. Police officer's ill-health pension
27. Calculation of standard ill-health pension
28. Calculation of enhanced top-up ill-health pension
29. Police officer's deferred pension
30. Early payment of deferred pension subject to actuarial reduction
31. Repayment of aggregate pension contributions
32. Deduction of tax from awards under regulation 7(4) or 31
33. Pension debit members — personal awards
34. Exchange of lump-sum for additional periodical payments
35. Commutation of small pension for lump-sum
Survivors' pensions
36. Survivors' pensions — general provision
37. Survivors
38. Calculation of adult survivors' pensions
39. Calculation of child survivors' pensions
Guaranteed minimum pension
40. Guaranteed minimum pension for the purposes of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993
Awards on death — additional provisions
41. Death gratuities — dependants
42. Death gratuity — estate
43. Lump-sum death grant
44. Nomination for lump-sum death grant
45. Pension debit members — awards on death
46. Prevention of duplication
47. Increase of awards by reference to the Pensions (Increase) Acts
Revision and withdrawal or forfeiture of awards
48. Review and cancellation of pensions payable on the ground of permanent disablement
49. Withdrawal of pension during service as a police officer
50. Reduction of pension in case of default
51. Withdrawal of early payment of deferred pension
52. Forfeiture of pension

PART 5

PURCHASE OF INCREASED BENEFITS
53. Election to purchase increased benefits
54. Acceptance and effect of elections
55. Lump-sum payments
56. Payment by periodical contributions
57. Reckoning of increased benefits

PART 6

PENSION SHARING: PENSION CREDIT MEMBERS
58. Pension credit member's entitlement to pension
59. Commutation of the pension credit benefit on the grounds of serious ill-health
60. Death grants where pension credit member dies before pension credit benefits payable
61. Application of general regulations

PART 7

MEDICAL QUESTIONS AND APPEALS
Eligibility for awards — general
62. Eligibility for awards — general
Appeals
63. Appeals
64. Limitations on appeals
Decisions on eligibility for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement
65. Reference to selected medical practitioner — eligibility for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement
66. Appeals against decisions on eligibility for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement
Medical questions — permanent disablement
67. Reference of medical questions — permanent disablement
68. Appeal to independent medical referee (IMR)
69. Further reference to medical authority
70. Procedure and costs on appeals under regulation 68
71. Refusal to be medically examined

PART 8

TRANSFER VALUES, PAYMENT, ETC
Interpretation
72. Interpretation — transfers
Certificates of pensionable service on transfer between forces or rejoining the police service
73. Certificates of pensionable service
Transfer values payable on leaving the police service or ceasing to make pension contributions
74. Transfer values payable on leaving the police service or ceasing to make pension contributions
75. Prohibition on accepting or paying transfer values for pension credit rights
Mis-sold pensions
76. Mis-sold pensions
Payment of awards
77. Board responsibility for payment of awards
78. Payment and duration of awards
79. Payment of awards otherwise than to beneficiary and application of payments
80. Payment on behalf of officers of lifetime allowance charge
81. Reduction of benefits where lifetime allowance charge payable

PART 9

SPECIAL CASES
Servicemen
82. Interpretation
83. Awards to servicemen
84. Survivors' awards on death of servicemen
85. Prevention of duplication
86. Application of regulations 41, 42 and 43
87. Servicemen who do not resume service in the police service
88. Pensionable service and pension contributions
Former members of police force in Great Britain
89. Former members of a police force in Great Britain
Members of the Police Service Northern Ireland transferring to a police force in Great Britain
90. Members of the Police Service Northern Ireland transferring to a police force in Great Britain
Members of the Police Service Northern Ireland Reserve (Full-time)
91. Members of the Police Service Northern Ireland Reserve (Full-time)
92. Amendment of the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006

  SCHEDULE 1 — GLOSSARY OF EXPRESSIONS

  SCHEDULE 2 — APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS TO OFFICERS TO WHOM REGULATION 4(2) AND (3) APPLIES

  SCHEDULE 3 — TRANSFER ELECTIONS UNDER REGULATION 4(8)

  SCHEDULE 4 — PROGRESSIVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS

  SCHEDULE 5 — AMENDMENT OF THE POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND AND POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND RESERVE (INJURY BENEFIT) REGULATIONS 2006

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 25(2)(k) and 26 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998[
1] ("the 1998 Act"), with the consent of the Treasury in accordance with section 72(2A)[2] of that Act.

     The Secretary of State has consulted with the Police Negotiating Board in accordance with section 62(3) of the Police Act 1996[3], and the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Association in accordance with section 26(6) of the 1998 Act.



PART 1

GENERAL

Citation and commencement
     1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Police Pension (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007.

    (2) These Regulations come into force on 31st December 2007 and have effect from 6th April 2006[
4], subject to paragraph (3).

    (3) The following regulations have effect from 31st December 2007—

Meaning of certain expressions and references — general provision
     2. —(1) In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires—

    (2) For the purposes of these Regulations, an inspector of constabulary or a police officer engaged on relevant service shall be deemed to be a member of the police service.

    (3) In relation to an inspector of constabulary or an officer engaged on relevant service, any reference in these Regulations to the Board shall be construed as a reference to the Secretary of State.

Disablement
    
3. —(1) A reference in these Regulations to a person being permanently disabled is to be taken as a reference to that person being disabled at the time when the question arises for decision and to that disablement being at that time likely to be permanent.

    (2) For the purposes of deciding if a person's disablement is likely to be permanent that person shall be assumed to receive normal appropriate medical treatment for his disablement, and in this paragraph "appropriate medical treatment" shall not include medical treatment that it is reasonable in the opinion of the Board for that person to refuse.

    (3) Subject to paragraph (4), disablement means inability, occasioned by infirmity of mind or body, to perform the ordinary duties of a member of the police service or, as the case may be, to engage in any regular employment otherwise than as a police officer, except that in relation to a child survivor or an adult survivor of a police officer it means inability, occasioned by infirmity of mind or body, to earn a living.

    (4) Where a person has retired or otherwise ceased to serve as a police officer before becoming disabled and the date on which he becomes disabled cannot be ascertained, it shall be taken to be the date on which the claim that he is disabled is first made to the Board.

    (5) In this regulation, "infirmity" means a disease, injury or medical condition, and includes a mental disorder, injury or condition.



PART 2

ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSION AWARDS, PENSIONABLE SERVICE AND RETIREMENT

Eligibility for pension awards

Application of Regulations
    
4. —(1) These Regulations shall apply to a police officer who first became such on or after 6th April 2006.

    (2) These Regulations shall also apply, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2, to a police officer who—

    (3) These Regulations shall also apply, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (4), to a police officer who—

    (4) In the case of an officer such as is mentioned in paragraph (3)—

    (5) This paragraph applies to a police officer who cancels an election in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (4) and who has an entitlement to an ordinary pension under regulation B1 of the 1988 Regulations or a deferred pension under regulation B5 of those Regulations and in either case the pension is not in payment.

    (6) This paragraph applies to a police officer—

    (7) This paragraph applies to a police officer such as is mentioned in paragraph (5) who cancels an election in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (4) on a date before the expiry of the period of three months determined by the Secretary of State under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3, or such longer period as the Board may, by reason of exceptional circumstances in that officer's case, in their discretion allow.

    (8) A police officer—

may make an election for the pensionable service he is entitled to reckon under those Regulations to be reckoned as pensionable service for the purposes of these Regulations ("a transfer election") subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3.

    (9) Where a police officer to whom paragraph (6) applies or is such as is mentioned in paragraph 8(c) makes a transfer election, these Regulations shall apply to him and he shall become eligible for awards to be payable to or in respect of him under these Regulations.

Pension contributions payable by police officers
    
5. —(1) Subject to paragraph (3), a police officer shall pay to the Board pension contributions at the rate of—

    (2) The pension contributions payable under paragraph (1) upon each instalment of pay shall fall due at the same time as the instalment and may, without prejudice to any other method of payment that may be agreed by the Board in exceptional circumstances, be discharged by way of a deduction of the appropriate amount made by the Board from the instalment.

    (3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a police officer who has made an election under regulation 7 which is, for the time being, in effect.

Eligibility for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement
    
6. —(1) This regulation applies to—

    (2) A person to whom this regulation applies shall, if required by the Board, submit to an examination by a duly qualified medical practitioner selected by the Board ("the selected medical practitioner") in accordance with regulation 65 in order that the Board may determine his eligibility to receive pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement.

    (3) The Board shall determine, by applying the opinion of the selected medical practitioner as set out in his report, and advice from the Scheme actuary, whether the risk presented by that person that he will retire on the ground that he is permanently disabled is such that the likely cost of providing him with benefits under these Regulations is disproportionately high.

    (4) The determination of the Board under paragraph (3) shall be subject to appeal by that person in accordance with regulation 66 (appeals against decisions on eligibility); and upon receipt of the final revised report or written statement of opinion prepared in accordance with that regulation, the Board shall redetermine, by applying the opinion set out in the final revised report or written statement of opinion, and advice from the Scheme actuary, whether the risk presented by that person that he will retire on the ground that he is permanently disabled is such that the likely cost of providing him with benefits under these Regulations is disproportionately high.

    (5) The likely cost of providing a person with benefits under these Regulations shall be assessed as disproportionately high if it is more than 50 per cent greater than the likely cost of providing such benefits to a person who does not have an identified risk of retirement on that ground.

    (6) A person who it is determined under paragraph (3) or (4) presents such a risk shall, in accordance with these Regulations, be ineligible for pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement.

    (7) The Board may in accordance with this regulation determine the eligibility of a person—

to receive pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement; and in which case, the person concerned shall submit to an examination as set out in paragraph (2).

    (8) If a person mentioned in paragraph (7) is eligible for pension awards following a determination of the Board under paragraph (3) or (4) (as applicable), he shall be so eligible from the date of that determination:

Provided that—

Election not to pay pension contributions
    
7. —(1) A police officer may at any time elect that regulation 5(1) shall not apply in his case by notice in writing given to the Board.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), the date on which an election under paragraph (1) takes effect shall be the date on which an instalment of pay next falls due to him after the receipt of notice under paragraph (1).

    (3) In the case of a police officer who has given notice under paragraph (1) within three months of the date on which he became such and to whom regulation 12 does not apply, his election under that paragraph shall be deemed to have taken effect on that date.

    (4) In a case falling within paragraph (3), the Board shall subject to regulation 32 pay to the police officer in question a sum equal to the sum of the pension contributions paid by him since the date on which the election is deemed to have taken effect.

    (5) A police officer who has made an election under paragraph (1) may cancel such election by notice in writing given to the Board.

    (6) Where paragraph (5) applies—

    (7) A police officer shall not, if the Board so resolve, be entitled to cancel an election under paragraph (1) unless he has undergone a medical examination in accordance with regulation 6 (and any fee payable in respect of such an examination and a report thereon shall be paid by the police officer concerned).

    (8) A police officer in respect of whom it is determined, following a medical examination under paragraph (7), that the likely cost of providing him with benefits under these Regulations is disproportionately high, shall (subject to any appeal under regulation 6(4)) be entitled to cancel his election under paragraph (1) only subject to the condition that he shall not be eligible to receive pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement.

    (9) A police officer who was ineligible to receive pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement under regulation 6 on the date of his election under paragraph (1) shall upon cancellation of that election be ineligible to receive pension awards payable on the ground of permanent disablement.

Pensionable service

Reckoning of pensionable service
    
8. —(1) The pensionable service reckonable by a police officer at any date (in these Regulations referred to as the "relevant date") shall be determined in accordance with the succeeding provisions of these Regulations, subject to paragraphs (2) to (7).

    (2) Unpaid maternity leave or unpaid parental leave is not reckonable except in the circumstances described in paragraph (3), or if the conditions specified in paragraph (4) are satisfied.

    (3) A period of unpaid maternity leave is reckonable—

    (4) The conditions are that the person concerned—

    (5) Unpaid sick leave is not reckonable unless the conditions specified in paragraph (6) are satisfied.

    (6) The conditions are that—

    (7) No period of unpaid leave is reckonable other than as provided in this regulation.

    (8) A person who wishes to make the payment referred to in paragraphs (4)(c) and 6(a)(iii) shall—

    (9) Where a person who wishes to make the payment referred to in paragraphs (4)(c) and 6(a)(iii) dies before the end of the period specified in sub-paragraph (8)(a) without having given such notice—

    (10) On receipt of the notice referred to in paragraph (8) the Board shall calculate the amount due under paragraph (4)(c) or 6(a)(iii) (as the case may be) and give written notice of that amount to the person concerned.

    (11)

    (12)

whichever is the later, shall be deemed to have been made by the due date.


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