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The Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Type Ni-Statutory-Rule

Publication 2008-06-17

Last updated 2025-06-18

State In force

Jurisdiction Northern Ireland

Department Government Printer for Northern Ireland

Source legislation.gov.uk

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Interest on late payment of benefits and refunds of contributions

132

(1) This regulation applies if the whole or part of an amount to which this regulation applies is not paid by the end of the period of one month beginning with the due date.

(2) This regulation applies to any amount payable by way of a pension, lump sum or refund of contributions under this Section of the Scheme (other than any amount due under regulation 31 or 32) or interim or substitute award.

(3) The Department must pay interest on the amount of a pension, lump sum, refund of contributions or an interim or substitute award which is unpaid (“the unpaid amount”) to the person to whom it should have been paid unless the Department is satisfied that the unpaid amount was not paid on the due date because of some act or omission on the part of the member or other person to whom it should have been paid.

(4) The interest on the unpaid amount is calculated at the base rate on a day to day basis from the due date for the amount to the date of its payment and compounded with three-monthly rests.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, except where paragraph (6) applies, “due date”, in relation to an unpaid amount (other than an unpaid amount in respect of an interim or substitute award) , means—

(a) in the case of an amount in respect of a pension or lump sum payable to a member under Chapter 4 (members' retirement benefits) or a lump sum under regulation 136L , the day immediately following that of the member's retirement from pensionable employment,

(b) in the case of an amount in respect of a pension payable on a member's death , other than a pension payable under regulation 86A (Pension payable when member dies on or after reaching age 75) , the day after the date of death,

(c) in the case of an amount in respect of a lump sum under Chapter 5 (death benefits) that is payable to the member's personal representatives, the earlier of—

(i) the date on which probate or letters of administration were produced to the Department, and

(ii) the date on which the Department was satisfied that the lump sum may be paid as provided in regulation 87(9), and

(d) in the case of an amount in respect of any other lump sum under that Chapter, the day after the date of the member's death, and

(e) in the case of an amount in respect of a refund of contributions, the day after that on which the Department received from Her Majesty's Commissioners of Revenue and Customs the information required for the purposes of calculating the amount to be subtracted under regulation 44(3) or (4); and

(f) in the case of an amount in respect of a pension under regulation 86A that is payable to—

the member’s personal representatives, the date on which probate or letters of administration were produced to the Department,

any person or body to whom the pension has been assigned by the member’s personal representatives, the date on which the notice under regulation 87(10) was received by the Department, and

any person or body other than those referred to in heads (i) and (ii), the day immediately following the day of the member’s death.

(6) The due date for an unpaid amount—

(a) referred to in paragraph (5) in respect of which the Department was not in possession of all the information necessary for the calculation of the amount of the pension, lump sum or refund of contributions referred to in that paragraph on the date which would, in accordance with paragraph (5) be the due date;

(b) in respect of an interim or substitute award,

shall be the first day on which the Department was in possession of all the information necessary to calculate that pension, lump sum, refund of contributions or interim or substitute award.

(7) In this regulation, “interim or substitute award” means—

(a) any amount paid by way of an interim payment calculated by reference to an expected benefit under this Section of the Scheme pending final calculation of the full value of that benefit, ...

(b) any amount paid that increases the amount of an earlier payment due to a backdated or subsequent increase in pensionable pay; and

(c) any amount paid that increases the amount of an earlier payment due to the payment of a tier 2 ill-health pension under regulation 52 paid to a member in substitution for a tier 1 ill-health pension under that regulation following a determination by the Department under regulation 53.

Determination of questions

133

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Part, any question arising under the Scheme is to be determined by the Department.

(2) Any such disagreement as is referred to in Article 50 of the 1995 Order (resolution of disputes) must be resolved by the Department in accordance with any arrangements applicable under that Article.

General prohibition on unauthorised payments

134

Nothing in these Regulations requires or authorises the making of any payment, which, if made, would be an unauthorised payment for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 (see section 160(5) of that Act).

Prohibition on assignment or charging of benefits

135

(1) Any assignment of, or charge on, or any agreement to assign or charge, any right to a benefit under this Section of the Scheme is void.

(2) On the bankruptcy of any person entitled to a benefit under this Section of the scheme, no part of the benefit may be paid to the person's trustee in bankruptcy or other person acting on behalf of the creditors, except in accordance with an order under Article 283 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (income payments orders).

Record keeping and contribution estimates

Employing authority record keeping and contribution estimates

136

(1) As regards a member who is a non-GP provider who derives practitioner income from the contracts, agreements or payments referred to in regulation 13(6), in respect of each scheme year, the member shall provide each relevant host Board with a certificate of their pensionable earnings based on—

(a) the accounts drawn up in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice by the practice of which the member is a member; and

(b) the return that member has made to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in respect of their earnings for that year,

no later than 1 month after the date on which that return was required to be submitted to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

(2) As regards a GMS practice or an APMS contractor, in respect of each scheme year, the practice or contractor must provide the Department with a statement of estimated pensionable earnings in respect of any non-GP provider that is a GMS practice or APMS contractor or who assists in the provision of HSC services provided by that GMS practice or APMS contractor, at least 1 month before the beginning of that scheme year.

(3) If, in respect of a scheme year, a non-GP provider has failed to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1), the non-GP provider’s pensionable earnings for that scheme year shall be zero and no contributions paid in respect of that scheme year are to be refunded .

This is subject to paragraph (4).

(4) If, in respect of a scheme year—

(a) a non-GP provider has failed to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1);

(b) a benefit is payable for, or in respect of their non-GP provider service; and

(c) the non-GP provider’s employing authority is in possession of a figure representing all or part of the non-GP provider’s pensionable earnings for that year,

the Department may treat that figure as the amount of the non-GP provider’s pensionable earnings for that year.

(5) If, in respect of a scheme year, a non-GP provider—

(a) dies without complying with the requirements of paragraph (1); or

(b) is, in the opinion of the Department, unable to look after the non-GP provider’s own affairs by reason of illness or lack of capacity,

the Department may require that non-GP provider’s personal representatives to provide the relevant certificate—

(i) within the period referred to in paragraph (1), or

(ii) within such other period as the Department should permit.

(6) An employing authority must, in respect of a person, keep a record of all—

(a) contributions paid under regulations 27, 34 or 36;

(b) contributions due under regulations 27, 34 or 36, but unpaid;

(d) contributions due under regulation 31, but unpaid;

(e) hours or sessions referred to in regulation 8;

(f) pensionable pay, or in the case of a non-GP provider, pensionable earnings;

(g) absences from work referred to in regulation 9;

(h) commencements and terminations of pensionable employment;

(i) reasons for terminations of pensionable employment.

(7) That record is to be in a manner approved by the Department.

(8) Except where the Department waives such requirement, an employing authority must provide a composite statement in respect of the matters referred to in paragraph (6) in respect of all scheme members to the Department within 2 months of the end of each scheme year.

(9) Where an employing authority has provided the information in accordance with paragraph (8) and there is then a change to any of the information provided, that employing authority must, within 1 month of the change, provide the Department with the revised information.

(10) In respect of each scheme year an employing authority shall, within 2 months of a request and in a manner prescribed by the Department, provide the Department with details of the total contributions paid for all scheme members under regulations 27, 31 and 34.

(11) Where an employing authority has provided the information requested pursuant to paragraph (10) and there is a revision to the total contributions paid, that employing authority must, within 1 month of the change, provide the Department with the revised total.

(12) In respect of each scheme year an employing authority shall, no later than 1 month before the beginning of that scheme year, and in a manner prescribed by the Department, provide the Department with a statement of estimated total contributions due under regulations 27, 31 and 34.

(13) A person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment or of a disturbance in the functioning of his mind or brain.

PART 3 — BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS ETC.

CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION

Preliminary

Interpretation of Part 3: general

137

(1) In this Part—

“2008 Section Optant” has the meaning given in regulation 260A;

“the 2010 Regulations” mean the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010;

“the 2011 Act” means the Finance Act 2011;

“the 2014 Act” means the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014;

“the 2015 Scheme” means the scheme as set out in the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015;

“the 1972 Order” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 ;

“the 1993 Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 ;

“the 1995 Order” means the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 ;

“the 1995 Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland)1995 ;

“the 1995 section” means the section of the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme as set out in the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;

“the 1997 Order” means the Health Services (Primary Care) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

“the 1999 Order” means the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 ;

“the 2003 Order” means the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003 ;

“the 2004 Order” means the General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions (No.2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 ;

“the 2008 Act” means the Pensions (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;

“the Agency” means the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency for the Health and Social Services established under Article 26 of the 1972 Order;

“active member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of this Section of the Scheme (but see regulation 180(8));

“additional pension”, in relation to a member, except where the context otherwise requires, means so much of any pension payable to a member as is payable by virtue of contributions made under regulations 165, 167 and 168;

“additional services” with regard to a—GMS practice has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the GMS Contracts Regulations; orany other performer or provider of primary medical services, means services which, if provided by a GMS practice, would be additional services within the meaning given in regulation 2 of those Regulations;

“APMS contract” means arrangements under Article 56 (2)(b) of the 1972 Order between a Health and Social Services Board and an APMS contractor;

“APMS contractor” means a person—with whom a Health and Social Services Board has made arrangements under Article 56 (2)(b) of the 1972 Order, andwho has entered into, or would be eligible to enter into, a GMS contract for the provision of primary medical services;

“appropriate proportion” means—$70187;$

“assistant medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner, employed by a principal medical practitioner, who in that employment is wholly or mainly engaged in assisting his employer in the discharge of the employer's duties as a practitioner, and for whose employment the consent of the relevant Health and Social Services Board and the Agency is required;

“assistant dental practitioner” means a dental practitioner, employed by a principal dental practitioner, who in that employment is wholly or mainly engaged in assisting his employer in the discharge of the employer's duties as a practitioner, and for whose employment the consent of the relevant Health and Social Services Board and the Agency is required;

“automatic enrolment date” means the date referred to in section 3(7) of the 2008 Act;

“automatic re-enrolment date” means the date determined in accordance with regulation 12 of the 2010 Regulations (as modified by regulation 14 of those Regulations);

“bank holiday” means any day that is specified or proclaimed as a bank holiday, pursuant to section 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 ;

“base rate” means the Bank of England base rate—announced from time to time by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England as the official dealing rate, being the rate at which the Bank is willing to enter into transactions for providing short term liquidity in the money markets, orwhere an order under section 19 of the Bank of England Act 1998 is in force, any equivalent rate determined by the Treasury under that section;

“Board and advisory work” means—work undertaken as a member of the Board of an employing authority which is not a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider; oradvisory work commissioned by and undertaken on behalf of such an authority, if it is connected to the authority's role in performing, or securing the delivery of, primary medical services or associated management activities or similar duties,but which is not in itself the performance of primary medical services, and payment for which is made by that authority directly to the person carrying out that work;

“buy-out policy” means a policy of insurance or annuity contract that is appropriate for the purposes of section 15 of the 1993 Act and “buy out” must be read accordingly;

“capped increase to pensionable earnings” must be read in accordance with regulation 231;

“cash equivalent” is to be construed in accordance with Chapter IV of Part IV of the 1993 Act;

“CCT” means a Certificate of Completion of Training awarded under article 8 of the 2003 Order, including any such certificate awarded in pursuance of the competent authority functions of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board specified in article 20(3)(a) of that Order;

“certification services” means services related to the provision of medical certificates listed in Schedule 3 to the GMS Contracts Regulations;

“chapter” unless otherwise specified, means a chapter in this Part;

“collaborative services” means primary medical services provided by a GP performer, a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider under or as a result of an arrangement between—a Health and Social Services Board; anda person or body, under which a Health and Social Services Board is responsible for providing services for purposes related to the provision of health care in accordance with Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“commissioned services” means medical services provided under a contract between—a GP performer, a GMS practice, an APMS contractor or an OOH provider; anda Health and Social Services Board under Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“contracting-out requirements” means the requirements mentioned in section 5(2) of the 1993 Act;

“contribution option period” has the meaning given in regulation 165(8);

“corresponding 1995 scheme” means a corresponding health service scheme, the provisions of which the Department has determined correspond to the provisions of the 1995 Regulations;

“corresponding 2008 scheme” means a corresponding health service scheme, the provisions of which the Department has determined correspond to the provisions of these Regulations;

“corresponding health service scheme” means—a superannuation scheme provided under regulations made under section 10 of the Superannuation Act 1972 and having effect in England, Wales and Scotland,a scheme made under section 2 of the Superannuation Act 1984 (an Act of Tynwald), in the case of a member who entered HSC employment on or before the 1st April 2012, andany other occupational pension scheme approved for the purposes of this regulation by the Department;

“core hours” means the period beginning at 8am and ending at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Friday except Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday;

“deferred member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context requires otherwise, refers to membership of this Section of the Scheme (but see regulation 180(8));

“dental list” means a list kept pursuant to the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993;

“dental performers list” means a list of dental practitioners prepared by the Agency in accordance with regulations made under the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 ;

“dental pilot scheme employee” means an individual who, in connection with the provision of personal dental services in accordance with a pilot scheme, is employed by a person providing those services;

“dentist performer” means a dental practitioner who has undertaken to provide general dental services and whose name is included in a dental performers list;

“Department” means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;

“dependent child” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 202;

“dispensing services” means the provision of drugs, medicines or appliances that may be provided as pharmaceutical services by a registered medical practitioner in accordance with arrangements made under Part III of the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 ;

“electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000;

“employing authority” means—.........any other body which is constituted under an Order relating to health services (in whole or in part) and which the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of the Scheme,an OOH provider,an APMS contractor,a GMS practice, a GP Federation which the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of this section of the scheme; a PMS practice,a host Board; andin relation to a person who is subject to a direction made under Article 12 (5) of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, and subject to such modifications to this Part as the Department may in any particular case direct, any employer of such a person whom the Department agrees to treat as an employing authority for the purposes of this Part; Health and Social Care Trust (HSC Trust) established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991; “Regional Health and Social Care Board (RHSCB)” established under section 7(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;“Regional Business Services Organisation (RBSO)” established under section 14(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;“Patient and Client Council (PCC)” established under section 16(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;“Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing (RAPHSW)” established under section 12(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009

“employment” includes an office or appointment (other than an honorary office or appointment) and related expressions are to be read accordingly;

“enhanced services” with regard to— a GMS practice, has the meaning given in regulation 2 of the GMS Contracts Regulations; orany other performer or provider of primary medical services, means services which, if provided by a GMS practice, would be enhanced services within the meaning given in regulation 2 of those Regulations;

“essential services” means the services described in regulation 15(3), (5), (6) and (8) of the GMS Contracts Regulations, whether provided by a GMS practice or an APMS contractor;

“GDS arrangements” means general dental services arrangements under Article 61 of the 1972 Order;

“GDS provider” is a person who is a party to GDS arrangements;

“general ophthalmic services” has the meaning given by regulation 2(1) of the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007;

“GMS contract” means a contract under Articles 57 and 57A of the 1972 Order or under Article 13 of the 2004 Order;

“GMS Contracts Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004;

“GMS practice” means—a registered medical practitioner who is a principal medical practitioner ; ortwo or more such individuals practising in partnership; ora company limited by shares,with whom a Health and Social Services Board has entered into a GMS contract;

“GOS arrangements” has the meaning given by regulation 13 of General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007;

“GP Federation” means a community interest company limited by guarantee, all the members of which are fully registered persons within the meaning of section 55 of the Medical Act 1983 and whose names are included in the medical performers list;

“GP performer” means a registered medical practitioner, other than a GP Registrar or a locum practitioner, whose name is included in a medical performers list and who performs essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, collaborative services, commissioned services, OOH services or certification services (or a combination of those services)— under a GMS contract or APMS contract; or on behalf of an OOH provider; orunder a contract of service or for services with a Health and Social Services Board which relates to arrangements under which it provides primary medical services under Article 56 of the 1972 Order;

“GP provider” means a GP performer who is—a GMS practice or an APMS contractor;a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor; ora shareholder in a company limited by shares that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor,and who performs medical services as or on behalf of that practice or contractor;

“GP Registrar” means a medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice by a general medical practitioner who is approved under article 4(5)(d) of the 2003 Order for the purpose of providing training under article 5(1)(c)(i) of that Order, whether as part of training leading to the award of a CCT or otherwise;

“GP trainer” means a registered medical practitioner who is approved by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board under article 4(5)(d) of the 2003 Order for the purposes of providing training to a GP Registrar under article 5(1)(c)(i) of that Order;

“health services” has the meaning given in Article 2 (1) of the 1972 Order;

“HSC dental employee” means an individual who, in connection with the provision of health care in the health service is employed by—a HSC Trust;the Regional Board;a registered dentist; ora registered dentist who is providing personal dental services in accordance with a pilot scheme;

“HSC Trust” means a trust established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

“the guarantee date” has the meaning given in regulation 221(2);

“guaranteed cash equivalent transfer value payment” has the meaning given in regulation 222(3);

“guaranteed minimum pension” means guaranteed minimum pension, or accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pension, under section 10 of the 1993 Act;

“host Board”—in respect of a person who is a principal medical practitioner or non-GP provider who is—a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice,a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,an individual who is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor, means the Regional Health and Social Care Board (RHSCB) and such a person shall be deemed to be employed by the RHSCB for the purposes of this Part, except where— regulation 164(5) or (6) applies; orcontributions payable pursuant to regulation 162 by an employing authority in respect of a GP provider: in such a case those contributions are not payable by the RHSCB but are payable by that GP Provider or the practice where they are a GP provider.in respect of a dentist performer, means the RHSCB;

“HSC employment” means employment with an employing authority;

“lifetime allowance”, in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 218 of the Finance Act 2004;

“locum practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner (other than a GP Registrar) whose name is included in a medical performers list and who is engaged, otherwise than in pursuance of a commercial arrangement with an agent, under a contract for services by— a GMS practice;an APMS contractor;an OOH provider; ora Health and Social Services Board,to deputise or assist temporarily in the provision of essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, OOH services, commissioned services, certification services or collaborative services (or any combination thereof);

“lower earnings limit” must be read in accordance with section 5 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992;

“lump sum and death benefit allowance” in relation to a person, has the meaning given in section 637R of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003;

“lump sum rule” has the meaning given in section 166 of the Finance Act 2004;

“lump sum death benefit rule” has the meaning given in section 168 of the Finance Act 2004;

“member”, except where the context otherwise requires, means an active member, a non-contributing member, a deferred member, a pensioner member or a pension credit member;

“medical performers list” means a list of registered medical practitioners prepared and published in accordance with the Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 ;

“non-contributing member” means a member who— is under the age of 75 and in HSC employment;is no longer required to make contributions to this Section of the Scheme in accordance with regulation 160(1); butwill be entitled to a pension under these Regulations— on ceasing to be employed in HSC employment and making a claim for the pension, orupon reaching age 75;

“non-GP provider” in these Regulations shall apply as if he were a whole time officer and means—a partner in a partnership that is a GMS practice who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that practice;a partner in a partnership all of whose members have entered into arrangements for the provision of primary medical services—but who is not a GP provider; andwho demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that partnership;a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor that has entered into an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services—but who is not a GP provider; and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that partnership;a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is—a GMS practice; oran APMS contractor that has entered into a an APMS contract for the provision of primary medical services,but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he assists in the provision of health and personal social services provided by that company;an individual who is an APMS contractor but who is not a GP provider and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that he participates in the provision of health and personal social services;

“occupational pension scheme” means an occupational pension scheme within the meaning of section 1 of the 1993 Act which—in the case of such a scheme established on, or after, 6th April 2006 is a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004 and which the Department agrees to recognise as a transferring scheme for the purposes of Chapter 6;in the case of such a scheme established before that date, was—approved by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for the purposes of Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (retirement benefits schemes) or whose application for approval under that Chapter was under consideration,a statutory scheme as defined in section 612(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (interpretation), ora scheme to which section 608 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applied (superannuation funds approved before 6th April 1980);

“officer” means a person employed by an employing authority including a GP Registrar and a non-GP provider, but does not include—a GP performer;a dentist performer;a person engaged under a contract for services;

“officer service” means pensionable service as an officer under Part 2;

“OOH provider” has the meaning given by regulation 152;

“OOH services” means services which are required to be provided in the out of hours period and which, if provided during core hours by a GMS practice or APMS contractor to patients to whom the practice or contractor is required by its GMS contract or APMS contract to provide essential services, would be or would be similar to essential services;

“ophthalmic provider” means a registered medical practitioner who is a principal medical practitioner and who is included in an ophthalmic performers list kept by the Agency pursuant to regulation 8(1) of the General Ophthalmic Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and is a party to GOS arrangements;

“opting-out” and related expressions are to be construed in accordance with regulation 157;

“out of hours period” means—the period beginning at 6:30pm on any day from Monday to Thursday and ending at 8am the following day;the period between 6:30pm on Friday and 8am the following Monday;Good Friday, Christmas Day and a bank holiday;

“parental bereavement leave” means leave under Article 112EA of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order1996;

“pay period” means, in relation to members who receive either salary, wages or other regular payments under a contract of employment or a contract for services, the period in respect of which each payment is made in accordance with the terms of that contract;

“pensionable earnings” has the meaning given in regulation 143 (read with regulation 144);

“pensionable earnings ceiling” in relation to— GDS arrangements;piloted services;is to be construed in accordance with regulation 143(4);.

“pensionable employment” means employment as a practitioner which is pensionable under this Part;

“pensionable service” has the meaning given by regulations 139 and 140 (read with regulation 141);

“pensioner member” has the meaning given in Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order and, except where the context otherwise requires, refers to membership of this Section of the Scheme (but see regulation 138 and regulation 180(8));

“pension credit” means a credit under Article 26 (1) (b) of the 1999 Order and includes a credit under section 29(1)(b) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 ;

“pension credit benefit” has the meaning given by section 97B of the 1993 Act;

“pension credit member” has the meaning given by Article 121(1) of the 1995 Order;

“pension credit rights” has the meaning given by section 97B of the 1993 Act;

“pension debit member” means a member of this Section of the Scheme whose benefits, or future benefits, under this Scheme have been reduced under Article 28 of the 1999 Order (Reduction under pension sharing order following divorce or nullity of marriage), whether before or after the member became a member of this Section of the Scheme;

“pension sharing order or provision” means such an order or provision as is mentioned in Article 25(1) of the 1999 Order;

“personal dental services” has the meaning given in Article 3(7) of the 1997 Order;

“personal pension scheme” means a personal pension scheme which—in the case of such a scheme established on, or after, 6th April 2006 is a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004 and which the Department agrees to recognise as a transferring scheme for the purposes of Chapter 6;in the case of a scheme established before that date, was—approved by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for the purposes of Chapter IV of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (personal pension schemes); andon the 6th April 2006 became a registered pension scheme for the purposes of the Finance Act 2004;

“pilot scheme” has the meaning given in Article 3(1) of the 1997 Order;

“piloted services” has the meaning given in Article 3(4) of the 1997 Order;

“practice staff” means a person who—is not a registered medical practitioner, a GP Registrar or a non-GP provider, andis employed by a GMS practice, an APMS contractor , an OOH provider or a GP Federation to assist in the provision of the services it provides;

“practitioner” means—a registered medical practitioner or ophthalmic provider, who—is not a GP Registrar, andis a locum practitioner, a GP provider or a GP performer, ora dentist performer; or an ophthalmic provider

“practitioner income” has the meaning given in regulation 143(2) to (8);

“practitioner service” means service as a practitioner which is pensionable under this Part;

“preservation requirements” means the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part IV of the 1993 Act relating to the preservation of benefits under occupational pension schemes;

“principal medical practitioner” means a practitioner on the medical performers list;

“principal dental practitioner” means a practitioner whose name is included in a list of dentists prepared by the Agency under regulation 4 of the Health and Personal Social Services General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993;

“public sector transfer arrangements” means arrangements approved by the Department as providing reciprocal arrangements for the payment and receipt of transfer values between this Section of the Scheme and other occupational pension schemes;

“qualifying service” has the meaning given in regulation 141 (read with regulation 142);

“quarter” means a 3 month period ending on the last day of March, June, September or December;

“recent leaver” has the meaning given in regulation 199(3);

“Regional Board” means the Regional Health and Social Care Board, established under section 7 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009;

“registered” means registered under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004;

“registered dentist” has the meaning given in section 53(1) of the Dentists Act 1984;

“registered medical practitioner” means a fully registered medical practitioner within the meaning given in section 55 of the Medical Act 1983;

“retail prices index” has the meaning given in section 989 of the Income Tax Act 2007;

“safeguarded percentage” has the meaning given by section 64A(3) of the 1993 Act;

“safeguarded rights” has the meaning given by section 64A(1) of the 1993 Act;

“the Scheme” means the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme as set out in these regulations and the Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995;

“the Scheme actuary” means the actuary appointed by the Department for the time being to provide a consulting service on actuarial matters relevant to the Scheme;

“scheme year” means a period of one year beginning with 1st April and ending with 31st March next following;

“shared parental leave” means leave under section 107E or 107G of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

“specialist” means a consultant, other than a nurse consultant, or a senior hospital medical officer or senior hospital dental officer;

“State pension age” means pensionable age, as defined in section 176(1) of the 1993 Act;

“tax year” means a year of assessment for income tax purposes;

“tier 1 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 182;

“tier 2 ill-health pension” must be read in accordance with regulation 182;

“trade dispute” has the meaning given in Article 2 (2) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;

“uprated earnings” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 176 (4) (b);

“vocational trainee” means a dentist performer who is employed as a vocational trainee as a consequence of a placement arrangement made by a local postgraduate dental dean or a director of postgraduate dental education;

“Waiting Period Joiner” has the meaning given in regulation 260X;

Interpretation: further provisions

138

(1) In determining whether a person who is an active member or a pensioner member of this Section of the Scheme is also a deferred member of it, the fact that the person is an active member or a pensioner member and the person's rights as such are to be disregarded.

(2) In determining whether a person is a pensioner member of this Section of the Scheme, the fact that the person is not entitled to payment of pension because of Chapter 8 is to be disregarded.

Meaning of “pensionable service”

139

(1) In this Part, references to a member's pensionable service, subject to paragraph (2), are references to the aggregate of the following periods—

(a) any period of service in respect of which the member contributes to this Section of the Scheme under regulation 160 (contributions by members),

(b) any period of absence from service which counts as pensionable service under regulation 140,

(c) any period of service credited to the member as pensionable service under Chapter 6 (transfers from other pension arrangements); and

(d) any period of pensionable service the member is entitled to count under Chapter 10 of this Part.

(2) A member's pensionable service does not include—

(a) any period of service in respect of which the Department has paid contributions to another occupational pension scheme in respect of the member,

(b) in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member, any period taken into account—

(i) in determining the member's entitlement to the pension in payment or, as the case may be, the deferred pension, or

(ii) in calculating the amount of that pension,

but, in the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 180 (partial retirement) subject to paragraph (7),

(i) by the payment of a contributions equivalent premium under section 51(2) of the 1993 Act,

(ii) under regulation 175 (repayment of contributions), or

(iii) by the payment of a transfer value payment on transfer out under Chapter 6 (transfers), or

(d) subject to paragraph (3), any period of service which would result in the aggregate mentioned in paragraph (1) exceeding 45 years.

(3) A member's pensionable service must not exceed 45 years unless—

(a) the member gives notice in writing to the Department and the member's employing authority of an intention to remain in pensionable service beyond 45 years; and

(b) that notice is received by the Department and the member's employing authority—

(i) not earlier than three months before the member reaches 45 years pensionable service, and

(ii) by the end of the pay period during which the member reaches the 45 year limit.

(4) If the notice required by paragraph (3) has been properly received and the member has pensionable service in excess of 45 years—

(a) benefits under this Part shall be calculated by reference to a maximum of 45 years of pensionable service; and

(b) the Department shall select the years by reference to which the benefits are to be calculated, selecting the years which produce the most favourable result to the member.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), in order to calculate the length of a member's pensionable service, all periods of pensionable service will be added together and each resulting period of 365 days (disregarding pensionable service on 29th February in a leap year) will be treated as one year.

(6) If, when the employment in which a person is an active member ceases, a payment is made in respect of untaken leave, for the purpose of this Part—

(a) the member's pensionable service is treated as continuing for a period equal to the period of leave in respect of which payment is made, and

(b) the payment is treated as the member's pensionable earnings for that period.

(7) In the case of a pensioner member or deferred member entitled to a pension under regulation 180 (partial retirement), paragraph (2)(b) only applies to so much of the member's pensionable service as is mentioned in regulation 180(8)(a) (the specified percentage of the pensionable service as respects which the member is an active member on the option day).

(8) References in this Part to any period expressed in days are references to the period in question ignoring 29th February, expressed in days.

(9) Where a member is also a member of the 1995 Section any reference in this Part to “45 years” shall be taken to be a reference to a shorter period determined by the formula—

$$SP=45years-LSS$where—SP is the shorter period, measured in years and days, andLSS is the length of superannuable service (within the meaning of the 1995 Regulations), measured in years and days, giving rise to membership of the 1995 Section and, in the case of a member of that Scheme who has become entitled to a pension (including a preserved pension) under that Scheme, including any period that was taken into account for the purpose of determining whether the member was entitled to that pension, or for the purpose of calculating the amount of that pension.$

Pensionable service: breaks in service

140

(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(d) paternity leave, ...

(e) parental leave , shared parental leave , or

(f) parental bereavement leave.

(2) A period of absence to which this regulation applies will count as pensionable service for so long as the member contributes to this Section of the Scheme under regulation 160 in respect of the period of absence .

(3) If a member is on leave of absence but does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) to (f), and contributes to this Section of the Scheme under regulation 160 by contributions made at the same intervals as those made by the member before the absence, the maximum period of such leave that can be counted as pensionable service under this paragraph is—

(a) where the member contributes for a continuous period of 6 months commencing with the first day of the member’s leave of absence, 6 months; and

(b) where the member contributes for a continuous period of less than 6 months commencing with the first day of the member’s leave of absence, the period in respect of which the member pays those contributions.

(3A) If, having paid contributions for the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) a member remains on a leave of absence that does not fall within paragraph (1)(a) to (f) and contributes to this Section of the Scheme both member contributions under regulation 160 and employer contributions under regulation 162 by contributions made at the same intervals as those made by the member before the absence, the maximum period of such leave that can be counted as pensionable service under this paragraph is—

(a) where the member contributes for a continuous period of 18 months commencing immediately after the expiry of the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), 18 months; and

(b) where the member contributes for a continuous period of less than 18 months commencing immediately after the expiry of the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), the period in respect of which the member pays those contributions.

(4) This paragraph applies if a person—

(a) ceased to be an active member because of—

(i) ceasing to be employed in an employment in which the person is eligible to be such a member, or

(ii) exercising the option under regulation 157 (opting out of this Section of the Scheme), and

(b) less than 12 months after the date on which the person ceased to be an active member becomes such a member again.

(5) If paragraph (4) applies, the person's pensionable service before the person ceased to be an active member and after the person became such a member again is treated as a single continuous period of pensionable service, unless paragraph (6) applies.

(6) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the person does not become a deferred member in respect of the pensionable service before the break in which the person was an active member,

(b) the person has received a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 in respect of that service (but see paragraph (8)), or

(c) the person's rights under this Section of the Scheme in respect of that service have been extinguished under regulation 226 because a transfer value payment has been made in respect of them.

(7) In the case of a member who leaves pensionable service whilst the person is absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(d) paternity leave, ...

(e) parental leave, shared parental leave, or

(f) parental bereavement leave,

this regulation applies as if the reference to 12 months in paragraph (4)(b) were a reference to 3 years.

(8) Paragraph (6)(b) does not apply if the person repays to the Department any contributions repaid to the person as mentioned in that paragraph, together with any interest paid to the person on those contributions, before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the person becomes an active member again.

(9) For the regulations where paragraph (5) applies because the person has become a deferred member in respect of the service in which the person was an active member and becomes an active member again, see Chapter 7 (re-employment and rejoining this Section of the Scheme).

Qualifying service

Meaning of “qualifying service”

141

(1) In this Part, references to a member's qualifying service, are references to the aggregate of the following periods—

(a) the member's pensionable service under this Part other than such pensionable service as is referred to in regulation 139(1)(c) (transferred-in service);

(b) in the case of a person in respect of whom a transfer value in respect of his rights under another pension arrangement (including the 1995 Section ) has been accepted under Chapter 6 (transfers), a period equal to the person's period as an active member in any occupational pension scheme in respect of which the rights accrued;

(d) where the member ceased to be an active member under Part 2 not more than 12 months before becoming a member under this Part, any period of qualifying service under Part 2.

(e) in the case of a person—

(i) who is eligible to join this Section of the Scheme by virtue of regulation 153(5)(c), and

(ii) for whom the interval between leaving the HPSS Superannuation Scheme 1995 and joining this Section of the Scheme is less than one month

a period equal to the period of qualifying service (within the meaning of the 1995 Regulations), measured in years and days, that the member was entitled to count under regulation 5 of the 1995 Regulations when the member left that scheme.; ...

(f) in the case of a 2008 Section Optant, any period of qualifying service the member is entitled to count under Chapter 10 of this Part.

(g) in the case of a Waiting Period Joiner referred to in regulation 260X, a period equal in length to the period of qualifying service which the member is entitled to count under the 1995 Section; ...

(h) in the case of the person who—

(i) ceased to be an active member of the 1995 section on leaving HSC employment,

(ii) became a deferred member of that Section on leaving that employment and has not since become a pensioner member of that Section between the date of leaving that employment and joining this Section of the Scheme, and

(iii) became an active member of this Section of the Scheme between 1st October 2008 and 31st March 2015 and 5 or more years since last leaving HSC employment,

a period equal in length to the period of qualifying service which the member is entitled to count under the 1995 Section.

(i) in the case of a person who—

(i) was a deferred member of the 1995 Section who gave notice for the purposes of paragraph (1) or (1A) of regulation 9 of the 1995 Regulations (opting out of the Scheme),

(ii) as a result of that notice was treated as ceasing to be an active member of that Section,

(iii) pursuant to that notice remains opted-out of that Section for 5 years or more, and

(iv) became an active member of this Section of the Scheme between 1st October 2008 and 31st March 2015,

a period equal in length to the period of qualifying service which the member is entitled to count under the 1995 Section; and

(j) in the case of a person who—

(i) was a deferred member of the 1995 Section who gave notice for the purposes of paragraph (1) or (1A) of regulation 9 of the 1995 Regulations and following that notice, ceased to be an active member of that Section for any one period of five years or more comprising the aggregate of—

(aa) any period during which the person left HSC employment, and

(bb) any period during which the person was treated as never having been an active member of that Section in accordance with paragraph (3) of regulation 9 of those Regulations in respect of one or more later periods of HSC employment entered into after having given the notice for the purposes of paragraph (1) or (1A) of that regulation, and

(ii) became an active member of this Section of the Scheme during the period beginning with 1st October 2008 and ending with 31st March 2015,

a period equal in length to the period of qualifying service which the member is entitled to count under the 1995 Section.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies if the member is a locum practitioner who—

(a) ceases to be engaged as such a practitioner and so ceases to be treated as being in pensionable service; and

(b) is re-engaged as a locum practitioner before the expiry of a period not exceeding three months from the date of such cessation.

(3) Where this paragraph applies—

(a) a locum practitioner is treated as continuing to be in qualifying service during the period of non-engagement as such a practitioner and is not required to re-join this Section of the Scheme on being re-engaged as a locum practitioner; and

(b) that period does not count as practitioner service.

(4) For the other rules applying where there is a short break in service, see regulation 142.

Qualifying service: disregard of breaks in service

142

(1) This regulation applies for the purpose of calculating the qualifying service of a member whose pensionable service ceases for an interval (other than in circumstances where regulation 141(3) applies).

(2) If the interval—

(a) does not exceed one month, or

(b) is due to a trade dispute,

the member's qualifying service before and after the interval is treated as continuous for the purpose of calculating the member's qualifying service after the interval (but the period of the interval is ignored).

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) it does not matter if the member's pensionable service before the interval is treated separately from that after the interval for the purpose of calculating the member's benefits.

(4) If—

(a) a person who is an active member ceases to be employed in the employment that qualifies the person to belong to this Section of the Scheme and becomes a deferred member, but not a pensioner member, in respect of the service in that employment, and

(b) after a period not exceeding 12 months the person becomes employed again in such an employment and becomes an active member again in that employment,

qualifying service in the earlier employment is treated as a single continuous period of qualifying service with that in the later employment.

(5) If—

(a) a person who is an active member in an employment opts to cease to be such a member whilst continuing to be employed in the employment and becomes a deferred member, but not a pensioner member, in respect of that service, and

(b) after a period not exceeding 12 months the person becomes such an active member again in that employment,

qualifying service in the earlier period of active membership is treated as a single period of qualifying service with that in the later period of such membership.

(6) Where —

(a) the person has received a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 in respect of the earlier period paragraphs (4) and (5) do not apply (but see paragraph (7)); or

(b) the person's rights under this Section of the Scheme in respect of that period have been extinguished under regulation 226 because a transfer value payment has been made, paragraphs (2), (4) and (5) do not apply .

(7) Paragraph (6)(a) does not apply if the person repays to the Department any contributions repaid to the person as mentioned in that paragraph together with any interest on those contributions, before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the member becomes a member again.

(8) If—

(a) a member is a deferred member or pensioner member in respect of the period of pensionable service before pensionable service ceases for an interval, and

(b) the periods of pensionable service before and after pensionable service ceases for an interval are not treated as a single period of continuous service under regulation 140(5) or regulation 238(2)(a),

the period of pensionable service in respect of which the member is a deferred member or a pensioner member is treated as qualifying service in relation to the period after the interval.

Pensionable earnings

Meaning of “pensionable earnings”

143

(1) In the case of a principal ... practitioner or a principal dental practitioner who is not in receipt of any salary, wages, fees or any other regular payment in respect of his employment by virtue of the application of these Regulations to him as if he were such an officer under Part 2, pensionable earnings means—

(a) in the case of a principal medical practitioner, practitioner income less any sum on account of practice expenses (for these purposes, C3 contributions payable under regulation 164(5) or (6) are neither practitioner income nor practice expenses); and

(b) in the case of a principal dental practitioner, practitioner income (taking into account any relevant pensionable earnings ceiling).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), for the purposes of this regulation, the practitioner income of a principal medical practitioner means—

(a) income that accrues to the principal medical practitioner which is derived from—

(i) a GMS contract;

(ii) an APMS contract;

(iii) payments from, or to, a practitioner who is a GMS practice or an APMS contractor in respect of the performance of certification services, commissioned services or collaborative services;

(iv) his engagement by a Health and Social Services Board to assist in the provision of primary medical services under Articles 57 and 57A of the 1972 Order;

(v) in the case of a principal medical practitioner, the provision of locum services;

(vi) payments made to a principal medical practitioner by an OOH provider or other employing authority providing OOH services in respect of the performance of primary medical services, commissioned services, collaborative services and certification services;

(vii) payments made to a principal medical practitioner by an employing authority in respect of primary dental services, general ophthalmic services or pharmaceutical services provided by the practitioner;

(viii) practice-based work carried out in educating or training, or organising the education or training of, GP Registrars or practitioners;

(b) any charges collected from patients in respect of the services mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) which the principal medical practitioner is authorised by or under any statutory provision to retain, other than charges authorised by regulations made under Article 98 of, and Schedule 15 to, the 1972 Order;

(d) in the case of a principal medical practitioner, allowances and any other sums (but excluding payments made to cover expenses) paid in respect of Board and advisory work.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4), (6) and (8), for the purposes of this paragraph, the practitioner income of a principal dental practitioner means income that accrues to the practitioner which is derived from GDS arrangements or piloted services .

(4) For each GDS arrangement or piloted service from which practitioner income is derived, the maximum amount of practitioner income which may be derived from provision of that service in any financial year is, subject to paragraph (5), the value of that service in that financial year less the value of the following payments (if payable in that financial year by the Health and Social Services Board that is a party to the service)—

(a) monthly seniority payments;

(b) maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave , shared parental leave, parental bereavement leave or adoption leave payments;

(d) reimbursement of the salary of a vocational trainee;

(e) reimbursement of the national insurance contributions of a vocational trainee;

(f) reimbursement of non-domestic rates;

then multiplied by a percentage to be determined by the Department, which produces the amount referred to in this Part as the pensionable earnings ceiling.

(5) Income which accrues to a principal dental practitioner that is derived from the following payments under GDS arrangements or piloted services is practitioner income for the purposes of this regulation (that is, it is pensionable earnings, notwithstanding that it is not included in the calculation of the pensionable earnings ceiling for a particular GDS service or piloted service )—

(a) monthly seniority payments;

(b) maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave , shared parental leave, parental bereavement leave or adoption leave payments;

(6) The following payments under a GDS arrangement or piloted service are not to be considered practitioner income for the purposes of this regulation—

(a) reimbursement of the salary of a vocational trainee;

(b) reimbursement of the national insurance contributions of a vocational trainee;

(7) For the avoidance of doubt, income which accrues to a principal dental practitioner while engaged as an assistant dental practitioner is practitioner income of that principal dental practitioner, but unaffected by any pensionable earnings ceiling.

(8) If a practitioner is in concurrent employment as an officer, or with a university, or as a civil servant, or in any other employment that the Department may in any particular case allow, practitioner income does not include any amounts for which the practitioner is required to account to the employer as a term or condition of that employment.

(9) In paragraph (2)(a), locum services shall have the meaning given by regulation 149(4).

(10) The pensionable earnings of a principal practitioner include the amount of any pensionable earnings the practitioner is entitled to count under Chapter 10 of this Part.

Pensionable earnings — breaks in service

144

(1) This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of—

(a) illness or injury,

(b) maternity leave,

(d) paternity leave, ...

(e) parental leave , shared parental leave , or

(f) parental bereavement leave.

(2) If the earnings used to calculate a member's pensionable earnings are reduced during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—

(a) for the purpose of calculating the member's contributions to this Section of the scheme under regulations 160 and 161 , pensionable earnings for the period of absence will be calculated on the basis of the member's reduced earnings; and

(b) for all other purposes, the member's pensionable earnings for the period of absence will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (3)(a) or (b).

(3) In the case of a member who—

(a) is one of a number of practitioners or non-GP providers who have elected as described in regulation 145(2), each practitioner's or non-GP provider's pensionable earnings will be calculated as if the partnership's aggregate pensionable earnings were equal to the amount of the partnership's aggregate pensionable earnings during the 12 month period ending immediately before the member's earnings were reduced or ceased; and

(b) (except where the member's pensionable earnings fall to be calculated as described in sub-paragraph (a)), that member will be treated as having continued to receive the same average rate of pensionable earnings as during the 12 month period ending immediately before his earnings were reduced or ceased.

(4) If the earnings used to calculate a member's pensionable pay cease during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—

(a) a practitioner falling within paragraph (1)(a) will, subject to sub-paragraph (b), be treated as having continued in pensionable employment for a period of 12 months from the date on which the member's earnings ceased and the member will not be treated as having left pensionable employment until the end of that 12 month period;

(b) a member falling within paragraph (1)(b) to (f) who paid contributions on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (3) (a) will, subject to paragraph (6), continue to pay contributions at that rate, except that no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the member actually leaves pensionable employment.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a)—

(a) during the 12 month period, the member's pensionable earnings will be calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b);

(b) at the end of the 12 month period, when the member is regarded as having left pensionable employment, no refund of contributions or other benefit will be payable until the member actually leaves employment.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), the rate of contributions payable shall be the rate that would have been payable on the basis of reduced earnings in accordance with paragraph (2)(a) had the member's reduced earnings excluded any earnings for a day during which the member, whilst on maternity leave, returned to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.

(7) If a member fails to pay any contributions which are required to be paid to this Section of the Scheme in respect of a period of absence to which this regulation applies, the member will be treated as having left pensionable employment except that no refund of contributions or other benefit shall be payable unless the member actually leaves pensionable employment.

(8) If a member to whom this regulation applies leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (5)(b) or (7), is treated as having left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, then if the member later returns to pensionable employment regulation 142(4)(b) will apply as if the reference to 12 months was a reference to 3 years.

(9) The benefits payable on the death of a member whose earnings ceased during a period of absence to which this regulation applies will be calculated as if the member had died in pensionable employment on the day before his earnings ceased.

(10) For the purposes of making contributions to this Section of the Scheme under regulations 160 and 162, during any period of absence which counts as pensionable service under regulation 140(3) or (3A), amounts equal to the rate of the member’s pensionable earnings calculated as described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) will be treated as pensionable earnings.

(11) For the duration of any pilot scheme—

(a) a member who provides piloted services under a dental pilot scheme and who is absent from work by reason of illness or injury shall be treated as a practitioner whether or not his name is included on a dental list prior to the commencement of the pilot scheme; and

(b) a member who performs piloted services under a dental pilot scheme and who is absent from work by reason of illness or injury shall be treated as an officer whether or not his name is included on a dental list prior to the commencement of the pilot scheme.

(12) Before a calculation of a member’s pensionable earnings can be made in accordance with paragraph (3), written notice of the length of the period of absence to which this regulation applies must be given to the Department by—

(a) the member, where the member is a principal practitioner or a non-GP provider; or

(b) in all other cases, the host Board.

(13) The notice referred to in paragraph (12) must be provided to the Department in such form and manner as the Department may stipulate from time to time.

Calculating pensionable earnings of medical practitioners in partnership

145

(1) In the case of principal medical practitioners practising in partnership (with or without a non-GP provider who is a partner in a partnership), the pensionable earnings of each principal medical practitioner and non-GP provider who is a partner in a partnership shall be calculated by aggregating the pensionable earnings of each (including for this purpose, any amount that would constitute pensionable earnings in the case of any of them who are not included in the Scheme) and, subject to paragraph (2), dividing the total equally by reference to the number of such partners.

(2) If the principal medical practitioners and any non-GP providers who are partners in a partnership do not share equally in the partnership profits, they may elect that each partner's pensionable earnings shall correspond to each partner's share of the partnership profits.

(3) If a registered medical practitioner practising in partnership also has earnings in respect of HSC employment otherwise than as a practitioner (under Part 2), the partners may elect that the pensionable earnings of that practitioner, as determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2), shall be reduced by the amount of those earnings and the pensionable earnings of each of them (including that practitioner) be then increased in proportion to their respective shares of the partnership profits.

(4) The calculations described in paragraphs (2) and (3) will be made by the Health and Social Services Board to which the partners are required to give notice of their election in accordance with regulation 146(1).

Elections relating to calculation of pensionable earnings in medical partnerships

146

(1) Principal medical practitioners who are partners in any partnership must exercise the elections described in regulation 145(2) and (3) by giving notice in writing to their host Board in accordance with this regulation.

(2) The notice must be signed by all the principal medical practitioners and any non-GP providers in the partnership and must state as a fraction each practitioner's and non-GP provider's share in the partnership profits.

(3) In the case of medical practitioners, the notice must state the name of every Health and Social Services Board on whose list the name of any practitioner in the partnership is included.

(4) A notice given under this regulation—

(a) will take effect—

(i) from the date agreed between the practitioners and any non —GP providers and the Health and Social Services Board concerned; or

(ii) if no agreement is reached, a date decided by the Department;

(b) will continue in effect until cancelled or amended by a subsequent notice in writing signed by all the practitioners and any non-GP providers in the partnership;

Restriction on pensionable earnings used for calculating benefits in respect of capped transferred-in service

147

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Distribution of pensionable earnings between principal dental practitioners employed or engaged by the same GDS provider

148

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Meaning of pensionable earnings in relation to other practitioners

149

(1) In the case of an assistant medical practitioner, pensionable earnings means—

(a) all salary, wages, fees and other regular payments paid to the practitioner by an employing authority in respect of the performance of essential services, additional services, enhanced services, dispensing services, OOH services, commissioned services, certification services, collaborative services, general dental services or pharmaceutical services;

(b) allowances and other sums (but excluding payments made to cover expenses) paid by an employing authority in respect of Board and advisory work;

(c) earnings from practice-based work carried out in educating or training, or organising the education or training of, GP Registrars or practitioners,

but does not include bonuses or payments made to cover expenses or for overtime.

(2) In the case of an assistant dental practitioner, pensionable earnings means all salary, wages, fees and other regular payments paid to the practitioner—

(a) in the case of a vocational trainee, under his contract of employment with a GDS provider; or

(b) in all other cases, by an employing authority in respect of the performance of primary dental services,

but does not include bonuses or payments made to cover expenses or for overtime.

(2A) In the case of—

(a) a practitioner providing piloted services, pensionable earnings means all fees and other regular payments paid to the practitioner in respect of the provision of piloted services, but does not include bonuses or payments made to cover expenses or for overtime or any payment made to the practitioner in respect of the provision of locum services;

(b) a practitioner employed as a dental pilot scheme employee, or to whom regulation 155A(1)(b) applies, pensionable earnings means all salaries or wages paid to the practitioner in respect of employment as a practitioner, but does not include bonuses or payments made to cover expenses or for overtime or any payment made to the practitioner in respect of the provision of locum services.

(3) In the case of a locum practitioner, pensionable earnings means all fees and other payments made to the locum practitioner in respect of the provision of locum services (but excluding payments made to cover expenses or for overtime), less such expenses as are deductible in accordance with guidance laid down by the Department.

(4) In this regulation, references to the provision of locum services, in relation to a practitioner, are to primary medical services, commissioned services, collaborative services or pharmaceutical services performed by a practitioner engaged by an employing authority under a contract for services to deputise for a registered medical practitioner or to temporarily assist in the provision of such services.

(5) The pensionable earnings of an assistant practitioner or a locum practitioner, include the amount of any pensionable earnings the practitioner is entitled to count under Chapter 10 of this Part.

Exclusions and deductions from pensionable earnings — all practitioners

150

Any sum that is withheld or otherwise recovered from a practitioner under regulation 26 of and Schedule 5 to the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Service Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 will be excluded or deducted from the practitioner's pensionable earnings in such manner and to such extent as the Department may approve.

Limit on pensionable earnings — dentist performers carrying on deceased person's business

151

In the case of a dentist performer employed by persons carrying on a deceased practitioner's dentistry business, pensionable earnings cannot exceed the total of the amount paid to him by those persons, plus any amounts paid to him by a Health and Social Services Board that those persons allow him to retain.

Out of hours providers

152

(1) For the purposes of these Regulations, an OOH provider is—

(a) a company limited by guarantee (which is not otherwise an employing authority)—

(i) in which all the members of the company are registered medical practitioners, APMS contracts or GMS practices and the majority of those members are—

(aa) APMS contractors or GMS practices whose APMS contracts, GMS contracts require them to provide OOH services; or

(bb) registered medical practitioners who are partners or shareholders with an APMS contractor or in a GMS practice which is a partnership or a company limited by shares and which is required to provide OOH services under its GMS contract or APMS contract,

(ii) which has a contract with a Health and Social Services Board, an APMS contractor or a GMS practice for the provision of OOH services, and

(iii) in respect of which a Health and Social Services Board appointed by the Department to act on its behalf—

(aa) is satisfied that the provision of OOH services by the company is wholly or mainly a mutual trading activity;

(bb) is satisfied that the company has met all the conditions for being an OOH provider in this regulation; and

(cc) has, pursuant to a written application made by the company to it for that purpose, approved the company as an employing authority; or

(b) some other body corporate (which is not otherwise an employing authority) which—

(i) operates in the interests of those who are the recipients of the primary medical services it provides or of the general public;

(ii) operates on a not-for-profit basis;

(iii) is not an associated company in relation to another person;

(iv) has memorandum or articles or rules that—

(aa) prohibit the payment of dividends to its members; and

(bb) require its profits (if any) or other income to be applied to promoting its objects, and

(cc) require all the assets which would otherwise be available to its members generally to be transferred on its winding up either to another body which operates on a not-for-profit basis and whose purpose is to provide health or social care for the benefit of the community or to another body the objects of which are the promotion of charity and anything incidental or conducive thereto,

(v) has at least one member who is—

(aa) an APMS contractor or a GMS practice; or

(bb) a partner in a partnership that is an APMS contractor or a GMS practice; or

(cc) a shareholder in a company limited by shares that is an APMS contractor or a GMS practice,

(vi) has a contract with a Health and Social Services Board, an APMS contractor or a GMS practice for the provision of OOH services, and

(vii) is approved as an employing authority by a Health and Social Services Board appointed by the Department to act on its behalf—

(aa) pursuant to a written application made by the body to it for that purpose; and

(bb) that Health and Social Services Board being satisfied that the body has met all the conditions for being an OOH provider in this regulation.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iii)—

(a) a body corporate is to be treated as another person's associated company if that person has control of it, except if that person is an employing authority; and

(b) a person shall be taken to have control of a body corporate if he exercises, or is able to exercise, or is entitled to acquire, direct or indirect control over its affairs.

(3) A company limited by guarantee or other body corporate which provides or is to provide OOH services and which wishes to be approved as an employing authority must make a written application to a Health and Social Services Board appointed by the Department to act on its behalf (“the appointed Health and Social Services Board”).

(4) An application referred to in paragraph (3) may specify the date from which approval by the appointed Health and Social Services Board (if given) shall have effect (“the nominated date”).

(5) If a company limited by guarantee or other body corporate makes an application and—

(a) the appointed Health and Social Services Board is satisfied that the company or other body corporate meets the conditions for approval or will do so at any nominated date which is later than the approval date; and

(b) it approves that application,

that approval shall take effect on the later of the nominated date and the approval date.

(6) If paragraph (5) applies, HSC employment shall be treated as commencing on the later of the nominated date (if any) and the approval date.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation the conditions for approval are those referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) as the case may be.

(8) The appointed Health and Social Services Board may give an OOH provider a notice in writing terminating its participation in this Section of the scheme where that provider—

(a) does not have in force a guarantee, indemnity or bond as required by the Department in accordance with regulation 163;

(b) has ceased to satisfy the conditions for approval;

(c) has notified the Health and Social Services Board that any one of the following events has occurred in respect of it—

(i) a proposal for a voluntary arrangement has been made or approved under Part II of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (“the 1989 Order”); or

(ii) an administration application has been made, or a notice of intention to appoint an administrator has been filed with the court, or an administrator has been appointed under Part III of the 1989 Order; or

(iii) a receiver, manager or administrative receiver has been appointed under Part IV of the 1989 Order; or

(iv) a winding-up petition has been presented, a winding-up order has been made or a resolution for voluntary winding-up has been passed under Part V or Part VI of the 1989 Order or an instrument of dissolution has been drawn up in accordance with section 67 of the Industrial and Provident Societies (Northern Ireland) Act 1969 ; or

(v) notice has been received by it that it may be struck off the register of companies, or an application to strike it off has been made, under Part XX of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 .

(9) An OOH provider—

(a) must give the appointed Health and Social Services Board notice in writing upon the occurrence of any of the events referred to in paragraph (8)(c) and must give such notice on the same day as that event;

(b) that wishes to cease to participate in this Section of the Scheme must give the appointed Health and Social Services Board and its employees not less than 3 months notice in writing (to commence with the date of the notice) of that fact.

(10) An OOH provider must cease to participate in this Section of the Scheme on—

(a) such date as the appointed Health and Social Services Board may specify in a notice under paragraph (8);

(b) the day upon which the period referred to in paragraph (9)(b) expires if a notice under that provision has been given.

CHAPTER 2 — MEMBERSHIP

Eligibility: general

153

(1) A person is eligible to be an active member of this Section of the Scheme on or after 1st April 2015 if conditions A to C are met and the person is not prevented by regulation 154, 155 or 158.

(2) Condition A is that the person is in practitioner service.

(3) Condition B is that the person—

(a) enters practitioner service on or after 1st April 2008 and has service (“relevant service”) as an active member of this Section of the Scheme—

(i) ... before 1st April 2012, or

(ii) on or after 1st April 2012, but only where that service is pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 10;

(b) has not had a break in service for any one period of five years or more ending in the period starting on 2nd April 2012 and finishing on 1st April 2015; and

(4) Condition C is that the person has not reached the age of 75 and was born on, or before, 31st August 1960.

(5) The “other section conditions” are that—

(a) the person has not received a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 (Repayment of contributions) in respect of their relevant service;

(b) the person’s rights under this Section of the Scheme in respect of their relevant service have not been extinguished under regulation 226;

(c) the person is not entitled to a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 by virtue of paragraph (2)(a) to (c) of that regulation.

Restrictions on eligibility: general

154

(A1) A person is not eligible to be an active member of this Section of the Scheme in respect of practitioner service after 31st March 2022.

(A2) Paragraphs (1) to (9) apply in respect of practitioner service before 1st April 2022.

(A3) Nothing in paragraphs (1A) and (1C) to (1L) of this regulation prevents a member’s remediable service within the meaning of section 1 of the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 being treated as pensionable service under this Section of the Scheme in accordance with section 2 of that Act (remediable service treated as pensionable under Chapter 1 legacy schemes).

(1) A person is not eligible to be an active member of this Section of the Scheme if the person—

(a) became a pensioner member of the 1995 Section or a corresponding 1995 scheme on, or before, 1st April 2008 (except if paragraph (1)(b)(i) of regulation 153A applies to that person); or

(b) became a pensioner member of the 1995 Section or a corresponding 1995 scheme on, or after, that date (except if paragraph (1)(b)(i) or (ii) of regulation 153A applies to that person or that person became an active member of this Section of the Scheme before reaching normal benefit age for the purposes of the 1995 Section); or

(i) to whom regulation 153(5)(e), (f), (g) or (h) applies, and

(ii) in respect of whom permission of the Department to rejoin the 1995 Section has not been granted pursuant to regulation 7(3) of that Section.

(1A) A person who was born on, or after, 1st September 1960 is not eligible to be an active member of this Section of the Scheme in respect of practitioner service on, or after, 1st April 2015.

(1B) A person is not eligible to be an active member of this Section of the Scheme if that person has had a break in service ending on or after 2nd April 2012, and any of the following apply—

(a) that break in service is for any one period of five years or more;

(b) that person receives a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 in respect of their service before that break (see regulation 153(3)(a));

(c) that person becomes entitled to a repayment of contributions under regulation 175 by virtue of paragraph (2)(a) to (c) of that regulation in respect of their service before that break; or

(d) that person’s rights under this Section of the Scheme in respect of their service before that break have been extinguished under regulation 226 because a transfer value payment is made in respect of them.

(1C) A person who on 1st April 2012 has attained the age of 55 may not contribute or accrue further pensionable service under this Section of the Scheme unless that person either—

(a) is, on 1st April 2015, an active member of this Section of the Scheme in accordance with regulation 153, or

(b) returns to HSC employment on or after 2nd April 2015 in circumstances where paragraph (1B)(a) does not apply.

(1D) Paragraph (1E) applies to a person—

(a) who, on 1st April 2012, has attained the age of 51 years and 7 months but has not attained the age of 55, and

(b) whose eligibility cessation date has not been reached (see paragraph (1F)).

(1E) A person referred to in paragraph (1D) may not contribute or accrue further pensionable service under this Section of the Scheme unless that person either—

(a) is, on 1st April 2015, an active member of this Section of the Scheme in accordance with regulation 153, or

(b) returns to HSC employment on or after 2nd April 2015 in circumstances where paragraph (1B)(a) does not apply.

(1F) For the purposes of paragraph (1D), a person’s eligibility cessation date is to be determined according to the formula—

$$A−(2×T)$where—A is 1st April 2022T is the number of months (rounded up to the nearest whole month) by which the person’s age on 1st April 2012 is less than 55.$

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