{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-pension-scheme-order-2005/schedule-1/part-B/paragraph-B.3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-pension-scheme-order-2005/schedule-1/part-B/paragraph-B.3.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2005/438",
  "legislation_title": "The Armed Forces Pension Scheme Order 2005",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-pension-scheme-order-2005",
  "path": "schedule/1/part/B/paragraph/B.3",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "B.3",
  "heading": "Joining the Scheme on starting service",
  "text": "(1) A person who is eligible to be an active member of the Scheme because of service beginning on or after 6th April 2005 is treated as becoming such a member on the day when the service begins.\n(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if, before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the day when the service begins or such longer period, if any, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, the person opts not to belong to the Scheme.\n(3) The option may only be exercised by notice in writing in such form as the Secretary of State requires.\n(4) For the purposes of this rule, the option is treated as having been exercised on the date on which it is received by the Scheme administrator or the commanding officer responsible for general day to day administration connected with the service of the person exercising the option.\n(5) If a person to whom paragraph (2) applies has paid any contributions under the Scheme, the contributions must be repaid to him.\n(6) Paragraph (5) does not require the payment to the person of any additional amount which becomes payable by him in respect of national insurance contributions because he has not after all been a member of the Scheme during any period.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/438/schedule/1/part/B/paragraph/B.3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T05:08:49.366834+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}