Regulation 17 Optional contributions during absencesI1

If a member –

he must make contributions under regulation 16 at the standard contribution rate for the first 30 days and may make contributions under that regulation for the remaining period of his absence or, if the total period of his absence exceeds 36 months, for 36 months including the first 30 days, on the pay he would have received but for his absence.

If –

he may make contributions under regulation 16 at the standard contribution rate as respects the unpaid period, as if his pay in the employment were equal to the pay he was entitled to receive immediately before the unpaid period began (including any such statutory pay, but not any amount by which his actual pay is reduced on account of his possible entitlement to such statutory pay).

But in calculating the pay on which the contributions are made, any amount the person receives on account of a day’s work carried out under regulation 12A of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 or regulation 21A of the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 that exceeds any maternity, paternity or parental leave pay due for that day, shall be disregarded.

If a person –

he may make a contribution under regulation 16 for the relevant contribution period at the rate of 16 per cent on his lost pay for that period.

A person’s lost pay is the difference between –

(disregarding any guarantee payments under Part V of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996).

A period is a person’s relevant contribution period if –

To make contributions under this regulation a person must apply to the employing authority in writing before the expiry of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which he returns to work or such longer period as the Committee may allow.

But if he ceases to be employed by that authority without returning to work, he may apply under paragraph (6) before the expiry of the period of 30 days beginning with the day he so ceases or such longer period as the Committee may allow.

An application under paragraph (6) or (7) may be made by the person’s personal representatives if he has died without having made such an application.

The termination of a person’s contract of employment because of a trade dispute does not prevent this regulation applying to him if he again becomes an employee of the same Scheme employer and a member not later than the day after the dispute ends.