Regulation P1 Absence because of illness or injury or certain types of leaveF13

This regulation applies to members who are absent from work because of illness or injury or who are on maternity leave F1, adoption leave F2, paternity leave F3, parental leave F4, parental bereavement leave or shared parental leave.

A period of absence to which this regulation applies will count as pensionable service for so long as the member contributes to F5this Section of the scheme.

If the earnings used to calculate a member’s pensionable pay are reduced during a period of absence to which this regulation applies—

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

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 (3)(a) had the member’s reduced earnings excluded any earnings for a day during which the member returned to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.

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.

If a member to whom this regulation applies leaves pensionable employment or, by virtue of paragraph (4)(a) or (5), is treated as having left pensionable employment, without becoming entitled to a preserved pension, then if the member later returns to pensionable employment regulation L4(4) (early leavers returning to pensionable employment) will apply as if the reference to 12 months was a reference to 3 years.

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.

For the purposes of this regulation, “maternity leave” includes any day during which the member returns to work for the purposes of keeping in touch with the workplace.