Regulation Q8 Option to pay additional periodical contributions to purchase additional pensionF1C1C2
A member who is in pensionable employment may opt to make additional periodical contributions during the contribution option period to increase by a specified amount—
the benefits payable to the member under Parts E, L and S (including if a member dies after a pension becomes payable, the benefits paid to a surviving partner and dependent children at the same rate as the member’s pension for three to six months under Part S, G and H); or
those benefits and the benefits otherwise payable in respect of surviving partners and dependent children under Parts S, G and H.
A member may exercise the option under paragraph (1) more than once.
If a member exercises an option under paragraph (1), the member’s employing authority must—
deduct the member’s contributions from the member’s earnings; and
pay them to the Secretary of State not later than the 19th day of the month following the month in which the earnings were paid.
The annual amount of the periodical contributions payable at the beginning of the contribution option period must not be—
an amount less than the minimum amount; or
an amount other than a multiple of the minimum amount.
In paragraph (4) “the minimum amount” means the amount that would, in accordance with tables prepared for the Secretary of State by the Scheme Actuary for the Scheme year in which the contributions are paid, be the amount of the contributions required to secure an increase in the member’s pension of—
£250; or
such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine assuming that the contributions are made in accordance with the option for the remainder of the option period.
The tables referred to in paragraph (5)—
may specify different amounts for different descriptions of members; and
may be amended during a Scheme year,
but no such amendment affects the contributions payable under any option during that year, except an option under which contributions begin to be paid after the date on which the amendment takes effect.
The total increase in the member’s pension as a result of contributions made under this regulation, taken together with any increase as a result of—
contributions made under regulation Q10; or
contributions made under regulation Q11,
may not exceed £5000 or such other amount as the Secretary of State may for the time being determine.
In these Regulations “the contribution option period”, in relation to an option under this regulation, means a period of whole years, that—
is specified in the option;
begins with the pay period in respect of which the first contribution is made under the option;
is not less than 1 year nor more than 20 years; and
does not end later than the member’s chosen birthday as specified in the option
For the purposes of this part, a member’s “chosen birthday” must be either the member’s 60th or 65th birthday.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Regs. Q8-Q17 inserted (1.4.2008) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/654), regs. 1(2), 51
Modifications
- C1
Pt. Q restricted (1.4.2015) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/95), regs. 1(b), 25(8)(c)
- C2
Regs. Q8-Q15 continued (1.4.2015) by The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/95), regs. 1(b), 23(2)(a)(3)(a)