{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/pension-schemes-act-1993/section-72",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/pension-schemes-act-1993/section-72.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1993/48",
  "legislation_title": "Pension Schemes Act 1993",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/pension-schemes-act-1993",
  "path": "section/72",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "72",
  "heading": "No discrimination between short service and long service beneficiaries.",
  "text": "(1) A scheme must not contain any rule which results, or can result, in a member being treated less favourably for any purpose relating to short service benefit than he is, or is entitled to be, treated for the corresponding purpose relating to long service benefit.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any rule in its application to members whose pensionable service terminated before the rule came into force, unless the rule—\n(a) was made after the termination of a member’s pensionable service; and\n(b) results, or is capable of resulting, in any treatment less favourable for him than that to which he would have been entitled but for the rule.\n(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a rule which merely confers discretion on the scheme’s trustees or managers, or others, so long as it is not a rule requiring the discretion to be exercised in any discriminatory manner against members in respect of their short service benefit.\n(4) This section is subject to subsections (3) and (6) of section 71 (age at which short service benefit is to be payable).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 72(4) added (6.4.2005) by Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35), ss. 263(2), 322(1) (with s. 313); S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 69-76 modified (30.12.2005) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Cross-border Activities) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3381), regs. 1, 14, Sch. 2 para. 3"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Police Pensions (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/370), regs. 1(2), 16"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Police Pensions (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/118), regs. 1(3), 16(2) (with reg. 16(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales) (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/848), regs. 1(2), 15(2) (with reg. 15(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/117), regs. 1(3), 15(2) (with reg. 15(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Armed Forces Pension (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/390), regs. 1(2), 16(2) (with reg. 16(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (S.) (1.4.2015) by The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/146), regs. 1(2), 16"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/436), regs. 1(2), 16"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C9",
      "text": "Ss. 71, 72, 74, 75 modified (1.4.2015) by The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/319), regs. 1(2), 15"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Ss. 1-187 in force at 7.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/86, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/48/section/72",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:34:33.061575+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."
}