Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Police Pensions Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”).

The Regulations insert a new Part (Part 4A) into the 2015 Regulations. New Part 4A applies to a person who was deemed ineligible for ill-health benefits in the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2024 under Part 4 of the 2015 Regulations. New Part 4A provides for a person who satisfies the requirements of it, to elect for ill-health benefits under the new Part.

New Part 4A establishes an options exercise for ill-health benefits under it relating to a member of the 2015 scheme previously deemed ineligible from ill-health benefits under regulation 33(5) and covers the provision of information about the benefits, the form and timing of an election, the calculation of the amount of contributions payable in respect of a successful application and the timing of their payment. It also makes provision for the consequences of failure to pay contributions and failure to make an election.

The interplay between existing Part 4 and new Part 4 is dealt with by way of the insertion of a new regulation (regulation 39A) in the new 2015 Regulations.

The amendment to Part 4 and new Part 4A provisions take effect from a date earlier than the coming into operation of the Regulations (in this respect see in particular section 23 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014).

The Regulations also insert a definition of “the 2015 Northern Ireland police pension scheme” by way of amendment to regulation 2 of the 2015 Regulations.

An impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as no impact on the costs of business or the voluntary sector is foreseen.