Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 1238

      The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 (Amendment) Regulations 1998

       

STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

1998 No. 1238

PENSIONS

The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 (Amendment) Regulations 1998

  Made 15th May 1998  
  Laid before Parliament 22nd May 1998  
  Coming into force 12th June 1998  

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 7 and 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972[1] and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, after consultation with such associations of local authorities as appeared to him to be concerned, the local authorities with whom consultation appeared to him to be desirable and such representatives of other persons likely to be affected by the Regulations as appeared to him to be appropriate, hereby makes the following Regulations:-

Citation and commencement and interpretation
     1. These Regulations may be cited as the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 (Amendment) Regulations 1998 and shall come into force on 12th June 1998 but shall have effect from 1st April 1998.

Amendment of Regulations
     2. The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997[2] shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

General eligibility for membership: employees of Scheme employers etc.
     3. In regulations 4(6), add at the end as new sub-paragraphs the following-

Further restrictions on eligibility
     4. In regulation 6(8), for "(3)" substitute "(4)".

Excluded membership
     5. In regulation 10(2)(b), for "Chapter III" substitute "Chapter II".

Meaning of pay
     6. In regulation 13-

Members with lower rate rights
     7. In regulation 14-

Inland Revenue limits on contributions
     8. In regulation 16(2), for "pay" substitute "remuneration".

Calculations
     9. In regulation 20(6), after sub-paragraph (a) insert-

Final pay
     10. In regulation 21(4), add at the end "or, in calculating death grant, three eightieths of final pay multiplied by total membership if greater".

Other final pay periods
     11. In regulation 22-

 

        " (4A) This paragraph applies to a member whose pay in the period which he would elect as his final pay period if he made an election under paragraph (4) is higher than his pay in a final pay period determined under regulation 21(2) or paragraph (1), (2) or (3).".

Permanent reductions in pay: certificates of protection of pension benefits
     12. In regulation 23(3), insert after paragraph (3)-

Amounts of ill-health pension and grant
     13. In regulation 28, insert after paragraph (4)-

Other early leavers: deferred retirement benefits and election for early payment
     14. In regulation 31(6), for sub-paragraph (a) substitute-

Re-employed and rejoining deferred members
     15. In regulation 32(10), delete "with a different Scheme employer".

Death grants
     16. In regulation 38(1), after "the administering authority" insert "at their absolute discretion"and after "the member's nominee" insert "or personal representatives,".

Reduction of some surviving spouses' pensions
     17. In regulation 42(3), add at the end-

Children's short-term pensions
     18. In regulation 45(6), add at the end "if the child is in the care of the surviving spouse".

Children's long term pension
     19. In regulation 46(9)(a)(i), delete "and the child is in the care of the spouse".

Power of employing authority to increase total membership of new members
     20. In regulation 53(7), insert "payment of" after "immediately entitled to".

Payments to increase total membership
     21. In regulation 55, delete paragraph (5).

Elections to pay AVCs
     22. In regulation 60(2), for "his pay" substitute "his remuneration".

Interest
     23. In regulation 82-

Right to return of contributions
     24. In regulation 87-

 

        " (2A) If repayment of the contributions (with interest due under paragraph (1), if applicable) has not been made before the expiry of the period of one year beginning with the date when active membership ceases, the person is entitled to interest on the repayment which should have been made, calculated as provided in regulation 82(2), the due date being the date when active membership ceased.".

Exclusion of rights to return of contributions
     25. In Regulation 88-

Deduction and recovery of member's contributions
     26. In regulation 89-

 

        " (5) If-

      (a) an employing authority deduct any amount in error from a person's pay or any other sum due to him in respect of contributions, other than contributions due to be repaid to him by virtue of his having left without any rights under the Scheme (which are dealt with under regulation 87), and

      (b) the amount has not been repaid to him before the expiry of the period of one month beginning with the date of deduction,

    the appropriate body must pay him interest on that amount calculated as provided in regulation 82(2), the due date being the date of deduction."; and

 

    (b) add as paragraphs (5A) and (6)-

 

        " (5A) Where the employee's contributions have been paid into the appropriate fund, the repayment and interest shall be made out of that fund.

        (6) "The appropriate body" for the purpose of paragraph (5) is-

      (a) the appropriate administering authority where the employee's contributions have been paid into the appropriate fund, and

      (b) the person's employing authority where the employee's contributions have not yet been paid into the appropriate fund.".

     

Interest on late payment of certain benefits
     27. In regulation 94-

 

        " (1A) The relevant period-

      (a) in the case of a pension is one year;

      (b) in the case of a payment made under regulation 38(1), is the period ending one month after the date on which the administering authority receives notification of the member's death; and

      (c) otherwise is one month.";

    (c) in paragraph (2), for "one month after the amount" substitute "the date on which it";

    (d) after paragraph (2) insert-

 

        " (2A) In the case of a retirement grant, the due date is the date on which it is payable.";

 

    (e) in paragraph (3), for sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute "the member dies"; and

    (f) add-

 

        " (4) In the case of an ill-health grant, the due date is the day after the member ceased to hold his employment.

        (5) In the case of a payment of a lump sum under regulation 49 or 50, the due date is the day after the member would otherwise become entitled to payment of a pension.".

First instance decisions
     28. In regulation 97-

Statements of policy concerning exercise of discretionary functions
     29. In regulation 106(3), add at the end "and each such employer or authority shall publish that statement".

Statements of policy concerning abatement of retirement pensions in new employment
     30. In regulation 109(3), before "authority" insert "administering".

Forfeiture of pension rights after conviction of employment-related offences
     31. In regulation 111(6), after "given" insert "if an application for a forfeiture certificate has been made by the former employing authority".

Members employed by magistrates' courts committees
     32. In regulation 133(11)(b), for "paragraph (3) of regulation 103" substitute "the words "(otherwise than in the exercise of a discretion)" in paragraph (1)(a)".

Definitions
     33. In Schedule 1, in the definition of "City of London employing body" delete "or" at the end of paragraph (c) and add after paragraph (d)-

Revenue Restrictions
     34. Schedule 4 is amended as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Right to opt out
     35.  - (1) Where-

then the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 shall have effect in relation to him as if those amendments had never been made.

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a relevant beneficiary is a person to whom any benefit is or may become payable being a benefit payable to or in respect of a person who

    (a) ceased to hold an employment in respect of which he was a member (whether or not he had subsequently recommenced any such employment), or

    (b) died while in such employment,

before the date on which these Regulations come into force.



Signed by authority of the Secretary of State


Hilary Armstrong
Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

15th May 1998



SCHEDULE
Regulation 34


AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE 4


     1. For "final pay" wherever those words appear substitute "final remuneration".

     2. For "his total membership", "the total membership" and "the member's total membership"substitute "years of service" except in-

    (a) sub-paragraph (7) of paragraph 4 (as amended by these Regulations), and

    (b) paragraph 8.

     3. In paragraph 1(1), in the definition of "Class B member", in paragraph (a) after "1st June 1989" insert "or is to be treated as a Class B member by virtue of a Revenue agreement".

     4. In paragraph 1(2)-

    (a) for "is a retained rights member" substitute "has retained rights";

    (b) in paragraph (a), add at the end "or a scheme in respect of which approval is sought"; and

    (c) add after paragraph (e)-

      " (f) transfer payments from overseas schemes held in a type of arrangement mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (e).".

     

     5. In paragraph 1(3)-

    (a) for "relevant benefits" substitute "retained rights"; and

    (b) in paragraph (a), for "exceeds" substitute "does not exceed" and for "ends" substitute "begins".

     6. In paragraph 1, insert after sub-paragraph (3)-

        " (3A) Retained rights may be disregarded if the member started to purchase benefits under Part III, or was given extra benefits under Part III after August 1991, and

      (a) where the member became a member on or after 14th March 1989, his remuneration in the first year of his employment during which he is a member does not exceed one quarter of the Revenue permitted maximum for the year of assessment in which the first year begins, or

      (b) where the member became a member before 14th March 1989, his remuneration in the first year in which he starts to accrue benefits under Part III does not exceed one quarter of the Revenue permitted maximum for the year of assessment in which the first year begins.".

     

     7. In paragraph 1, add at the end-

     8. In paragraph 2(1), for "Parts II and III" substitute "these Regulations".

     9. Delete sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 2.

     10. After paragraph 2(3) insert-

        " (3A) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the aggregate pension payable on retirement must not exceed the lesser of-

      (a) one thirtieth of the member's final remuneration multiplied by the member's years of service or 20 years if less; and

      (b) two-thirds of the member's final remuneration less the value of any retained rights.".

     

     11. In paragraph 2(4), for "one sixtieth of the member's final pay multiplied by the total membership the member would have had if" substitute "the maximum retirement grant payable under sub-paragraph (6) or (7) assuming".

     12. In paragraph 2, for sub-paragraph (5) substitute-

        " (5) The aggregate pension payable to a member who has elected under regulation 8 to leave the Scheme but remains in local government employment is the greater of-

      (a) one sixtieth of the member's final remuneration multiplied by his years of service prior to leaving the Scheme or 40 years if less; and

      (b) the maximum pension that could have been payable at NRD under sub-paragraph (3) or (3A) multiplied by the fraction of which

        (i) the numerator is the member's years of service prior to leaving the scheme or 40 years if less, and

        (ii) the denominator is his total period of membership assuming he had remained an active member until his NRD or 40 years if less.

       

     

      This amount may be increased by 5 per cent. for each complete year, or in line with any increase in the retail prices index if greater, between the relevant date and the date on which the pension becomes payable.".

     

     13. In paragraph 2(6), after (3) insert "(3A),".

     14. In paragraph 2, insert after sub-paragraph (7)-

        " (7A) Subject to sub-paragraph (7), the aggregate benefit payable by way of lump sum must not exceed the lesser of-

      (a) three times the initial pension paid to the member under Part II and Part III excluding Chapter IV of Part III, and

      (b) one and a half times the member's final remuneration.".

     

     15. In paragraph 2(8), for "three eightieths of the member's final pay, multiplied by the total membership the member would have had if" substitute "the maximum retirement grant payable under sub-paragraph (7) or (7A) assuming".

     16. In paragraph 2(9), for "four times his final pay" substitute "four times his final remuneration (disregarding the provisos in paragraph 1(8) and (9) and paragraph 9(6)) less any lump sum death in service retained rights (other than a refund of the member's contributions and any interest on such contributions)".

     17. In paragraph 2(10), for "The total membership taken into account" substitute "The years of service".

     18. In paragraph 2, for sub-paragraph (11) substitute-

        " (11) The aggregate pension in respect of local government employment for a surviving spouse or eligible child of a member (other than a pension provided by surrender of the member's own pension under regulation 33) payable or prospectively payable to that surviving spouse or eligible child shall not exceed-

      (a) in the case of an active or deferred member, an amount equal to two thirds of the amount which would be payable under sub-paragraph (4), ignoring any retained rights, if the member had retired under regulation 27 on the date of his death, and

      (b) in the case of a pensioner member, an amount equal to two thirds of the amount payable at the date of death under sub-paragraph (3), (3A), (4) or (5), ignoring any retained rights.

        (11A) If pensions are payable to more than one of the member's surviving spouse and eligible children, the aggregate of all such pensions shall not exceed-

      (a) on the death of an active member or deferred member the amount payable under sub-paragraph (4), and

      (b) on the death of a pensioner member, the amount payable under sub-paragraph (3), (3A), (4) or (5).".

     

     19. In paragraph 3, for "Parts II and III" substitute "these Regulations".

     20. In paragraph 4 for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-

        " (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (1A), the aggregate pensions payable on retirement at NRD must not exceed the lesser of-

      (a) for Class B members, one thirtieth of the member's final remuneration multiplied by his years of service, or 20 years if less

      (b) for Class C members with less than 10 years service, the member's final remuneration multiplied by the fraction specified below-

      1 to 5 years 1/60th for each year
      6 years 8/60ths
      7 years 16/60ths
      8 years 24/60ths
      9 years 32/60ths

      (c) two thirds of the member's final remuneration less the value of any retained rights.

        (1A) But if it results in a higher sum than the maximum under sub-paragraph (1), the maximum aggregate pension on retirement at NRD is one sixtieth of the member's final remuneration multiplied by his years of service or 40 years if less.".

     21. In paragraph 4(2), for "one sixtieth of the member's final pay" substitute "the maximum pension payable under sub-paragraph (1) or (1A)".

     22. In paragraph 4(3)-

    (a) before the number "31" insert "26 or",

    (b) for "sub-paragraph (1)" substitute "sub-paragraph (1A)",

    (c) for "under that sub-paragraph" substitute "under sub-paragraph (1)",

    (d) delete "(taking into account any reduction for retained benefits)", and

    (e) at the end add-

 

      " This amount may be increased by 5 per cent. for each complete year, or in line with any increase in the retail prices index if greater, between the relevant date and the date on which the pension becomes payable.".

     

     23. Delete paragraph 4(4).

     24. In paragraph 4(5)-

    (a) for paragraph (a) substitute-

      " (a) the amount payable under sub-paragraph (1) or (1A) on the basis the actual retirement date was the member's NRD;"; and

    (b) in paragraph (b), for "one sixtieth of the member's final pay at his NRD, multiplied by his total membership at his NRD" substitute "the amount that could have been payable under sub-paragraph (1) or (1A) on retirement at NRD".

     25. In paragraph 4 insert as sub-paragraphs (8) and (9)-

        " (8) The aggregate pension in respect of local government employment for a surviving spouse or eligible child of a member (other than a pension provided by surrender of the member's own pension under regulation 33) payable or prospectively payable to that surviving spouse or eligible child shall not exceed-

      (a) in the case of an active or deferred member, an amount equal to two thirds of the amount which would be payable under sub-paragraph (2), ignoring any retained rights, if the member had retired in circumstances entitling him to an ill-health pension and grant under regulation 27 on the date of his death, and

      (b) in the case of a pensioner member, an amount equal to two thirds of the amount payable at the date of death under sub-paragraph (1), (1A), (2), (3) or (5) ignoring any retained rights and increased in line with any subsequent increase in the retail prices index.

        (9) If pensions are payable to more than one of the member's surviving spouse and eligible children, the aggregate of all such pensions shall not exceed-

      (a) on the death of an active member or deferred member the amount payable under sub-paragraph (2), and

      (b) on the death of a pensioner member, the amount payable under sub-paragraph (1), (1A), (2), (3) or (5).".

     

     26. For paragraph 5, substitute-

         " 5.  - (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the aggregate benefit payable by way of a retirement grant for a Class B member on retirement at or before NRD must not exceed the lesser of-

      (a) three times the initial pension paid to the member under Part II and Part III, excluding Chapter IV of Part III; and

      (b) one and a half times the member's final remuneration less the value of any retained benefits in lump sum form.

        (2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the aggregate benefit payable by way of a retirement grant on retirement at NRD for a Class C member must not exceed the lesser of-

      (a) if the member has less than 20 years service, his final remuneration multiplied by the fraction set out in the table below-

      Years of service to NRD 80ths of final remuneration
      1 to 8 3 for each year
      9 30
      10 36
      11 42
      12 48
      13 54
      14 63
      15 72
      16 81
      17 90
      18 99
      19 108; and

      (b) one and a half times the member's final remuneration less the value of any retained rights in lump sum form.

        (3) If it results in a higher sum than the maximum under sub-paragraphs (1) or (2), the maximum aggregate retirement grant is three eightieths of the member's final remuneration multiplied by each year of service or 40 years if less.

        (4) But for a retirement grant payable under regulation 27, the limit is the maximum retirement grant payable under sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) assuming he continued as an active member until his NRD.

        (5) The aggregate benefit payable to a Class C member by way of retirement grant before NRD is the greater of-

      (a) three eightieths of the member's final remuneration multiplied by his years of service or 40 years if less; and

      (b) the maximum lump sum that could have been payable on retirement at NRD under sub-paragraph (2) multiplied by the fraction of which

        (i) the numerator is the member's actual period of local government employment prior to leaving the Scheme or 40 years if less, and

        (ii) the denominator is his total period of membership assuming he had remained an active member until his NRD or 40 years if less.

       

     

      This amount may be increased in line with any increase in the retail prices index between the relevant date and the date on which the benefit becomes payable.

        (6) The aggregate benefit payable to a Class B member or a Class C member by way of a retirement grant on retirement after NRD must not exceed the greatest of

      (a) the amount payable under sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) on the basis that the actual retirement date was the member's NRD;

      (b) the amount that could have been payable under sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) on retirement at NRD together with interest in respect of the period of the delay in payment between his NRD and the actual date of payment;

      (c) three eightieths of the member's final remuneration multiplied by his increased period of membership.

        (7) A member's increased period of membership is the aggregate of

      (a) his total membership ending with his NRD; and

      (b) his total period of membership after his NRD

    but must not exceed 45 years.

        (8) The benefits payable by way of lump sum on the death of an active or deferred member must not exceed four times his final remuneration (disregarding the provisos in paragraph 1(8) and (9) and paragraph 9(6)) less any lump sum death in service retained rights (other than a refund of the member's contributions and any interest on such contributions) or, if greater, �5,000.".

     27. In paragraph 6, for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-

        " (1) The years of service taken into account under paragraph 4(1) and (2) and the total membership taken into account under paragraphs 4(7)(a) and 5(7)(a) must not exceed 40 years.".

     28. In paragraph 7(1), after "regulations 12, 17 and 18" insert "and any FSAVC scheme" and for "his pay" substitute "his remuneration".

     29. In paragraph 8(2)(b), for "he was aged 65" substitute "his NRD".

     30. In paragraph 8(3), for "retained benefits" substitute "retained rights".

     31. In paragraph 8(4)(b), after "retirement grant" insert "or, in the case of a Class C member, the aggregate of the retirement grant attributable to his period of membership before his NRD and any retained rights in lump sum form,".

     32. In paragraph 8(5), for "relevant benefits" substitute "retained rights".

     33. In paragraph 9(5)-

    (a) for "paragraph 1(3)(a)" substitute "paragraphs 1(3)(a) and 1(3A)", and

    (b) add the following-

 

        " (6) Final remuneration shall be ascertained in accordance with paragraph 1(5)(b) and paragraph 1(5)(a) shall not apply.".


EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note does not form part of these Regulations)


These Regulations make various amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997 ("the principal Regulations") which regulate the Local Government Pension Scheme ("the LGPS"). The Regulations take effect on 1st April 1998, the date when the principal Regulations came into force. Section 12 of the Superannuation Act 1972 provides that regulations made under section 7 of that Act may have retrospective effect.

Regulation 3 adds the Service Authority for the National Crime Intelligence Service and the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad as resolution bodies.

Regulations 4, 5, 20, 28, 30, 32 and 33 make minor amendments.

Regulations 6 (meaning of pay), 9 (calculation of benefits), 10 (final pay), 11 (alternative final pay periods), 12 (temporary reductions in pay and certificates of protection of pension benefits), 14 (early leavers and ill-health pensions), 15 (re-employed and rejoining deferred members), 16 (death grants), 17 (reduction of some surviving spouses' pensions), 18 (children's short-term pensions), 19 (children's long-term pensions), 25 (exclusion of rights to return of contributions), and 31 (forfeiture of pension rights after conviction of employment-related offences) amend the principal Regulations to ensure continuity with the corresponding provision in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/1019) (as amended) which they replace.

Regulation 7 clarifies the provisions in connection with members' lower rate contribution rates to provide that there must be continuity of employment for the right to contribute to the lower rate of 5% to carry forward from before the commencement date of the principal Regulations.

Regulations 8 and 22 substitute the word "remuneration" for the word "pay" which is defined in the principal Regulations and which has a narrower meaning. The wider meaning is required in the context.

Regulation 13 introduces a provision to avoid double enhancement on grounds of ill-health.

Regulation 21 introduces an administrative simplification by removing a time restraint in connection with an administering authority's passing of a resolution to require evidence of health in connection with payments to increase total membership.

Regulation 23 provides that the rate of interest for all overdue payments is 1% above base rate on a day to day basis with three monthly rests.

Regulations 24 (interest in connection with a right to return of contributions), 26 (interest on deductions made in error) and 27 (interest on late payment of benefits) make changes concerning when and from which date interest is payable in connection with the repayment to members of contributions and the payment of benefits.

Regulation 29 requires employers and administering authorities to publish any policy statements concerning their exercise of discretionary functions under the principal Regulations.

Regulation 34 amends Schedule 4 to the principal Regulations, which sets out Inland Revenue restrictions, by reference to the Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 35 allows certain persons who would be placed in a worse position by amendments made in these Regulations to elect for the amendments not to apply in their case.

Notes:

[1] 1972 c.11; section 12 was amended by section 10 of the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 (c.7).back

[2] S.I. 1997/1612.back

[3] The Service Authority for the National Crime Intelligence Service and the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad were established under sections 1 and 47 respectively of the Police Act 1997 (c.50).back

[4] 1988 c.1; the provisions of schedule 6 to the Finance Act 1989 (c.26) which amend section 590(3) of the Taxes Act do not have effect as regards a person who became a member of the Scheme before 1st June 1989.back

 

 


ISBN 0 11 079044 8


 
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