Family and Special Leave
Paid Family (Maternity, Paternity and Adoption) Leave
Congratulations!
As a parent, if you’re receiving contractual pay, whilst on ordinary or additional maternity, paternity or adoption leave, then your pensionable service in the Unified Scheme will continue.
During a period of paid family leave, your pensionable service will continue to accrue in the same way it would have if you had continued to work normally.
However, this all depends on if you are receiving at least half pay from your government employment. If you do receive this, then that period of leave will be classified as pensionable employment. For any period of unpaid family leave that you take. If you don’t, then that period will not be classed as pensionable.
How much will I need to contribute
You must continue to contribute at the same rate and percentage that you were paying immediately prior to your absence, however, this will be based on the pay that you receive whilst on leave.
If you are paying any additional contractual contributions towards purchasing Added Years or Added Pension, then you must continue to pay these whilst on leave. However, these will be based on the pay you receive whilst on leave.
- Information correct as at Janauary 2024
What happens to my service if I go on to no pay
If you are not receiving any pay and go onto unpaid additional leave, this will mean you are no longer in pensionable employment, so you will not pay any contributions. If you are not paying any contributions, your service will temporarily cease to accrue until you return to paid employment.
Any ‘Keep in Touch’ (KIT) days you attend will count as paid pensionable employment, and therefore will accrue pensionable service.
What happens if I decide not to return to service after my family leave
If you decide not to return to employment after your family leave has finished, your employer will tell us and we will stop any further pensionable service accruing in the Unified Scheme. For more information on the options available to you, please refer to the Scheme Guide.
Can I buy back my missed contributions from my unpaid family leave period?
If you wish to repay unpaid family leave contributions, you are able to elect to do this up to 3 months after you first return to work. The re-payment period is limited to after the PSPA receives your formal election.
To find out the amount of pension contributions you would need to pay back you can return the Buy Back Unpaid Family Leave Form to the PSPA who will contact you with the total contributions value you will need to repay.
Special Unpaid Leave
If your employer grants you Special Unpaid Leave then they will tell us, specifying, if known, the length of time this leave has been granted for.
If you are on Special Unpaid Leave, you will not accrue pensionable service during this time, and the period will not accrue any pension benefits. You will not be able to pay any member contributions. You will not be entitled to death in service benefits as an active member, and would instead be entitled to the death benefits for a deferred member.
You will be entitled to the death in service benefits and begin accruing service and pension benefits once you return to work.
If you do not return to work within 12 months of the commencement of your special unpaid leave, your active membership in the Unified Scheme will be terminated from the date your leave began.
Long Term Sickness Absence
If you’re ill, you may have to stop working before reaching retirement age. Before this happens, your employer and an Occupational Health Adviser should look at ways of helping you stay in, or return to, work. This may be through measures such as redeployment, part-time working or other workplace adjustments.
As long as you are on at least half pay, your pensionable service and benefits will continue to accrue as if you had continued to work normally.
If these measures fail, then ill health retirement may be an appropriate decision. Guidance on ill health retirement and advice on applying can be found on the Ill Health Retirement Factsheet, application forms are to be obtained from your employer or their Office of Human Resources.
More Information
For more information, you can refer to our Breaks in Service Factsheet. Alternatively, you can contact the PSPA on pensions@pspa.im or call us on +44 1624 685598.
Please be aware that this information is correct as at 5 January 2024 and is subject to change, should any legislative or policy changes be introduced.
