The National Health Service Pension Scheme Regulations 2015

Forfeiture of rights to benefitsE+W

12.—(1) The Secretary of State may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable to or in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited if—

(a)the member is convicted of any of the offences specified in sub-paragraph (2); and

(b)the offence was committed before the benefit or other amount becomes payable.

(2) The offences are—

(a)an offence in connection with employment that qualifies the member to belong to this scheme, in respect of which the Secretary of State has issued a forfeiture certificate;

(b)one or more offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989 [F1, or under section 18 of, or listed in section 33(3)(a) of, the National Security Act 2023,] for which the member has been sentenced on the same occasion to—

(i)a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years; or

(ii)two or more consecutive terms amounting in the aggregate to at least 10 years.

(3) In sub-paragraph (2)(a), “forfeiture certificate” means a certificate stating that the Secretary of State is satisfied that the offence—

(a)has been gravely injurious to the State; or

(b)is liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

(4) The Secretary of State may direct that all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable in respect of a member under these Regulations be forfeited where the benefits or amounts are payable to a person to whom sub-paragraph (5) applies who has been convicted of the murder or manslaughter of that member or of any other offence of which unlawful killing of that member is an element.

(5) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a)the member's widow, widower, [F2surviving scheme partner] or surviving civil partner;

(b)a dependant of the member;

(c)a person not falling within paragraph (a) or (b) who is specified in a notice given under paragraph 9(3) of Schedule 14; or

(d)a person to whom such benefits or amounts are payable under the member's will or on the member's intestacy.

(6) A guaranteed minimum pension may be forfeited only if sub-paragraph (1) applies in the case of an offence within sub-paragraph (2)(b) [F3or if paragraph (4) applies].

This is subject to sub-paragraph (7).

(7) This sub-paragraph is without prejudice to section 2 of the Forfeiture Act 1870 M1 (under which forfeiture is required in cases of treason, subject to whole or partial restoration under section 70(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1948 M2).

[F4(8) If, on or after 1st April 2019, a member is—

(a)charged with an offence; or

(b)convicted of an offence,

which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, may lead to all or part of the member’s benefits being forfeited under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may make a suspension decision in accordance with paragraphs (10) to (15) of this regulation.

(9) If, on or after 1st April 2019, any of the persons referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph (5) are charged with, or convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, may lead to all or part of any rights to benefits or other amounts payable in respect of a member being forfeited under paragraph (4), the Secretary of State may make a suspension decision in accordance with paragraphs (10), (11), and (16) to (19) of this regulation.

(10) A suspension decision is a decision of the Secretary of State suspending the right to, and the payment of, all or part of any benefit or other amounts payable—

(a)which the member is in receipt of, or becomes entitled to,

(b)in respect of a member,

under these Regulations.

(11) If the Secretary of State makes a suspension decision under paragraph (8) or (9), that decision will continue to apply—

(a)until the date of any direction made by the Secretary of State under this regulation; or

(b)where the Secretary of State determines not to direct forfeiture under this regulation, the date of that decision.

(12) Paragraph (13) applies if—

(a)the Secretary of State makes a suspension decision under paragraph (8) in respect of a member otherwise entitled to the payment of a pension under Part 5 (members’ benefits) of these Regulations; and

(b)the Secretary of State subsequently determines not to issue a direction under paragraph (1).

(13) The Secretary of State will pay to the member described in paragraph (12) an amount equal to the total amount of the benefit payments suspended together with the interest due under paragraph 9 (interest on late payment of benefits and refunds of member contributions) of Schedule 3.

(14) Paragraph (15) applies if—

(a)the Secretary of State makes a suspension decision under paragraph (8) in respect of a member otherwise entitled to the payment of a pension under Part 5 (members’ benefits) of these Regulations; and

(b)the Secretary of State subsequently directs forfeiture of an amount less than the total amount suspended.

(15) The Secretary of State will pay to the member described in paragraph (14) an amount equal to the difference between the total amount of the benefit payments suspended and the amount forfeited together with the interest due under paragraph 9 (interest on late payment of benefits and refunds of member contributions) of Schedule 3.

(16) Paragraph (17) applies if—

(a)the Secretary of State makes a suspension decision under paragraph (9); and

(b)the Secretary of State subsequently determines not to issue a direction under paragraph (4) in respect of the benefits to which that decision relates.

(17) The Secretary of State will pay to the person to whom paragraph (9) applies an amount equal to the total amount of the benefit payments suspended together with the interest due under paragraph 9 (interest on late payment of benefits and refunds of member contributions) of Schedule 3.

(18) Paragraph (19) applies if—

(a)the Secretary of State makes a suspension decision under paragraph (9); and

(b)the Secretary of State subsequently directs forfeiture of an amount less than the total amount suspended.

(19) The Secretary of State will pay to the person described in paragraph (9) an amount equal to the difference between the total amount of the benefit payments suspended and the amount forfeited together with the interest due under paragraph 9 (interest on late payment of benefits and refunds of member contributions) of Schedule 3.]