I am taking unpaid leave

If you have had any period of unpaid leave, this can have an effect on your pension benefits.

Provided it is not too long, a period of unpaid leave can be treated as pensionable service. If a Member wants to have any part of their unpaid leave treated as Pensionable Service, then they can exercise this right before taking the leave (if it is planned) or upon their return to work (if it is unplanned or following maternity leave).

In order to have any period of unpaid leave treated as Pensionable Service, the Member must pay both the Member and Employer contributions which would have been paid during the period. This will be based on the amount of notional salary that the Member would have been paid had they not been absent.

The cost of the missing contributions can sometimes be spread over more than one month and if you are taking unpaid leave over a longer period (up to 12 months) this can also be paid via direct debit.

Please contact the Pensions Office if you would like to receive further details about paying back missing contributions.

 

Need help or more information?

Who to contact
If you have any queries then please contact the Pensions Office.