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12.
AWAY FROM WORK
Temporary absences
If you are away from work but still employed by the GFTU, you may remain a member of the
Scheme if the Trustees agree.
Any period or periods of absence that count as paid leave will usually be counted as
Pensionable Service and the absence will therefore be ignored when calculating your
benefits.
Any period or periods of unpaid leave will only be counted as Pensionable Service if the
Trustees agree. If they do not agree then the period of absence will be taken into account
when calculating your benefits and so your Pensionable Service will be reduced by the same
amount.
If a period of absence is to be counted as Pensionable Service, you will be required to
continue to pay your contributions. You can continue to pay regular monthly contributions or,
if the Trustees agree, you can pay arrears of contributions as a lump sum upon returning to
work so that the period of absence is treated as Pensionable Service.
When your absence starts, you may elect not to continue contributing to the Scheme. In those
circumstances, you will remain a member of the Scheme but you will cease to earn pension
benefits. Your cover for death benefits will only continue during your period of absence if the
Trustees agree that it should.
If you continue to pay contributions during your period of absence you will continue to be
covered for death benefits, as outlined in Section 8, but the amount of cover will be based on
your Pensionable Pay as it stood on the day your absence started.
If you do not return to work, you will become a member with preserved benefits and the
provisions in Section 10 of this booklet will apply.
Rejoining the Scheme
If you leave the Scheme because you leave the GFTU's employment or because you opt out
of the Scheme, the GFTU may permit you to rejoin it at a later date.
If you do, you will earn a second pension under the Scheme as a result of your second period
of Pensionable Service. Unless your contributions have been returned to you, you will have a
preserved pension as a result of your first period of Pensionable Service. The two periods
may be added together but only if the Trustees agree.
Maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave