Active members
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Absences from work
There are many different reasons you could be absent from work and these may or may not have an effect on your pension.
If you are absent for any of the following reasons and your pension is affected, you can buy back the lost pension:
- Maternity leave
- Paternity leave
- Adoption leave
- Shared parental leave
- Authorised unpaid leave
- Strike
- Reserved forces leave
More information can be found on the national members' website. This includes calculators and the relevant application form. You cannot apply to buy lost pension until you return to work after your absence. In some circumstances, your employer will also pay towards the cost of buying lost pension if you apply within 30 days of your return to work. Read the guide for employees about how to complete and submit an application to buy back lost pension.
If you are off work due to sickness or injury, and your contractual pay is reduced, or you do not receive any pay, your pension will be calculated based on a notional pay figure called Assumed Pensionable Pay.
If you are in the 50/50 section of the scheme and your pay is reduced to zero due to sick leave, you will be automatically moved to the Main section of the scheme.