Dealing with absences

There are many types of member absences that you'll be faced with as an employer. It's important you know how to deal with these situations if they arise. Some examples include:

• Unpaid leave of absence
• Paid child related leave
• Unpaid child related leave
• Strike break because of a trade dispute
• Sickness

You should always inform us of the dates of an absence when a member decides to buy back lost pension. If a member has unpaid child related leave or authorised unpaid leave, they can buy the lost pension back. They can pay APCs or shared cost additional pension contributions (SCAPCs).

This can be done by your iConnect submission (if you submit an extract file) or by sending us form PEN004. If the member is on a period of maternity, paternity, or child related leave you should send us the dates through your iConnect submission (if you submit an extract file) or by completing form PEN005.

The i-Connect payroll extract specification user guide has now been uploaded to the website, in order to assist employers who wish to inform us of an absence through i-Connect.

For employers who submit an extract file, please refer to the iConnect user guides (item 26 and 27) which can be found in the forms and guidance library which can be found here.