Unpaid leave does not count for pension purposes in the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority scheme.

However, you can if you wish apply to pay both the employer and employee percentage contributions which apply during the time you are on unpaid leave. Members are normally expected to submit an application to pay these contributions prior to the period of unpaid leave. If you submit an application prior to the period of unpaid leave contributions will be based on your notional rate of pay during your absence and will therefore increase accordingly. In these circumstances contributions will be collected during the period of unpaid leave. You should be aware that if you submit an application immediately on return from unpaid leave the contributions will be based on your salary at the time the contributions are actually paid.

If you work part-time hours, the number of hours worked immediately prior to the period of unpaid leave will be used for calculating the amount of contributions to be paid.

If you wish to pay contributions during a period of unpaid leave you should contact your employee representative or scheme administrators

If you commenced employment on a fixed term contract and are offered a permanent contract, you should consult your employee representative  or the scheme administrators if you wish to establish if there is any possibility of transferring benefits from a previous pension arrangement now that you have a permanent contract with your employer.

If you are going through a divorce, dissolution or annulment, your UKAEA pension could be subject to a Pension Sharing Order, Pension Attachment Order or Earmarking Order.

This means that your spouse/civil partner may be awarded some of your pension and/or lump sum.

Pension Attachment Order/ Earmarking Order

If your pension is subject to a Pension Attachment Order or Earmarking Order, the Court will instruct the administrators to pay a specified amount of your pension and/ or lump sum to your former spouse/ civil partner when you retire. Please note in Scottish divorce cases only the lump sum can be earmarked.

Pension Sharing Order

If your pension is subject to a Pension Sharing Order, your benefits will reduce by the percentage specified in the Court Order. In Scotland, the Order will state a cash amount rather than a percentage. Pension sharing is a permanent transfer of your benefits and will not revert back to you on the death of your former spouse/civil partner.

You (or your solicitor) should tell the administrators the likely terms of the Court Order when you know them, and must provide a copy of the actual Court Order and other documentation requested by the administrators in order to process the order.

For information about the administration charges associated with divorce orders, please contact Equiniti.