If you leave the Scheme, and leave your benefits 'on hold' with us; it is known as having deferred or 'frozen' benefits. You only need 3 months' membership to qualify for deferred benefits.

• Your choices as a leaver

Deferred benefits are where we work out the value of your benefits when you leave, and hold them for you until a later date. This choice is open to you as long as you have at least three months' membership, or you have brought in a transfer from another scheme.

If you join again, you only have 12 months from the date you join to link your deferred benefits with your new membership. If you have more than one set of deferred benefits, you can only link the most recent one with your current membership.

Having worked out the value of your deferred benefits at the time you leave, we then increase them each year in line with the cost of living.

• Drawing deferred benefits

You can generally draw your deferred benefits at the same age as you would have done had you stayed in the Scheme. The exact details will depend on the rules that were in place at the time you left. It is also possible to draw your deferred benefits at any age on the grounds of ill health. But this must be approved by your previous employer and you will not be awarded any extra years.

• Death

If you die before you have drawn any of your deferred benefits, we will pay a lump sum and a pension to any eligible survivors.

More information -

   Deferred member guide

   Your deferred ABS explained