State Superannuation Regulations 2001

When the Board is notified that a Gold State Super Member is, or will be, on recognised unpaid leave the Board is to inform the Member of his or her rights under this regulation.

A Gold State Super Member who is on recognised unpaid leave may —

continue paying member contributions as if the Member were not on leave (continued contributions option); or

continue the Member’s obligation to make member contributions for the period of the leave but defer the time for payment of those contributions until the Member returns to work (deferred contributions option); or

subject to subregulation (4), make no member contribution for the period of the recognised unpaid leave (reduced benefit option).

A Member is taken to have chosen the deferred contributions option unless, not later than one month after the Board gives the information under subregulation (1), the Member gives notice to the Board that the Member has chosen the continued contributions option or the reduced benefit option.

A Gold State Super Member who is on approved leave while on active duty with the Armed Forces cannot choose the reduced benefit option.

A notice under subregulation (3) cannot be revoked.

A Gold State Super Member who chooses the deferred contributions option —

cannot make member contributions for the period of the recognised unpaid leave while the Member is on leave; and

must, when the Member returns to work, pay the deferred contributions, together with interest at a rate (which may be zero), and calculated in a manner, determined by the Board, over a period not exceeding the length of the recognised unpaid leave, or any longer period allowed by the Board on the grounds of financial hardship.