(1) This regulation shall apply in the case of any person (“a relevant beneficiary”) to whom any benefit (including a return of contributions) is or may become payable, being a benefit (“a relevant benefit”) payable to or in respect of a person who before the date when the regulation making the amendment referred to in paragraph (2) comes into force–
(a) ceased to be in pensionable employment (whether or not he has subsequently recommenced any such employment); or
(b) died while still in such employment.
(2) If, in relation to a relevant benefit, a relevant beneficiary–
(a) would be placed by any amendment made by these Regulations in a worse position than he would have been in if that amendment had not been made, and
(b) so elects, by notice in writing given to the Secretary of State before the relevant date,
then, in relation to that benefit, the principal Regulations shall have effect, subject to paragraph (4), as if the amendment had not been made.
(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2) the relevant date is–
(a) in the case of the amendments made by regulation 10 or 11, the date 6 months after that regulation comes into force or the date one month after the death in respect of which the relevant benefit may be paid, whichever is later;
(b) in the case of the amendments made by any other regulation, the date 6 months after that regulation comes into force.
(4) If such an election as is mentioned in paragraph (2) is made, in relation to a benefit which is or may become payable to him, by a person who is in pensionable employment when the regulation making the amendment comes into force or who recommences service in such employment, then–
(a) the election shall have effect in relation to the benefit only to the extent that it accrues, or has accrued–
(i) by virtue of periods of service rendered before the cessation referred to in paragraph (1) above or, if there has been more than one such cessation, the last of them before the regulation making the amendment comes into force; or
(ii) by virtue of contributions paid in respect of any such periods of service; and
(b) in determining entitlement to, or the amount of, the benefit to that extent he shall (without prejudice to the application of this paragraph) be treated as if he had never recommenced service in such employment at any time after the cessation referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above,
and the principal Regulations shall apply accordingly.