No. The Scheme is contributory. A member, in normal circumstances, must either pay contributions at their rate of pensionable pay while in the main section or they can elect to be in the 50/50 section and pay half the contributions and their pension will then build up at half the rate. Some members may find the 50/50 section helpful in cases of financial hardship rather than opting out. If a member wishes to stop paying into the Scheme they would have to opt out. They can obtain an opt-out form from the NILGOSC website.