Finally managed to speak to someone far enough up the Admin food chain to get a decent answer to our queries.
FRI’s and PA are considered separate issues, totally independent of each other. You must accept an offer of PA not later than 12 months to go to your 38/16 point. Signing on signifies that you accept the Terms of Service of PA, which make no mention of FRI’s or their value.
So, VR, I think your chances of deferring your final decision about accepting PA are negligible. As to the question I posted earlier, if you accept PA based on receiving a given FRI, which is then reduced/binned completely – tough, you should have been psychic!
I for one will take any FRI as a welcome extra, and hope that I don’t get a UB40 instead.
D4R