Can anyone help me understand the USS amalgamated benefits rule in relation to 'rejoiners'?

ConfusedDodo

I'm 60 and stopped paying into USS in 2015 following a career change. USS have told me that,  despite what they previously told me when I changed university employers in 2011, I now have to take both my pre- and post-2011 benefits at the same time 'because of a rule change'. As a previous forum-poster has said, this means I'll be penalized (on the post-2011 element) for taking it all now but won't get any enhancement (on the pre-2011 element) for delaying. 

My reason for seeking clarification of the (old) rule back in 2011 was because I took voluntary redundancy from a full-time higher-paid post at one university and then, over a month later, started a part-time lower-paid post at another university. I've looked at the various versions of the rule book on the USS website, which appear to imply that there are different rules for 'rejoiners' with a gap of over a month between leaving and rejoining the scheme and that this may mean I can treat the two benefits separately.

Please does anyone know if this is indeed the case and, if so, whether there are any reasons why I shouldn't open this particular can of worms with USS, i.e., might there be some hidden disadvantages in treating the two benefits separately that would be worse than the penalty for taking the post-2011 element early?