Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2015/5/body
Timestamp: 2020-07-10 13:42:14
Document Index: 245445436

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 2', 'art. 1', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'ART 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'ART 5', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 5', 'art. 5', 'ART 7']

Changes over time for: Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (without Schedules)
14/12/2015- Amendment
25/02/2016- Amendment
09/03/2018- Amendment
Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 10 July 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Pt. 5 modified by S.R. 2019/77 art. 2
s. 24(2)-(7) repealed by 2015 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 24(8)
s. 33 repealed (cond.) by 2015 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 34
s. 35(2)(3) omitted by 2016 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 39(6)
Sch. 14 repealed by 2015 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 24(8)
Sch. 17 para. 1(2)(a) words substituted by 2016 c. 1 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 47(2)
Sch. 17 para. 1(5)(a) words substituted by 2016 c. 1 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 47(2)
C1Pt. 1 excluded by S.I. 2007/1398, reg. 8(3) as amended (6.4.2016 coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2)(b)) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Amendments) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1985), arts. 1(2)(b), 30(4)(a)
C2Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/188), arts. 1, 2, Schs. 1, 2
C3Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreement) (Isle of Man) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/189), arts. 1, 2
State pensionN.I.
1—(1) This Part creates a benefit called state pension.
I1S. 1 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
State pension at the full or reduced rateN.I.
Entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rateN.I.
2—(1) A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the full rate if—
(4) In this Part “qualifying year” means a tax year, during a person's working life, in which the person's earnings factor (or the sum of the person's earnings factors) is equal to or greater than the qualifying earnings factor for the year.
I2S. 2(3) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(a)
I3S. 2 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Full and reduced rates of state pensionN.I.
3—(1) The full rate of the state pension is the weekly rate for the time being specified in regulations.
I4S. 3(1) in operation at 25.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/68, art. 2(a)
I5S. 3 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
State pension at the transitional rateN.I.
Entitlement to state pension at transitional rateN.I.
4—(1) A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the transitional rate if—
a reckonable year that would have been treated under regulation 13(1) of the Social Security (Widow's Benefit, Retirement Pensions and Other Benefits) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 as a qualifying year for the purposes of determining the person's entitlement to an old state pension that is a Category A retirement pension.
I6S. 4(2) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(b)
I7S. 4 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Transitional rate of state pensionN.I.
5—(1) The transitional rate of the state pension for a person is a weekly rate equal to—
(a)the sum of the amounts calculated under Schedule 1 for the person's pre-commencement and post-commencement qualifying years capped at the full rate of the state pension on the day on which the person reaches pensionable age, or
(b)if higher, the amount for the person's pre-commencement qualifying years alone.
I8S. 5 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
Recalculation and backdating of transitional rate in special casesN.I.
6—(1) This section modifies the transitional rate of the state pension for a person if, after the person has reached pensionable age, a determination is made under section 44A(2) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (in this Act referred to as “the Pension Schemes Act”) (contracting-out: reinstatement in state scheme following payment of contributions equivalent premium).
(2) The person's transitional rate is to be recalculated (taking the determination into account under paragraph 3(8) of Schedule 1).
I9S. 6 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
I10S. 7 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
8—(1) A person is entitled to a choice under this section if—
(4) A person who chooses to be paid a lump sum under this section, or who fails to choose within that period, is entitled to a “widowed person's or surviving civil partner's lump sum” calculated under paragraph 7B of Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act.
I11S. 8(3)(7)(8) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(c)
I12S. 8 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
C4S. 9 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/56), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(4)(a)
C5S. 9 sums amended (25.9.2017) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/187), arts. 1, 6(3)(a)
C6S. 9 sums amended (24.3.2018) by The Social Security (2017 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/56), arts. 1, 6(3)(a)
C7S. 9 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/58), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(4)(a)
C8S. 9 sums amended (29.9.2018) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/167), arts. 1, 6(3)(a)
C9S. 9 sums amended (26.3.2019) by The Social Security (2018 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/46), arts. 1, 6(3)(a)
C10S. 9 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/58), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(4)(a)
C11S. 9 sums amended (27.9.2019) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/188), arts. 1, 6(3)(a)
C12S. 9 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3)(a), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/40), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(4)(a)
I13S. 9 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
I14S. 10 in operation at 25.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/68, art. 2(b)
I15S. 10 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Transition: women who have had a reduced rate electionN.I.
Reduced rate elections: effect on section 4 pensionsN.I.
11—(1) Section 4(1)(b) (minimum number of qualifying years for state pension at the transitional rate) does not apply to a woman if a reduced rate election was in force in respect of her at the beginning of the relevant 35-year period.
I16S. 11 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
Reduced rate elections: pension for women with no section 4 pensionN.I.
12—(1) A woman is entitled to a state pension under this section if—
(3) But if at any time the full rate of the state pension is increased, the rate of the woman's state pension under this section is increased (at that time) by the same percentage as the increase in the full rate.
(4) In subsection (3) the reference to the rate of the woman's state pension is to the rate ignoring any increase under section 17.
(6) There are provisions elsewhere that affect a woman's entitlement to a state pension under this section or the rate at which it is payable.
I17S. 12 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
Transition: pension sharing on divorce etc.N.I.
13—(1) A person is entitled to a state pension under this section if—
I18S. 13(2) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(i)
I19S. 13 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Pension sharing: reduction in the sharer's section 4 pensionN.I.
14—(1) The rate of a person's state pension under section 4 is reduced under this section if the person is subject to a state scheme pension debit.
(3) A person's state pension may be reduced more than once under this section.
I20S. 14(2) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(j)
I21S. 14 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Pension sharing: amendmentsN.I.
15 Schedule11 contains amendments to do with pension sharing.
I22S. 15 in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(k)
I23S. 15 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Postponing or suspending state pensionN.I.
Pensioner's option to suspend state pensionN.I.
16—(1) A person who has become entitled to a state pension under this Part may opt to suspend his or her entitlement in accordance with regulations.
I24S. 16(1)(6) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(d)
I25S. 16 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Effect of pensioner postponing or suspending state pensionN.I.
17—(1) If a person's entitlement to a state pension under this Part has been deferred for a period, the weekly rate of the person's state pension is increased by an amount equal to the sum of the increments to which the person is entitled.
(2) But the weekly rate is not to be increased under subsection (1) if the increase would be less than 1% of the person's weekly rate ignoring that subsection.
(3) A person is entitled to one increment for each whole week in the period during which the person's entitlement to a state pension was deferred.
(4) The amount of an increment is equal to a specified percentage of the weekly rate of the state pension to which the person would have been entitled immediately before the end of that period if the person's entitlement had not been deferred.
(7) For the purposes of this section and section 18 a person's entitlement to a state pension under this Part is deferred for a period if the person has opted under section 16 to suspend his or her entitlement for that period.
(8) For the purposes of this section and section 18 a person's entitlement to a state pension under this Part is also deferred for a period if the person is not entitled to it for that period by reason only of—
C13S. 17 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/56), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(3)
C14S. 17 sums amended (25.9.2017) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/187), arts. 1, 6(2)
C15S. 17 sums amended (24.3.2018) by The Social Security (2017 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/56), arts. 1, 6(2)
C16S. 17 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/58), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(3)
C17S. 17 sums amended (29.9.2018) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018 (S.R. 2018/167), arts. 1, 6(2)
C18S. 17 sums amended (26.3.2019) by The Social Security (2018 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/46), arts. 1, 6(2)
C19S. 17 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/58), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(3)
C20S. 17 sums amended (27.9.2019) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/188), arts. 1, 6(2)
C21S. 17 sums amended (with effect in accordance with arts. 1(2)(3)(a), 7 of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/40), arts. 1(1)(c), 6(3)
I26S. 17(4)(5) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(e)
I27S. 17 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Section 17 supplementary: calculating weeks, overseas residents, etc.N.I.
18—(1) Regulations may—
(2) Regulations may modify section 17(4) in cases where, at any time in the period during which a person's entitlement to a state pension is deferred, the rate for the person would have changed otherwise than because of an up-rating increase.
(3) Regulations may modify section 17(4) in relation to a person who has been an overseas resident during any part of the period for which the person's entitlement to a state pension has been deferred.
I28S. 18(1) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(f)
I29S. 18(2)-(4) in operation at 25.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/68, art. 2(c)
I30S. 18 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Prisoners and overseas residentsN.I.
19—(1) Regulations may provide that a person is not to be paid a state pension under this Part for any period during which the person is a prisoner.
I31S. 19 in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(g)
I32S. 19 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Overseas residentsN.I.
20—(1) Regulations may provide that an overseas resident who is entitled to a state pension under this Part is not entitled to up-rating increases.
(3) Regulations under this section do not affect the rate of an overseas resident's state pension for any period during which he or she is in Northern Ireland or a territory specified in the regulations (but once the overseas resident ceases to be in Northern Ireland or a specified territory the rate reverts to what it would have been had he or she not been in Northern Ireland or a specified territory).
(4) Regulations under this section do not affect the rate of a person's state pension once the person stops being an overseas resident.
I33S. 20 in operation at 25.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/68, art. 2(d)
I34S. 20 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
I35S. 21 in operation at 6.4.2016, see s. 53(1)(3)
I36S. 22(1) in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(h)
I37S. 22 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Consequential and other amendmentsN.I.
23 In Schedule 12—
I38S. 23 in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(k)
I39S. 23 in operation at 14.9.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(2)(a)
I40S. 23 in operation at 25.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.R. 2016/68, art. 2(e)
I41S. 23 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
Abolition of contracting-out for salary related schemes etc.N.I.
24—(1) Schedule 13 contains amendments to abolish contracting-out for salary related schemes.
(2) An employer may amend an occupational pension scheme in relation to some or all of its members to take account of increases in the employer's national insurance contributions in respect of some or all of the members to whom the amendments apply because of the repeal of section 37 of the Pension Schemes Act (by Schedule 13).
C22S. 24 applied (with modifications) (14.12.2015) by The Occupational Pension Schemes (Power to Amend Schemes to Reflect Abolition of Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/372), regs. 1, 13(2), 14(2), 15(2)
I42S. 24(2)-(9) in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(a)
I43S. 24(1) in operation at 14.9.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(1)(a)
I44S. 24 in operation at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into operation earlier by an order, see s. 53(1)(3)
PART 2 N.I.OPTION TO BOOST OLD RETIREMENT PENSIONS
Option to boost old retirement pensionsN.I.
25 Schedule15 (option to boost old retirement pensions) contains amendments to make provision in relation to people who have paid additional contributions to boost their retirement pensions.
I45S. 25 in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(2)(l)
I46S. 25 in operation at 12.10.2015 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(3)
PART 3 N.I.PENSIONABLE AGE
Increase in pensionable age to 67N.I.
26—(1) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1995 Order is amended as follows.
(2) In sub-paragraph (7) for “6th April 1968” substitute “ 6th April 1960 ”.
(4) In sub-paragraph (9) for “5th April 1969” substitute “ 5th March 1961 ”.
PART 4 N.I.STATE PENSION CREDIT
I47S. 27(3) in operation at 14.9.2015 by S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(2)(b)
I48S. 27(1)(2) in operation at 6.4.2016 by S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(4)
Preserving indefinite status of certain existing assessed income periodsN.I.
28—(1) Section 84(6) of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (in this Act referred to as “the Pensions (No. 2) Act”) (which provides that section 9(6) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 ceases to have effect on 6th April 2014) is repealed and is to be treated as never having had effect.
(2) In section 9(6)(a) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (duration of assessed income period for certain transitional cases to be treated as indefinite) as restored by this section, after “brought to an end” insert “ , on or after 6 April 2009 but before 6 April 2014, ”.
PART 5N.I.BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PAYMENT
C23Pt. 5 modified (6.4.2017) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/73), arts. 1, 2
Bereavement support paymentN.I.
29—(1) A person is entitled to a benefit called bereavement support payment if—
I49S. 29 in operation at 10.3.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(a)
I50S. 29 in operation at 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(b)
Bereavement support payment: contribution condition and amendmentsN.I.
30—(1) For the purposes of section 29(1)(d) the contribution condition is that, for at least one tax year during the deceased's working life—
I51S. 30(1)-(4) in operation at 10.3.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(a)
I52S. 30(1)-(4) in operation at 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(b)
I53S. 30(5) in operation at 9.2.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/37, art. 2(a)
I54S. 30(5) in operation at 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)
Bereavement support payment: prisonersN.I.
31—(1) The Department may by regulations provide that a person is not to be paid bereavement support payment for any period during which the person is a prisoner.
I55S. 31 in operation at 10.3.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(a)
I56S. 31 in operation at 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(1)(b)
I57S. 32 in operation at 16.7.2015 for specified purposes by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(m)
I58S. 35 in operation at 1.10.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(3)
I59S. 36 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(b)
I60S. 37 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(c)
I61S. 38 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(d)
I62S. 39 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(e)
I63S. 41 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(f)
I64S. 42 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(g)
I65S. 43 in operation at 9.3.2018 by S.R. 2018/41, art. 2(1) (with art. 2(2))
I66S. 44 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(h)
I67S. 45 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(i)
I68S. 47 in operation at 16.7.2015 by S.R. 2015/307, art. 2(1)(j)
I69S. 48 in operation at 10.3.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/44, art. 5(a)
I70S. 48 in operation at 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2017/44, art. 5(b)
PART 7 N.I.FINAL PROVISIONS
51—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, any orders or regulations made by the Department or the Department of Finance and Personnel under this Act are subject to negative resolution.
52—(1) In this Act—
53—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, this Act comes into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appoint.
54 This Act may be cited as the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.