Pensions Citation and interpretation 1 1 This Order may be cited as the Pensions (2015 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015. 2 In this Order any reference to a numbered section or Schedule is to the section of, or Schedule to, the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 bearing that number. Appointed days 2 1 The day appointed for the coming into operation of— a section 24(2) to (9) (abolition of contracting–out for salary related schemes etc.); b section 36 (automatic re-enrolment: exceptions where automatic enrolment deferred); c section 37 (automatic enrolment: powers to create general exceptions); d section 38 (alternative quality requirements for UK defined benefits schemes); e section 39 (automatic enrolment: transitional period for hybrid schemes); f section 41 (unpaid scheme contributions); g section 42 (power to restrict charges or impose requirements in relation to schemes); h section 44 (power to require pension levies to be paid in respect of past periods); i section 45 (prohibition and suspension order: directors of corporate trustees); j section 47 (maximum period between scheme returns to be 5 years for micro schemes); k Schedule 12 (state pension amendments), paragraphs 81 and 82(b) and section 23 in so far as it relates to those paragraphs; l Schedule 14 (power to amend schemes to reflect abolition of contracting-out); m in Schedule 17 (automatic transfer of pension benefits etc.)— i paragraph 14(1) for the purposes only of paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 18 (power to restrict charges or impose requirements in relation to schemes), and ii paragraph 19(3) (and paragraph 19(1) in so far as it relates to it) (amendments), and section 32 in so far as it relates to those paragraphs; n Schedule 18, and o Schedule 19 (prohibition orders: consequential amendments), is 16th July 2015. 2 The day appointed for the coming into operation of— a section 2(3) (entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rate); b section 4(2) (entitlement to state pension at transitional rate); c section 8(3), (7) and (8) (choice of lump sum or survivor’s pension under section 9 in certain cases); d section 16(1) and (6) (pensioner’s option to suspend state pension); e section 17(4) and (5) (effect of pensioner postponing or suspending state pension); f section 18(1) (section 17 supplementary: calculating weeks, overseas residents, etc.); g section 19 (prisoners); h section 22(1) (general definitions etc.); i in Schedule 8 (pension sharing: appropriate weekly rate under section 13), paragraph 4 and section 13(2) in so far as it relates to that paragraph; j in Schedule 10 (pension sharing: appropriate weekly reduction under section 14), paragraph 4 and section 14(2) in so far as it relates to that paragraph; k in Schedule 11 (pension sharing: amendments), paragraph 10 (and paragraph 8 in so far as it relates to it) and section 15 in so far as it relates to those paragraphs, and l in Schedule 15 (option to boost old retirement pensions), paragraph 4 (and paragraph 1 in so far as it relates to it) and section 25 in so far as it relates to those paragraphs, for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations, is 16th July 2015. 3 The day appointed for the coming into operation of section 35 (short service benefit for scheme member with money purchase benefits) is 1st October 2015. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 15th July 2015 (L.S.) Anne McCleary A senior officer of the Department for Social Development