PENSIONS Part I General Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Pension Sharing (Implementation and Discharge of Liability) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 1st December 2000. 2 In these Regulations— “the 1995 Order ” means the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995; “the Safeguarded Rights Regulations ” means the Pension Sharing (Safeguarded Rights) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 ; “the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations ” means the Contracting-out (Transfer and Transfer Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ; “base rate” means the base rate for the time being quoted by the reference banks, or where there is for the time being more than one such base rate, the base rate which, when the base rate quoted by each bank is ranked in a descending sequence of seven, is fourth in the sequence; “implementation period” has the meaning given by Article 31 of the 1999 Order ; “normal benefit age” has the meaning given by section 97B ; “occupational pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 1; “pension arrangement” has the meaning given by Article 43(1) of the 1999 Order; “pension credit” means a credit under Article 26(1)( b ) of the 1999 Order; “pension sharing order” means an order which is mentioned in Article 25(1); “person responsible for a pension arrangement” has the meaning given to that expression in Article 43(2) of the 1999 Order; “personal pension scheme” has the meaning given by section 1 ; “reference banks” means the seven largest institutions for the time being which— are authorised by the Bank of England under the Banking Act 1987 ; are incorporated in and carrying on within the United Kingdom a deposit-taking business (as defined in section 6 of that Act, but subject to any order under section 7 of that Act ), and quote a base rate in sterling, and for the purpose of this definition the size of an institution at any time is to be determined by reference to the gross assets denominated in sterling of that institution, together with any subsidiary (as defined in Article 4 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986) ), as shown in the audited end of year accounts last published before that time; “ Regulatory Authority ” means the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority; “safeguarded rights” has the meaning given by section 64A ; “scheme actuary”, in relation to a scheme to which Article 47(1)( b ) of the 1995 Order applies, means the actuary mentioned in Article 47(1)( b ) of that Order; “section 5(2B) rights” has the meaning given by regulation 1(2) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 ; “transferee” and “transferor” have the meanings given by Article 31(5); “trustees or managers” has the meaning given by Article 43(1); “valuation day” has the meaning given by Article 26(7). 3 For the purposes of these Regulations and notwithstanding section 39(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 , where a period of time is expressed to begin on, or to be reckoned from, a particular day, that day shall be included in the period. 4 In these Regulations— a any reference to a numbered section is a reference to the section of the Pension Schemes Act bearing that number, and b any reference to a numbered Article or Schedule is a reference to the Article of, or Schedule to, the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 bearing that number. Part II Extension, Postponement or Cessation of Implementation Period Time period for notification to the Regulatory Authority of failure by the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme to discharge their liability in respect of a pension credit 2 The period prescribed for the purposes of Article 30(2)( a ) (period within which notice must be given of non-discharge of pension credit liability) is the period of 21 days beginning with the day immediately following the end of the implementation period. Circumstances in which an application for an extension of the implementation period may be made 3 The circumstances in which an application may be made for the purposes of Article 30(4) (application for extension of period within which pension credit liability is to be discharged) are that the application is made to the Regulatory Authority before the end of the implementation period, and— a the Regulatory Authority are satisfied that— i the scheme is being wound up or is about to be wound up; ii the scheme is ceasing to be a contracted-out scheme; iii the financial interests of the members of the scheme generally will be prejudiced if the trustees or managers do what is needed to discharge their liability for the pension credit within that period; iv the transferor or the transferee has not taken such steps as the trustees or managers can reasonably expect in order to satisfy them of any matter which falls to be established before they can properly discharge their liability for the pension credit; v the trustees or managers have not been provided with such information as they reasonably require properly to discharge their liability for the pension credit within the implementation period; vi the transferor or the transferee has disputed the amount of the cash equivalent calculated and verified for the purposes of Article 26 (creation of pension debits and credits); b the provisions of section 49 (supervision: former contracted-out schemes) apply, or c the application has been made on one or more of the grounds specified in paragraph ( a ) or ( b ), and the Regulatory Authority’s consideration of the application cannot be completed before the end of the implementation period. Postponement or cessation of implementation period when an application is made for leave to appeal out of time 4 1 The modifications to the operation of Article 31 (implementation period) where the pension credit depends on a pension sharing order and the order is the subject of an application for leave to appeal out of time are— a where the implementation period has not commenced, its commencement shall be postponed, or b where the implementation period has commenced, its operation shall cease and it shall not commence afresh until the person responsible for the pension arrangement has received the documents referred to in paragraph (2). 2 The postponement or cessation referred to in paragraph (1)( a ) or ( b ) shall continue until the person responsible for the pension arrangement is in receipt of— a confirmation from the court that the order which was the subject of the application for leave to appeal out of time has not been varied or discharged, or b a copy of the varied pension sharing order. 3 Where the person responsible for the pension arrangement has discharged his liability in respect of the pension credit which depends on a pension sharing order and that person subsequently receives notification of an application for leave to appeal out of time in respect of that order, he shall inform the court within 21 days from the date on which he received the notification that liability in respect of that pension credit has been discharged. Civil Penalties 5 For the purpose of Article 30(2)( b ) or (3) (time for discharge of liability), the maximum amount of the penalty which may be imposed by the Regulatory Authority under Article 10(2)( b ) of the 1995 Order is— a £1,000 in the case of an individual, and b £10,000 in any other case. Part III Death of Person entitled to a Pension Credit before Liability in Respect of the Pension Credit is Discharged Discharge of liability in respect of a pension credit following the death of the person entitled to the pension credit 6 1 Where — a the circumstances set out in paragraph (2) apply, and b the rules or provisions of a pension arrangement provide that liability in respect of a pension credit may be discharged in accordance with this regulation, the person responsible for the pension arrangement shall discharge his liability in respect of a pension credit in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(2), 2(2), 3(2) or 4(4) of Schedule 5 (pension credits: mode of discharge — funded pension schemes, unfunded public service pension schemes, other unfunded occupational pension schemes, or other pension arrangements) in favour of a person other than the person entitled to the pension credit, as if that person were the person entitled to the pension credit. 2 The circumstances set out in this paragraph are that a person entitled to a pension credit dies before the person responsible for the pension arrangement has discharged his liability in respect of the pension credit. 3 Paragraph (1) applies in relation to a pension arrangement to which paragraph 1, 3 or 4 of Schedule 5 applies, regardless of whether— a the rules of that arrangement provide that appropriate rights may be conferred under that scheme on a person entitled to a pension credit, or b in relation to the operation of paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 5, the person entitled to the pension credit has consented to the conferring of appropriate rights under that arrangement on him. Part IV Discharge of Liability in Respect of a Pension Credit Funded pension schemes 7 1 The circumstances in which the trustees or managers of a scheme, to which paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 applies, may discharge their liability in respect of a pension credit in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)( b ) of that paragraph are where— a the person entitled to the credit has failed to provide his consent in accordance with paragraph 1(2)( a ) and (4) of Schedule 5, and b the circumstances set out in paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 5 do not apply. 2 The circumstances in which the trustees or managers of a scheme, to which paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 applies, may discharge their liability in respect of a pension credit in accordance with sub-paragraph (3)( c ) of that paragraph are where— a the person entitled to the credit has failed to provide his consent in accordance with paragraph 1(2)( a ) of Schedule 5, and b the trustees or managers of the scheme have not discharged their liability in accordance with paragraph (1). Unfunded occupational pension schemes other than public service pension schemes 8 1 The circumstances in which the trustees or managers of a scheme, to which paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 applies, may discharge their liability in respect of a pension credit in accordance with sub-paragraph (3)( c ) of that paragraph are those specified in— a sub-paragraphs ( a ) and ( b ) of paragraph (2), in the case of an approved scheme, and b sub-paragraphs ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) of paragraph (2), in the case of an unapproved scheme. 2 The circumstances specified in this paragraph are— a the liability of the trustees or managers has not been discharged in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 5; b the person entitled to the pension credit has not consented to the discharge of liability in accordance with paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 5, and c the employer who is associated with the scheme from which the pension credit derives— i consents to the trustees or managers discharging their liability for the credit in accordance with paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 5, and ii agrees to compensate the person entitled to the credit fully for any tax liability which he may incur as a result of the trustees or managers of the scheme discharging their liability for the credit in accordance with paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 5. 3 In this regulation “approved scheme” means an occupational pension scheme which is approved for the purposes of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and an “unapproved scheme” means an occupational pension scheme which is not approved for those purposes. Other pension arrangements 9 1 The circumstances in which the person responsible for a pension arrangement, to which paragraph 4 of Schedule 5 applies, may discharge his liability in respect of a pension credit in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)( c ) of that paragraph are where his liability has not been discharged in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4(3) or (4) of that Schedule. 2 The circumstances in which the person responsible for the pension arrangement may discharge his liability in respect of the pension credit under paragraph 4(4) of Schedule 5 are where the person responsible for the pension arrangement has not discharged his liability in accordance with the provisions of— a paragraph (1); b paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 5, or c paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 5. Calculation of the value of appropriate rights 10 1 Except in a case to which paragraph (4) applies, the value of the rights conferred on a person entitled to a pension credit shall be calculated by adopting methods and making assumptions which the scheme actuary or, in relation to a scheme to which Article 47(1)( b ) of the 1995 Order (professional advisers) does not apply, by a person referred to in paragraph (2), has certified to the person responsible for the pension arrangement as being consistent with— a the methods adopted and assumptions made when transfers of other pension rights are received by the person responsible for the pension arrangement, and b “Retirement Benefit Schemes — Transfer Values (GN 11)” published by the Institute of Actuaries and the Faculty of Actuaries and which is current on the valuation day. 2 A person referred to in this paragraph is— a a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries; b a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries, or c a person with other actuarial qualifications who is approved by the Department for Social Development, at the request of the person responsible for the pension arrangement in question, as being a proper person to act for the purposes of these Regulations in connection with that scheme. 3 Where the person entitled to a pension credit in respect of whom a cash equivalent is to be calculated and verified is a member of a scheme having particulars from time to time set out in regulations made under Article 9 of the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (superannuation of persons employed in local government service, etc. ), that cash equivalent shall be calculated and verified in such manner as may be approved by the Government Actuary or by an actuary authorised by the Government Actuary to act on his behalf for that purpose. 4 Where the rights conferred on a person entitled to a pension credit are derived from money purchase rights in whole or in part, the value of those rights shall be calculated by the person responsible for the pension arrangement in a manner consistent with the methods adopted and assumptions made when transfers of other pension rights are received by the person responsible for the pension arrangement. Qualifying arrangements 11 1 The requirements referred to in paragraph 6(2)( b ) of Schedule 5 (requirements applying to annuity contracts or insurance policies for the purpose of sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph) are that the annuity contract is entered into or the insurance policy is taken out with an insurance company which is— a authorised under section 3 or 4 of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 (authorisation of insurance business) to carry on long-term business (within the meaning of section 1 of that Act (classification)); b in the case of a friendly society, authorised under section 32 of the Friendly Societies Act 1992 (grant of authorisation by Commission: general) to carry out long-term business under any of the Classes specified in Head A of Schedule 2 to that Act (the activities of a friendly society: long-term business), or c an EC company as defined in section 2(6) of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 (restriction on carrying on insurance business), and which falls within paragraph (2). 2 An EC company falls within this paragraph if it— a carries on ordinary long-term insurance business (within the meaning of section 96(1) of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 ) in the United Kingdom through a branch in respect of which such of the requirements of Part I of Schedule 2F to that Act (recognition in the United Kingdom of EC and EFTA companies: EC companies carrying on business in the United Kingdom) as are applicable have been complied with, or b provides ordinary long-term insurance in the United Kingdom and such of the requirements of Part I of Schedule 2F to that Act as are applicable have been complied with in respect of insurance. Destination for pension credit — general 12 The requirements referred to in paragraph 7(1)( b ) of Schedule 5 (requirements to be satisfied to qualify pension arrangements as destinations for pension credits) are that the pension arrangement— a is an arrangement which carries on pension business as defined by section 431B of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (meaning of “pension business”); b is an overseas arrangement within the meaning given in regulation 1(2) of the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations (interpretation), or c is an overseas scheme within the meaning given in regulation 1(2) of the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations . Destination for pension credit — contracted-out or safeguarded rights 13 1 The descriptions of pension arrangements referred to in paragraph 7(2)( a ) of Schedule 5 (pension arrangements which qualify as destinations for pension credits, where the rights by reference to which the amount of the credits are determined are or include contracted-out rights or safeguarded rights) are— a a contracted-out salary related occupational pension scheme which satisfies the requirements of section 5(2) (requirements for certification of occupational salary related schemes); b a contracted-out money purchase occupational pension scheme which satisfies the requirements of section 5(3) (requirements for certification of occupational money purchase schemes); c a contracted-out occupational pension scheme to which Article 146 of the 1995 Order applies (hybrid occupational pension schemes); d an appropriate personal pension scheme within the meaning of section 3(4) (issue of appropriate scheme certificates); e an annuity contract or an insurance policy which satisfies the requirements of paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 (qualifying arrangements); f an overseas arrangement within the meaning given by regulation 1(2) of the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations, or g an overseas scheme within the meaning given by regulation 1(2) of the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations. 2 The requirements referred to in paragraph 7(2)( b ) of Schedule 5 (requirements to be satisfied by a pension arrangement which qualifies as a destination for a pension credit, where the rights by reference to which the amount of the credit is determined are or include contracted-out rights or safeguarded rights) are— a in relation to the descriptions of pension arrangement referred to in paragraph (1)( a ) to ( d ), the requirements specified in the Safeguarded Rights Regulations to be met by an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme; b in relation to the descriptions of pension arrangement referred to in paragraph (1)( e ), the requirements specified in regulation 15 of these regulations (disqualification as a destination for pension credit — annuity contracts and insurance policies) and regulation 7(3) and (4) of the Safeguarded Rights Regulations (the pension and annuity requirements — money purchase schemes); c in relation to the descriptions of pension arrangement referred to in paragraph (1)( f ) and ( g ), the requirements specified in regulation 11 of the Transfer and Transfer Payment Regulations (transfer payments to overseas schemes or arrangements in respect of section 5(2B) rights), as if references in that regulation to— i “earner” were to “the person entitled to a pension credit”, and ii “accrued section 5(2B) rights” were to “safeguarded rights”. 3 The rights for the purposes of paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 5 (meaning of “contracted-out” rights under or derived from an occupational pension scheme or a personal pension scheme) are those which fall within the categories specified in regulation 2 of the Safeguarded Rights Regulations (definition of contracted-out rights). Destination for pension credit — occupational pension schemes 14 The calculation of the value of the rights of the person entitled to the pension credit for the purposes of paragraph 7(3) of Schedule 5 shall be made in accordance with the methods adopted and assumptions made by the scheme which are consistent with the methods adopted and assumptions made by that scheme when transfers of other pension rights are received by the scheme. Disqualification as a destination for pension credit — annuity contracts and insurance policies 15 1 The circumstances referred to in paragraph 7(4) of Schedule 5 (circumstances in which an annuity contract or insurance policy is disqualified as a destination for a pension credit) are where the requirements specified in paragraphs (2) to (7) are not satisfied. 2 The annuity contract or insurance policy must provide that that contract or policy, as the case may be, may not be assigned or surrendered unless— a the person entitled to the pension credit, or b if the person entitled to the pension credit has died, his widow or widower, has consented to the assignment or surrender. 3 The benefits previously secured by the annuity contract or insurance policy become secured, or are replaced by benefits which are secured by another qualifying arrangement. 4 The annuity contract or insurance policy, as the case may be, must provide that the benefits secured by that contract or policy may be commuted if either— a the conditions set out in paragraph (5) are satisfied, or b the conditions set out in paragraph (6) are satisfied. 5 The conditions referred to in paragraph (4)( a ) are— a the benefits secured by the annuity contract or insurance policy have become payable, and the aggregate of those benefits does not exceed £260 per annum; b an actuary certifies that the methods and assumptions to be used to calculate any benefit in a lump sum form will result in the benefit being broadly equivalent to the annual amount of benefits which would have been payable in pension benefits, and c all of the interest of the person entitled to a pension credit under the annuity contract or insurance policy is discharged upon payment of a lump sum. 6 The conditions referred to in paragraph (4)( b ) are— a the benefits secured by the annuity contract or insurance policy have become payable and the person entitled to the pension credit requests or consents to the commutation; b the person entitled to the pension credit is suffering from serious ill health prior to normal benefit age, and c the insurance company with which the annuity contract is entered into, or with which the insurance policy is taken out, assumes an obligation to pay the benefits secured by the annuity contract or insurance policy to— i the person entitled to the pension credit; ii the trustees of a trust for the benefit of the person entitled to the pension credit, or iii the trustees of a trust for the benefit of the dependants of the person entitled to the pension credit. 7 The annuity contract or insurance policy must contain, or be endorsed with terms so as to provide for any increase in accordance with regulation 32 of the Pension Sharing (Pension Credit Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (increase of relevant pension) which would have been applied to the benefits which have become secured or been replaced by the annuity contract or insurance policy had the discharge of liability not taken place. 8 In this regulation— “serious ill health” means ill health which is such as to give rise to a life expectancy of less than one year from the date on which commutation of the benefits secured by the annuity contract or insurance policy is applied for. Adjustments to amount of pension credit — occupational pension schemes which are underfunded on the valuation day 16 1 The circumstances referred to in paragraph 8(1)( d ) of Schedule 5 (adjustments to amount of pension credit) are— a the discharge of liability in respect of the pension credit in accordance with paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 5 is at the request, or with the consent, of the person entitled to the pension credit; b the person entitled to the pension credit has refused an offer by the trustees or managers of the occupational pension scheme from which the pension credit is derived to discharge their liability in respect of the pension credit, without any reduction in the amount of the credit, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 5 (conferring appropriate rights in that scheme on the person entitled to the pension credit), and c prior to making his request or giving his consent in accordance with sub-paragraph ( a ) the person entitled to the pension credit has received from the trustees or managers of the occupational pension scheme from which the pension credit is derived, a written statement which provides the following information— i the reasons why the amount of the pension credit has been reduced; ii the amount by which the pension credit has been reduced, and iii where possible, an estimate of the date by which it will be possible to pay the full, unadjusted amount of the pension credit. 2 The lesser amount referred to in paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 5 may be determined for the purposes of that paragraph by reducing the amount of the pension credit which relates to liabilities referred to in Article 73(3)( a ), ( aa ), ( b ), ( c )(i) or ( d ) of the 1995 Order (preferential liabilities on winding up) by the percentage which is the difference between— a 100 per cent., and b the percentage of the pension credit which the actuarial valuation shows the scheme assets as being sufficient to satisfy, where the actuarial valuation is the latest actuarial valuation obtained in accordance with Article 57 of the 1995 Order (valuation and certification of assets and liabilities) before the valuation day. 3 If, by virtue of Schedule 5 to the Occupational Pension Schemes (Minimum Funding Requirement and Actuarial Valuations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 , Article 56 of the 1995 Order (minimum funding requirement) applies to a section of a scheme as if that section were a separate scheme, paragraph (2) of this regulation shall apply as if that section were a separate scheme, and as if the reference therein to a scheme were accordingly a reference to that section. Adjustments to amount of the pension credit — payments made without knowledge of the pension debit 17 For the purposes of paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 (adjustments to amount of pension credit), where the cash equivalent of the member’s shareable rights after deduction of the payment referred to in sub-paragraph ( b ) of that paragraph, is less than the amount of the pension debit, the pension credit shall be reduced to that lesser amount. Adjustments to amount of the pension credit — increasing amount of the pension credit 18 1 For the purposes of paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 (adjustments to amount of pension credit) the trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme to which paragraph 1(3) or 3(3) of Schedule 5 applies shall increase the amount of the pension credit by— a the amount, if any, by which the amount of that pension credit falls short of what it would have been if the valuation day had been the day on which the trustees or managers make the payment, or b if it is greater, interest on the amount of that pension credit calculated on a daily basis over the period from the valuation day to the day on which the trustees or managers make the payment, at an annual rate of one per cent. above the base rate. 2 For the purposes of paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 the trustees or managers of a personal pension scheme to which paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 5 applies, or a person responsible for a pension arrangement to which paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 5 applies, shall increase the amount of the pension credit by— a the interest on the amount of that pension credit, calculated on a daily basis over the period from the valuation day to the day on which the trustees or managers or the person responsible for the pension arrangement make the payment, at the same rate as that payable for the time being on judgment debts by virtue of Order 42, Rule 9(2) of the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980 , or b if it is greater, the amount, if any, by which the amount of that pension credit falls short of what it would have been if the valuation day had been the day on which the trustees or managers or the person responsible for the pension arrangement make the payment. Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 26th April 2000. John O'Neill Senior Officer of the Department for Social Development