The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

8.  After paragraph 3B (inserted by paragraph 7) insert—

“Choice between increase of pension and lump sum where pensioner’s deceased spouse has deferred entitlement

3C.— (1) Subject to paragraph 8, this paragraph applies where—

(a) a widow or widower (“W”) is entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension,

(b) W was married to the other party to the marriage (“S”) when S died,

(c) S’s entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension was deferred when S died, and

(d) S’s entitlement had been deferred throughout the period of 12 months ending with the day before S’s death.

(2) W shall within the prescribed period elect in the prescribed manner either—

(a) that paragraph 4 (entitlement to increase of pension) is to apply in relation to S’s period of deferment, or

(b) that paragraph 7A (entitlement to lump sum) is to apply in relation to S’s period of deferment.

(3) If no election under sub-paragraph (2) is made within the period prescribed under that sub-paragraph, W is to be treated as having made an election under sub-paragraph (2)(b).

(4) Regulations—

(a) may enable a person who has made an election under sub-paragraph (2) (including one that the person is treated by sub-paragraph (3) as having made) to change the election within a prescribed period and in a prescribed manner, if prescribed conditions are satisfied, and

(b) if they enable a person to make an election under sub-paragraph (2)(b) in respect of a period of deferment after receiving any increase of pension under paragraph 4 by reference to that period, may for the purpose of avoiding duplication of payment—

(i) enable an amount determined in accordance with the regulations to be recovered from the person in a prescribed manner and within a prescribed period, or

(ii) provide for an amount determined in accordance with the regulations to be treated as having been paid on account of the amount to which the person is entitled under paragraph 7A.

(5) The making of an election under sub-paragraph (2)(b) does not affect the application of paragraphs 5 to 6 (which relate to an increase in pension where the pensioner’s deceased spouse had deferred an entitlement to a guaranteed minimum pension).”.