Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012

1. Introduction

2. Background and Policy Objectives

3. Consultation

4. Overview

5. Commentary on Sections

   1. Part 1: State Pension

      1. Section 1: Equalisation of and increase in pensionable age for men and women

      2. Section 2: Duty to report on the impact of socio-economic background (including health indicators) in relation to retirement pension

      3. Section 3: Abolition of certain additions to the state pension

      4. Section 4: Consolidation of additional pension

   2. Part 2: Automatic Enrolment

      1. Section 5: Automatic re-enrolment where scheme membership interrupted

      2. Section 6: Earnings trigger for automatic enrolment and re-enrolment

      3. Section 7: Postponement or disapplication of automatic enrolment

      4. Section 8: Timing of automatic re-enrolment

      5. Section 9: Review of earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band

      6. Section 10: Rounded figures for earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band

      7. Section 11: Qualifying Schemes: administration charges

      8. Section 12: Test scheme standard for schemes that produce sum of money for provision of benefit

      9. Section 13: Certification that alternative to quality requirement is satisfied

      10. Section 14: Certification for non-UK schemes

      11. Section 15: Transitional period for defined benefits and hybrid schemes to be optional

      12. Section 16: Arrangements where transitional conditions cease to be satisfied

      13. Section 17: Power of managers to modify by resolution

      14. Section 18: No indemnification for civil penalties

      15. Section 19: Power to exempt certain cross-border employment from enrolment duty

   3. Part 3: Occupational Pension Schemes

      1. Section 20: Indexation and revaluation

      2. Section 21: Indexation requirements for cash balance benefits

      3. Section 22: Pension Protection Fund

      4. Section 23: Payment of surplus to employer: transitional power to amend scheme

      5. Section 24: Contribution notices and financial support directions

      6. Section 25: Technical amendment to Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

      7. Section 26: Technical amendment to section 38(2) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

   4. Part 4: Money Purchase Benefits

      1. Section 27: Definition of money purchase benefits

      2. Section 28: Transitional

      3. Section 29: Consequential and supplementary

      4. Section 30: Power to make further provision

      5. Section 31: Regulations

   5. Part 5: Miscellaneous and General

      1. Section 32: Grants by the Department to advisory bodies etc

      2. Section 33: Service of documents and electronic working

   6. Schedule 1: Equalisation of and increase in pensionable age for men and women: consequential amendments

   7. Schedule 2: Abolition of certain additions to the state pension: consequential amendments etc

   8. Schedule 3: Consolidation of additional pension

   9. Schedule 4: Pension Protection Fund

6. Hansard Reports