The Social Security (Deferral of Retirement Pensions, Shared Additional Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

Change of election

5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (6), this regulation applies in the case of an election which—

(a) has been made under paragraph A1(1) or 3C(2) of Schedule 5 or under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 5A; or

(b) has been treated as made under paragraph A1(2) or 3C(3) of Schedule 5 or under paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 5A.

(2) This regulation does not apply in the case of an election which is—

(a) made, or treated as made, by an elector who has subsequently died; or

(b) treated as having been made by virtue of regulation 30(5E) or (5G) of the Claims and Payments Regulations(1).

(3) An election specified in paragraph (1) may be changed by way of application made no later than the last day of the period specified in paragraph (4).

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), the period specified for the purposes of paragraph (3) is 3 months beginning on the date shown on the written notification issued by the Department to the elector, confirming the election which the elector has made or is treated as having made.

(5) The period specified in paragraph (4) may be extended by the Department if it considers it reasonable to do so in any particular case.

(6) An election specified in paragraph (1) may not be changed where—

(a) there has been a previous change of election under this regulation in respect of the same period of deferment;

(b) the application is to change the election to one under paragraph A1(1)(a) or 3C(2)(a) of Schedule 5 or paragraph 1(1)(a) of Schedule 5A and any amount paid to the elector by way of, or on account of, a lump sum pursuant to Schedule 5 or 5A, has not been repaid in full to the Department within the period specified in paragraph (4) or (5); or

(c) the application is to change the election to one under paragraph A1(1)(b) or 3C(2)(b) of Schedule 5 or paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 5A and the amount actually paid by way of an increase of retirement pension or shared additional pension, or actually paid on account of such an increase, would exceed the amount to which the elector would be entitled by way of a lump sum.

(7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(b), repayment in full of the amount paid by way of, or on account of, a lump sum shall only be treated as having occurred if repaid to the Department in the currency in which that amount was originally paid.

(8) Where the application is to change the election to one under paragraph A1(1)(b) or 3C(2)(b) of Schedule 5 or paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 5A and paragraph (6)(c) does not apply, any amount paid by way of an increase of retirement pension or shared additional pension, or on account of such an increase, in respect of the period of deferment for which the election was originally made, shall be treated as having been paid on account of the lump sum to which the elector is entitled under paragraph 3A or 7A of Schedule 5(2) or paragraph 4 of Schedule 5A.

(9) An application under paragraph (3) to change an election may be made—

(a) in writing to an office specified by the Department for accepting such applications; or

(b) except where the Department directs in any particular case that the application must be made in accordance with sub-paragraph (a), by telephone call to the telephone number specified by the Department.

(1)

Paragraphs (5A) to (5G) were substituted by regulation 3(b) of S.R. 2005 No. 541

(2)

Paragraphs 3A and 7A were inserted respectively by paragraphs 7(1) and 10(1) of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005