1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and shall come into operation on 6th April 2016.
(2) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.
(3) For the purposes of the following Regulations, two people are to be treated as if they are not married to each other in relation to times when either of them is married to a third person.
2.—(1) Subject to regulation 3, a person is not to be paid a state pension under Part 1 of the Act (state pension) for any period during which the person is a prisoner who is mentioned in paragraph (2).
(2) Except where paragraph (3) applies, a person is a prisoner for the purposes of paragraph (1) where the person is—
(a)a prisoner in Northern Ireland or elsewhere who is imprisoned or detained in legal custody in connection with, or as a result of, criminal proceedings;
(b)a prisoner in Northern Ireland or elsewhere who is unlawfully at large;
(c)a prisoner in Northern Ireland who is being detained—
(i)under Article 53 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment etc)(1); and
(ii)on or before the day which the Department of Justice certifies to be the person’s release date (if any) within the meaning given in Article 56(3) of that Order (2);
(3) Where a person outside Northern Ireland is a prisoner within paragraph (2)(a) or (b) and, in similar circumstances in Northern Ireland, the person would not have been a prisoner, the person is not a prisoner within paragraph (2)(a) or (b).
3.—(1) Where a person is remanded in custody for an offence, regulation 2(1) does not apply unless a sentence described in paragraph (2) is later imposed on the person for the offence.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the described sentences for the purposes of paragraph (1) are—
(a)a sentence of imprisonment or detention in legal custody as a result of criminal proceedings;
(b)a sentence of detention where the provisions mentioned in regulation 2(2)(c)(i) apply; and
(c)a suspended sentence within the meaning given in section 18 of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968(3) (suspended sentences of imprisonment).
(3) A sentence described in paragraph (2)(a) which is imposed outside Northern Ireland is not a described sentence for the purposes of paragraph (1) if, in similar circumstances in Northern Ireland, a sentence described in paragraph (2)(a) would not have been imposed.
4.—(1) Where a person falls within section 8(1) of the Act (choice of lump sum or survivor’s pension under section 9 in certain cases), paragraphs (2) and (3) set out the period within which that person is to make any choice under section 8(2) of the Act to be paid—
(a)a lump sum under section 8 of the Act; or
(b)a state pension under section 9 of the Act (survivor’s pension based on inheritance of deferred old state pension).
(2) Where the Department has issued a notice which confirms that the person may make the choice, the period is three months starting on the date in that notice (or, where there is more than one notice which confirms that the person may make that choice, the date in the most recent such notice).
(3) Where the person makes the choice before the Department has issued any such notice, the period—
(a)starts on the later of the date—
(i)the person claims a state pension; or
(ii)the person’s spouse or civil partner died; and
(b)ends on the date the person makes the choice.
(4) A person may make a late choice after the period set out in this regulation in circumstances where—
(a)the Department considers it is reasonable in any particular case; and
(b)any amount paid by way of (or on account of) a lump sum under section 8(4) of the Act has been repaid to the Department—
(i)in full; and
(ii)in the currency in which that amount was originally paid.
(5) The amount of any lump sum to be paid to the person under section 8(4) is reduced to nil where the person makes a late choice under paragraph (4) to be paid a state pension under section 9 of the Act.
5.—(1) Where a person falls within section 8(1) of the Act, this regulation sets out the manner in which that person is to make any choice under section 8(2) of the Act to be paid—
(a)a lump sum under section 8 of the Act; or
(b)a state pension under section 9 of the Act.
(2) The manner is—
(a)in writing to an office which is specified to the person in writing by the Department as accepting any such choice; or
(b)by telephone to a telephone number which is specified to the person in writing by the Department as accepting any such choice.
(3) The person must use the manner set out in paragraph (2)(a) where the Department directs in any particular case that that manner must be used.
6.—(1) Any choice under section 8(2) of the Act to be paid—
(a)a lump sum under section 8 of the Act; or
(b)a state pension under section 9 of the Act,
may be altered in the circumstances specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are—
(a)the person who made the choice has not subsequently died;
(b)an application is made to alter the choice;
(c)the application is made within—
(i)the period of three months starting on the date in the notification issued by the Department which confirms the choice that has been made; or
(ii)such longer period as the Department considers reasonable in any particular case;
(d)the application is made in the manner set out in—
(i)regulation 5(2)(a), where the Department directs in any particular case that the manner in regulation 5(2)(a) must be used; or
(ii)regulation 5(2)(a) or (b), in all other cases;
(e)where the application is to alter the choice so that it becomes a choice to be paid a state pension under section 9 of the Act, any amount paid by way of (or on account of) a lump sum under section 8 of the Act has been repaid to the Department—
(i)in full;
(ii)within the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (c); and
(iii)in the currency in which that amount was originally paid;
(f)where the application is to alter the choice so that it becomes a choice to be paid a lump sum under section 8 of the Act, any amount paid by way of (or on account of) a state pension under section 9 of the Act would be less than the amount which would be paid as a lump sum under section 8 of the Act;
(g)no previous alteration has been made under this regulation in respect of the same deferral mentioned in section 8(1)(c) of the Act; and
(h)the choice has not been treated as made under regulation 30(5G) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(4) (payments on death).
(3) Where the circumstance in paragraph (2)(f) applies, any amount paid by way of (or on account of) a state pension under section 9 of the Act in respect of the deferral mentioned in section 8(1)(c) of the Act for which the choice was originally made is to be treated as having been paid on account of the lump sum to be paid under section 8 of the Act.
7.—(1) A person (“P”) who has become entitled to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act may opt to suspend P’s entitlement if P gives notice to the Department.
(2) The manner in which the notice must be given is—
(a)in writing to an office which is specified to the person in writing by the Department as accepting any such notice; or
(b)by telephone to a telephone number which is specified to the person in writing by the Department as accepting any such notice.
(3) But the person must use the manner set out in paragraph (2)(a) where the Department directs in any particular case that that manner must be used.
8.—(1) Where a person (“P”) exercises P’s option to suspend P’s entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act, the suspension takes effect from the date set out in this regulation.
(2) The date is any date which the person specifies that is—
(a)not before the date on which the option was exercised; and
(b)not after 28 days starting with the date on which the option was exercised.
(3) Where the person does not specify a date in accordance with paragraph (2), the date is the date on which the option was exercised.
9.—(1) Where a person has opted to suspend their entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act, the person may cancel the exercise of that option in relation to the whole of, or part of, a past period referred to in paragraph (3).
(2) The person cancels the suspension by making a claim for their state pension whilst their state pension is suspended.
(3) The past period mentioned in paragraph (1) is any period of up to 12 months before the date on which the person cancels the suspension.
10. For the purposes of section 17(4) of the Act (effect of pensioner postponing or suspending state pension), the specified percentage is one-ninth of 1 per cent.
11.—(1) In the circumstances set out in paragraph (2), a day does not count in determining a number of whole weeks for the purposes of section 17(3) of the Act.
(2) The circumstances mentioned in paragraph (1) are where the day is—
(a)a day on which the person whose entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act is deferred has received any of the following benefits—
(i)an unemployability supplement within the meaning in regulation 2(1) of the Social Security (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979(5) (interpretation);
(ii)incapacity benefit under section 30A of the Contributions and Benefits Act(6) (incapacity benefit: entitlement);
(iii)a widowed mother’s allowance under section 37 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(7) (widowed mother’s allowance);
(iv)a widow’s pension under section 39 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(8) (rate of widowed mother’s allowance and widow’s pension);
(v)severe disablement allowance under section 68 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(9) (entitlement and rate of severe disablement allowance);
(vi)a carer’s allowance under section 70 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(10) (carer’s allowance);
(vii)income support under section 123 of the Contributions and Benefits Act(11) (income support);
(viii)state pension credit under section 1 of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002(12) (entitlement);
(ix)an income-based jobseeker’s allowance within the meaning in Article 3(4) of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(13) (the jobseeker’s allowance);
(x)an income-related employment and support allowance (which means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007(14) (employment and support allowance);
(b)a day on which a person—
(i)has received an increase of any of the benefits mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) in respect of the person whose entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act is deferred; and
(ii)is married to, in a civil partnership with or residing with the person whose entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the 2015 Act is deferred; or
(c)a day on which the person (“P”) whose entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Act is deferred would not, if P’s entitlement were not deferred, be paid that state pension because P was a prisoner (see section 19 of the Act (prisoners) and regulations 2 and 3).
12.—(1) In the circumstances set out in paragraph (2), a part of a week is to be treated as a whole week for the purposes of section 17(3) of the Act.
(2) The circumstances mentioned in paragraph (1) are where there is a part of a week in the total period during which the person’s entitlement to a state pension was deferred, after any days have been discounted under regulation 11.
13.—(1) For the purposes of section 2(3) of the Act (entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rate), the minimum number of qualifying years for a state pension payable at the reduced rate is ten.
(2) For the purposes of section 4(2) of the Act (entitlement to a state pension at transitional rate), the minimum number of qualifying years for a state pension payable at the transitional rate is ten.
14.—(1) The Sharing of State Scheme Rights (Provision of Information and Valuation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(15) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8).
(2) Before regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation) insert—
(3) In regulation 1(2) for the definition of “shareable state scheme rights” substitute—
““the 2015 Act means the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;
“new state scheme pension credit” is a credit under Article 46A(2)(b)(16);
“old state scheme pension credit” is a credit under Article 46(1)(b)(17);
“shareable new state scheme rights” has the meaning given by Article 44(3)(18);
“shareable old state scheme rights” has the meaning given by Article 44(2)(19);”
(4) After regulation 1 insert—
(5) In regulation 2 (basic information about the sharing of state scheme rights for the purposes of divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership etc.)—
(a)for “shareable state scheme rights”, in each place, substitute “shareable old state scheme rights”; and
(b)in paragraph (3)—
(i)in sub-paragraph (a) for “state scheme rights which are shareable” substitute “shareable old state scheme rights”; and
(ii)in sub-paragraph (c) after “additional pension” insert “because of an old state scheme pension credit”.
(6) In the heading to regulation 3 and in regulation 3 (information about the sharing of state scheme rights for the purposes of divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, etc: valuation of shareable state scheme rights) for “shareable state scheme rights”, substitute “shareable old state scheme rights”.
(7) In regulation 4 (calculation and verification of cash equivalents for the purposes of the creation of state scheme pension debits and credits)—
(a)in paragraph (a) after “credits” insert “: transferor in old state pension system or pension sharing activated before 6th April 2016”;
(b)in paragraph (c) for “pension), and” substitute “ pension because of an old state scheme pension credit);”;
(c)after paragraph (d) insert—
“(e)paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the 2015 Act, and
(f)paragraph 2 of Schedule 10 to the 2015 Act,”; and
(d)after “cash equivalents” insert “or notional rates”.
(8) After regulation 4 insert—
5.—(1) The requirements imposed on the Department for the purposes of Article 21(1)(a) (supply of pension information in connection with divorce etc.) are that the Department shall furnish—
(a)the information specified in paragraphs (2) and (4) to (7)—
(i)to a person who has shareable new state scheme rights on request from that person, or
(ii)to the court, pursuant to an order of the court, or
(b)the information specified in paragraph (7) to the spouse or civil partner of a person who has shareable new state scheme rights, on request from that spouse or civil partner.
(2) Except where paragraph (4) or (5) applies, the information specified in this paragraph is a valuation of the person’s shareable new state scheme rights as at the date of receipt of a request for such a valuation.
(3) Paragraphs (4) to (6) apply for the purposes of Article 21(1)(a)(iii) and in those paragraphs “relevant date” has the meaning given by section 10(3) of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985(20)
(4) The information specified in this paragraph is a valuation of the person’s shareable new state scheme rights as at the relevant date, where the relevant date is on or after 6th April 2016.
(5) The information specified in this paragraph is a valuation of the person’s previous shareable old state scheme rights as at the relevant date, where the relevant date is before 6th April 2016 and the request for a valuation is received on or after 6th April 2016.
(6) The information specified in this paragraph is the amount of the person’s former entitlement to a category A retirement pension by virtue of section 44(3)(b)(21) as at the relevant date and immediately before 6th April 2016, where the relevant date is before 6th April 2016 and the request for information about that amount is received on or after 6th April 2016.
(7) The information in this paragraph is an explanation of—
(a)the shareable new state scheme rights;
(b)how a pension sharing order or provision will affect a person’s shareable new state scheme rights;
(c)how a pension sharing order or provision in respect of a person’s shareable new state scheme rights will result in the spouse or civil partner of the person who has shareable new state scheme rights becoming entitled to an amount because of a new state scheme pension credit; and
(d)how any amount in sub-paragraph (c) differs from an amount of shared additional pension because of an old state scheme pension credit.
(8) The Department shall furnish the information specified in paragraphs (2) and (4) to (7) to the court, or, as the case may be, to the person who has shareable new state scheme rights within—
(a)3 months beginning with the date the Department receives the request or, as the case may be, the order for the provision of that information;
(b)6 weeks beginning with the date the Department receives the request or, as the case may be, the order for the provision of the information, if the person who has shareable new state scheme rights has notified the Department by the date the Department receives the request or order that the information is needed in connection with proceedings commenced under any of the provisions referred to in Article 21(1)(a); or
(c)such shorter period specified by the court in an order requiring the Department to provide a valuation in accordance with paragraph (2), (4) or (5) or an amount in accordance with paragraph (6).
(9) Where—
(a)the request made by the person with shareable new state scheme rights for, or the court order requiring, the provision of information does not include a request or, as the case may be, an order for a valuation under paragraph (2), (4) or (5) or an amount under paragraph (6); or
(b)the spouse or civil partner of the person with shareable new state scheme rights requests the information specified in paragraph (7),
the Department shall furnish that information to the person who has shareable new state scheme rights, that person’s spouse or civil partner, or the court, as the case may be, within one month beginning with the date the Department receives the request or the court order for the provision of that information.
6. Where an application for financial relief or financial provision under any of the provisions referred to in Article 21(1)(a) has been made or is in contemplation, the valuation of shareable old or new state scheme rights shall be calculated and verified for the purposes of regulation 5(2), (4) and (5) in accordance with guidance from time to time prepared by the Government Actuary.”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 16th July 2015
(L.S.)
Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Social Development