Citation and commencement
1. This Order may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 and shall come into operation for the purposes of—
(a)this Article, Articles 2 and 3(c) and the Schedule so far as it relates to Part V of Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act, on 6th April 2016;
(b)Articles 3(a) and (b), 4 and 5, and the remaining parts of the Schedule, on 11th April 2016; and
(c)Article 6, in so far as it relates to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 11th April 2016, and for the purpose of this sub-paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(1).
Interpretation
2.—(1) In this Order “the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(2).
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(3) shall apply to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
(3) For the purposes of this Order 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.
Amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits Act
3. The following sums shall be increased to the amounts set out in the Schedule—
(a)the sum specified in Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act for Category B retirement pension where section 48A(4) or 48AA(4)(4) applies;
(b)the sum specified in Part III of that Schedule for Category D retirement pension; and
(c)the sum specified in Part V of that Schedule for widow’s pension (apart from the amount of the initial rate) and widower’s pension.
Increase in amount of basic pension in a Category A retirement pension under the Contributions and Benefits Act
4. In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(5) (basic pension in a Category A retirement pension) for “£115∙95” substitute “£119∙30”.
Increase in amount of Category C retirement pension under the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
5. In regulation 11(3) of the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979(6) (Category C retirement pension for widows of men over pensionable age on 5th July 1948) for “£69∙50” substitute “£71∙50”.
State Pension Credit
6. In regulation 6 of the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(7) (amount of the guarantee credit)—
(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for “£230∙85” substitute “£237∙55”; and
(b)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£151∙20” substitute “£155∙60”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on 2nd March 2016
(L.S.)
Anne McCleary
A senior officer of the Department for Social Development