The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2024 No. 116

Health And Personal Social Services

Public Sector Pensions

The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Made

21st May 2024

Coming into operation   -  -

12th June 2024

The Department of Health makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 12(1), (2) and (3), and (14)(1) and (2) of, and Schedule 3 to the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(1)(“the 1972 Order”) and sections 1 (1) and (2)(e), 2(1) and 3(1) to (3) of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 to, the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (2)(“the 2014 Act”).

In accordance with Article 12(4) of the 1972 Order and section 21(1) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Health has consulted such persons as appear to the Department of Health likely to be affected by these Regulations.

In accordance with section 22(2)(b) of the 2014 Act, the Department of Health has laid a report before the Assembly.

In accordance with Article 12(1) of the 1972 Order and section 3(5) of the 2014 Act, these Regulations are made with the consent of the Department of Finance.

Citation, commencement and effect

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 12^th June 2024 and have effect from 1^st April 2023.

Amendment to the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

2.—(1) The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 30 (members’ contributions: employees)(4)—

(a) in paragraph (3), for the table (other than the heading) substitute—

“Column 1 Pensionable earnings band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £13,246	5.1%
£13,247 to £17,673	5.7%
£17,674 to £24,022	6.1%
£24,023 to £25,146	6.8%
£25,147 to £29,635	7.7%
£29,636 to £30,638	8.8%
£30,639 to £45,996	9.8%
£45,997 to £51,708	10.0%
£51,709 to £58,972	11.6%
£58,973 to £75,632	12.5%
£75,633 and above	13.5%”.

(b) in paragraph (3A) for the table (other than the heading) substitute—

“Column 1 Pensionable earnings band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £13,246	5.1%
£13,247 to £17,673	5.7%
£17,674 to £24,022	6.1%
£24,023 to £25,146	6.8%
£25,147 to £29,635	7.7%
£29,636 to £30,638	8.8%
£30,639 to £45,996	9.8%
£45,997 to £51,708	10.0%
£51,709 to £58,972	11.6%
£58,973 to £75,632	12.5%
£75,633 and above	13.5%”.

(3) In regulation 31 (members’ contributions: practitioners and non-GP providers)(5) in paragraph (9), for Table 2 (other than the heading) substitute—

“Column 1 Pensionable earnings band	Column 2 Contribution percentage rate
Up to £13,246	5.1%
£13,247 to £17,673	5.7%
£17,674 to £24,022	6.1%
£24,023 to £25,146	6.8%
£25,147 to £29,635	7.7%
£29,636 to £30,638	8.8%
£30,639 to £45,996	9.8%
£45,997 to £51,708	10.0%
£51,709 to £58,972	11.6%
£58,973 to £75,632	12.5%
£75,633 and above	13.5%”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 21^st May 2024.

(L.S.)

Philip Rodgers

A senior officer of the Department of Health

The Department of Finance consents to the foregoing Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 21^st May 2024.

(L.S.)

Patrick Neeson

A senior officer of the Department of Finance

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015 No. 120) (“the 2015 Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends the 2015 Regulations to update the pensionable earnings bands that determine a member’s contribution rate for the 2023/24 scheme year.

These Regulations come into operation on 12^th June 2024 and have retrospective effect from 1^st April 2023. Section 3(3)(b) of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 2) provides that Scheme Regulations may make retrospective provision.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this statutory rule as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary of public sector is foreseen.

(1)

SI 1972/1073 (N.I 10) Article 12(1) was amended by sections 32 and 34(3) of and Schedule 6 to the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland )2009 and section 37(2) of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

(2)

2014 c. 2 Section 3(1) and (2) were amended by section 94(2) and (3) of the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c.7).

(3)

S.R. 2015 No.120.

(4)

Regulation 30 was amended by S.R. 2019 No.62, S.R. 2022 No. 244 and S.R. 2023 No.23.

(5)

Regulation 31 is amended by S.R. 2019 No.62, S.R. 2022 No.33 and S.R. 2022 No.244.