State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002

Savings credit

3.—(1) The first of the conditions mentioned in section 1(2)(c)(ii) is that the claimant—

(a) has attained the age of 65; or

(b) is a member of a married or unmarried couple, the other member of which has attained that age.

(2) The second of the conditions mentioned in section 1(2)(c)(ii) is that—

(a) the claimant’s qualifying income exceeds the savings credit threshold; and

(b) the claimant’s income is such that, for the purposes of subsection (3), amount A exceeds amount B.

(3) Where the claimant is entitled to a savings credit, the amount of the savings credit shall be the amount by which amount A exceeds amount B.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)—

“amount A” is the smaller of—

(a)

the maximum savings credit; and

(b)

a prescribed percentage of the amount by which the claimant’s qualifying income exceeds the savings credit threshold; and

“amount B” is—

(a)

a prescribed percentage of the amount (if any) by which the claimant’s income exceeds the appropriate minimum guarantee; or

(b)

if there is no such excess, nil.

(5) Where, by virtue of regulations under section 2(6), the claimant’s appropriate minimum guarantee does not include the standard minimum guarantee, regulations may provide that the definition of “amount B” in subsection (4) shall have effect with the substitution for the reference in paragraph (a) to the appropriate minimum guarantee of a reference to a prescribed higher amount.

(6) Regulations may make provision as to income which is, and income which is not, to be treated as qualifying income for the purposes of this section.

(7) For the purposes of this section—

“the savings credit threshold” is such amount as may be prescribed;

“the maximum savings credit” is a prescribed percentage of the difference between—

(a)

the standard minimum guarantee; and

(b)

the savings credit threshold.

(8) Regulations may prescribe descriptions of persons in whose case the maximum savings credit shall be taken to be nil.