Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

General definitions etc.

22.—(1) In this Part—

“Category A retirement pension” means a Category A retirement pension under Part 2 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

“Category B retirement pension” means a Category B retirement pension under Part 2 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

“full rate” means the rate mentioned in section 3(1);

“old state pension” has the meaning given by section 21 (and references to the rate of an old state pension are to be read in accordance with that section);

“pensionable age” has the meaning given by section 121(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act; and a person is “over” pensionable age if the person has reached that age (and is otherwise “under” that age);

“post-commencement qualifying year” has the meaning given by section 4(4);

“pre-commencement qualifying year” is to be read in accordance with section 4(4) and (5);

“qualifying earnings factor” has the meaning given by section 121(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

“qualifying year” has the meaning given by section 2(4);

“reduced rate” means the rate mentioned in section 3(2);

“regulations” means regulations made by the Department;

“state scheme pension credit”, and related expressions, have the meanings given by section 13;

“state scheme pension debit”, and related expressions, have the meanings given by section 14;

“tax year” has the meaning given by section 121(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

“transitional rate” means the rate mentioned in section 5;

“up-rating increase”, in relation to a state pension under this Part, means—

(a)

an increase in the rate of the state pension because of an increase in the amount specified in regulations under section 3(1), or

(b)

an increase in the rate of the state pension because of section 9(3), 12(3) or 17(6) or Schedule 2, 4 or 9;

“working life” has the meaning given by section 121(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.

(2) For the purposes of any other provision of this Part 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.