The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

Admission of new members, payment of contributions etc.

117.—(1) This Article applies where there is an assessment period in relation to an eligible scheme.

(2) No new members of any class may be admitted to the scheme during the assessment period.

(3) Except in prescribed circumstances and subject to prescribed conditions, no further contributions (other than those due to be paid before the beginning of the assessment period) may be paid towards the scheme during the assessment period.

(4) Any obligation to pay contributions towards the scheme during the assessment period (including any obligation under Article 49(8) of the 1995 Order to pay amounts deducted corresponding to such contributions) is to be read subject to paragraph (3) and Article 134 (obligation to pay contributions when assessment period ends).

(5) No benefits may accrue under the scheme rules to, or in respect of, members of the scheme during the assessment period.

(6) Paragraph (5) does not prevent any increase, in a benefit, which would otherwise accrue in accordance with the scheme or any statutory provision.

• This paragraph is subject to Article 122 (which limits the scheme benefits payable during an assessment period).

(7) Paragraph (5) does not prevent the accrual of money purchase benefits to the extent that they are derived from income or capital gains arising from the investment of payments which are made by, or in respect of, a member of the scheme.

(8) Where a person is entitled to a pension credit derived from another person’s shareable rights under the scheme, nothing in this Article prevents the trustees or managers of the scheme discharging their liability in respect of the credit under Chapter 1 of Part V of the 1999 Order (sharing of rights under pension arrangements) by conferring appropriate rights under the scheme on that person.

(9) In paragraph (8)—

“appropriate rights” has the same meaning as in paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to that Order (pension credits: mode of discharge);

“shareable rights” has the same meaning as in Chapter 1 of Part V of that Order (sharing of rights under pension arrangements).

(10) Any action taken in contravention of this Article is void.

(11) Disregarding paragraph (10), Article 10 of the 1995 Order (civil penalties) applies to any trustee or manager of a scheme who fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance with this Article.