Social Security Act 1973

61 Minimum benefit to be inalienable.

(1) Where a person is entitled or prospectively entitled to minimum benefit under an occupational pension scheme, and the person's entitlement is in respect of his or another person's service in recognised pensionable employment by reference to that scheme, every assignment of, or charge on, that benefit, and every agreement to assign or charge the benefit (whether or not made at a time when the employment was recognised pensionable employment or the scheme a recognised scheme in relation to that employment) shall be void.

(2) On the bankruptcy of a person who is entitled, or prospectively entitled, as mentioned in subsection (1) above, minimum benefit the assignment of which is or would be made void by that subsection shall not pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.

(3) The foregoing subsections apply to recognition credits as they apply to minimum benefits.

(4) In the application of this section to Scotland—

(a) the reference to assignment of benefit shall be read as a reference to its assignation, " assign " being construed accordingly; and

(b) the reference to a person's bankruptcy shall be read as a reference to the sequestration of his estate or the appointment on his estate of a judicial factor under section 14 of the [1913 c. 20.] Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1913 or section 15 of the [1958 c. 28.] Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1958,

and in its application to Northern Ireland the reference to a person's bankruptcy shall be read as including the vesting of a person's estate and effects in the official assignee under section 349 of the [1857 c. 60.] Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act 1857.