Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

15.  In paragraph 33 make the existing provision sub-paragraph (1) and at the end add—

“(2) Where the scheme is a variable-rate scheme, regulations under this paragraph may have the effect that the amount of periodic compensation payable to a person is, from a specified time, to be different from the amount that would otherwise be payable under this Schedule.

(3) A “variable-rate scheme” is a scheme under which the annual rate of pension to which a person is entitled would have increased (otherwise than by way of revaluation) or decreased at any time after the assessment date, had the scheme continued in existence until that time (and had the scheme rules remained unchanged).

(4) Where the scheme is a fixed-term scheme, regulations under this paragraph may have the effect that no periodic compensation is to be payable to a person from a specified time.

(5) A “fixed-term scheme” is a scheme under which a person’s entitlement to benefits would have ceased at any time after the assessment date, had the scheme continued in existence until that time (and had the scheme rules remained unchanged).

(6) In this paragraph “a specified time” means a time determined in accordance with regulations under this paragraph.”.