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Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012

Overview

13.The Act has five parts:

  • Part 1 (which includes Schedules 1, 2 and 3) introduces provisions for amending the State Pension framework. This includes bringing forward the equalisation of State Pension age and the increase to age 66.

  • Part 2 contains measures to amend the automatic enrolment provisions for workplace pension schemes. This includes –

    • the introduction of an earnings trigger at which an employee must be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension and new up-rating provisions for the qualifying earnings band on which contributions are made;

    • the introduction of an optional waiting period of up to three months before the automatic enrolment duty commences; and

    • changes to the way an employer can certify that their pension scheme meets the necessary quality test.

  • Part 3 (which includes Schedule 4) contains amendments regarding indexation and revaluation requirements for occupational pensions. Part 3 also contains provisions relating to the Pension Protection Fund and the Pensions Regulator and includes minor technical amendments to previous pensions legislation.

  • Part 4 contains amendments regarding Money Purchase Benefits.

  • Part 5 contains miscellaneous and technical measures.

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Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Northern Ireland Assembly department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes accompany all Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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