The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

18.—(1) In section 20(1)(f) of the Contributions and Benefits Act (general description of benefits), for sub-paragraph (ii) substitute—

“(ii) Category B, payable to a person by virtue of the contributions of a spouse (with increase for child dependants);”.

(2) In section 25(6) of that Act, in paragraph (b), for “(for married women) under section 53(2)” substitute “(for married people) under section 51A(2)”.

(3) In section 30B of that Act (incapacity benefit: rate), in paragraph (a) of the proviso to subsection (3), for “(for married women) under section 53(2)” substitute “(for married people) under section 51A(2)”.

(4) In section 41(5)(a) of that Act (long-term incapacity benefit for widowers), for “section 51 below” substitute “the contributions of his wife”.

(5) In section 46(2) of that Act (calculation of additional pension in certain benefits), for “50(3)” substitute “48A(4) or 48B(2)”.

(6) After section 51 of that Act insert—

“Special provision for married people.

51A.— (1) This section has effect where, apart from section 43(1) above, a married person would be entitled both—

(a) to a Category A retirement pension, and

(b) to a Category B retirement pension by virtue of the contributions of the other party to the marriage.

(2) If by reason of a deficiency of contributions the basic pension in the Category A retirement pension falls short of the weekly rate specified in Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 5, that basic pension shall be increased by the lesser of—

(a) the amount of the shortfall, or

(b) the amount of the weekly rate of the Category B retirement pension.

(3) This section does not apply in any case where both parties to the marriage attained pensionable age before 6th April 1979.”,

and omit section 53 of that Act (special provision for married women).

(7) In section 52 of that Act (special provision for surviving spouses), for subsection (1)(b) substitute—

“(b) to a Category B retirement pension by virtue of the contributions of a spouse who has died.”.

(8) In section 54 of that Act (supplemental provisions), for subsection (3) substitute—

“(3) Where both parties to a marriage (call them “P” and “S”) have become entitled to retirement pensions and—

(a) P’s pension is Category A, and

(b) S’s pension is—

(i) Category B by virtue of P’s contributions, or

(ii) Category A with an increase under section 51A(2) above by virtue of P’s contributions,

P shall not be entitled to make an election in accordance with regulations made under subsection (1) above without S’s consent, unless that consent is unreasonably withheld.”.

(9) In section 60 of that Act (partial satisfaction of contribution conditions)—

(a) in subsection (2), for “him” (in paragraph (b)) substitute “the employed earner” and for “his widow’s entitlement” substitute “the entitlement of the employed earner’s widow or widower”, and

(b) for subsection (3)(d) substitute—

“(d) a Category B retirement pension payable by virtue of section 48B above.”.

(10) In section 85 of that Act (pension increase for person with care of children), in subsection (3), for “man whose wife” substitute “person whose spouse”.

(11) In Schedule 4 to that act (rates of benefit, etc.), in paragraph 5 of Part I, for “50(1)(a)(i)” substitute “48A(3)”.

(12) In Schedule 5 to that Act (increased pension where entitlement deferred), in paragraph 2(5)(a), for “5 or 6” substitute “5, 5A or 6”.

(13) In paragraph 4 of that Schedule, for sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) substitute—

“(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3) below, where—

(a) a widow or widower (call that person “W”) is entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension and was married to the other party to the marriage (call the person “S”) when S died, and

(b) either—

(i) was entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension with an increase under this Schedule, or

(ii) would have been so entitled if S’s period of deferment had ended on the day before S’s death,

the rate of W’s pension shall be increased by an amount equal to the increase to which S was or would have been entitled under this Schedule apart from paragraphs 5 to 6.”.

(14) Paragraph 4(1) of that Schedule (as inserted by sub-paragraph (13)) has effect where W is a man who attains pensionable age before 6th April 2010 as if paragraph (a) also required him to have been over pensionable age when S died.

(15) For paragraphs 5 and 6 of that Schedule substitute—