This Order provides for the coming into operation of certain provisions of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the Act”), for regulation making purposes only, on 25th February 2016.

Article 2(a) brings into operation section 3(1) of the Act, which enables regulations to be made to set the full rate of the new state pension.

Paragraphs (b) to (d) of Article 2 bring into operation sections 10, 18(2) to (4) and 20 of the Act, which enable regulations to be made—

• to set out how to calculate the extra new state pension a person may receive if they delay claiming, or choose to suspend, their new state pension;

• containing provisions regarding inheritance of graduated retirement benefit as part of a person’s new state pension, and

• to provide for circumstances in which a person who is an overseas resident is not entitled to up-rating increases of their new state pension.

Paragraphs (e) and (f) of Article 2 bring into operation paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 12 to the Act, to enable regulations to be made relating to National Insurance credits in the new state pension system, and section 23 of the Act and paragraphs 2 and 6(1) of that Schedule in so far as they relate to that paragraph.