http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/49/section/39Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 An Act to consolidate for Northern Ireland certain enactments relating to pension schemes, with corrections and minor improvements under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-05Expert Participation2026-04-06 Part III<CommentaryRef Ref="key-2ae0e236f424ffe745222d338c93f037"/> <Substitution ChangeId="key-d2958520cd7a1b7ff9b807c2b5b2c904-1581000533475" CommentaryRef="key-d2958520cd7a1b7ff9b807c2b5b2c904">Schemes that were contracted-out etc.</Substitution> and Effects on Members’ State Scheme Rights ...Chapter II <Substitution ChangeId="key-98ca989693642df5e0335acfc00db830-1581080780399" CommentaryRef="key-98ca989693642df5e0335acfc00db830">Reduction in social security benefits for members of schemes that were contracted-out</Substitution> Minimum contributions: members of appropriate personal pension schemes Payment of minimum contributions to personal pension schemes.391Subject to the following provisions of this Part, the Inland Revenue shall, except in such circumstances or in respect of such periods as may be prescribed, pay minimum contributions in respect of an employed earner for any period during which the earner—ais over the age of 16 but has not attained pensionable age;bis not a married woman or widow who has made an election which is still operative that so much of her liability in respect of primary Class 1 contributions as is attributable to section 8(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 shall be a liability to contribute at a reduced rate; andcis a member of an appropriate personal pension scheme which is for the time being the earner’s chosen scheme.2Subject to subsection (3), minimum contributions in respect of an earner shall be paid to the earner .3In such circumstances as may be prescribed minimum contributions shall be paid to a prescribed person.4Where the condition mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (c) ceases to be satisfied in the case of an earner in respect of whom the Inland Revenueare required to pay minimum contributions, the duty of the Inland Revenue to pay them shall cease as from a date determined in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.5If the Inland Revenuepay an amount by way of minimum contributions which they are not required to pay, the Inland Revenue may recover it—afrom the person to whom the Inland Revenue paid it, orbfrom any person in respect of whom the Inland Revenue paid it.6If the Inland Revenuepay in respect of an earner an amount by way of minimum contributions which the Inland Revenueare required to pay, but do not pay it to the trustees or managers of the earner’s chosen scheme, the may recover it from the person to whom the Inland Revenue paid it or from the earner.6AWhere a payment under subsection (1) is due in respect of an earner, HMRC are not required to make the payment if they determine that the cost to them of administering the payment would exceed the amount of the payment.7In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.8In this section “the earner's chosen scheme” means the scheme which was immediately before the first abolition date the earner's chosen scheme in accordance with section 40 (as it had effect prior to that date).Pt. 3: power to modify conferred (1.6.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 146(1); S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(f); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2Pt. 3: power to transfer functions conferred (1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 2, s. 23(1)(2)(6); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(1)(4)(5)(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(1) inserted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 34; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)Word in s. 39(4) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(3)(a); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(4) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(3)(b); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(5)(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(4)(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(5) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Word in s. 39(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Word in s. 39(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2S. 39(7) added (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(6); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2Words in s. 39(1)(b) substituted (8.7.2002) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c.19), s. 6, Sch. 1 para. 43S. 39(6A) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Pensions (2008 No. 2 Act) (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/124), arts. 1(d), 31(5)(b)Words in Pt. 3 heading omitted (6.4.2016) by virtue of Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 3(b)Word in s. 39(2) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Pensions (2008 No. 2 Act) (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/124), arts. 1(d), 31(5)(a)S. 39(8) added (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 19 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2Pt. III Ch. II heading substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 26Words in s. 39(8) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 2Pt. 3 modified (24.7.2014) by The Pensions (2012 Act) (Transitional, Consequential and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/204), regs. 1(1), 6(2)Words in Pt. 3 heading substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 3(a)