PART 4STATE PENSION CREDIT

27State pension credit: phasing out assessed income periods

(1)

In section 6 of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (duty to specify assessed income period), in subsection (1), after “subsection (3) or (4)” insert “ where the relevant decision takes effect before 6 April 2016 ”.

(2)

At the end of the heading to that section insert “ for pre-6 April 2016 awards ”.

(3)

Regulations under section 9(5) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 may in particular be made for the purpose of phasing out, on or after 6 April 2016, any remaining assessed income period that is 5 years or shorter than 5 years.

28Preserving indefinite status of certain existing assessed income periods

(1)

Section 84(6) of the Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (in this Act referred to as “the Pensions (No. 2) Act”) (which provides that section 9(6) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 ceases to have effect on 6th April 2014) is repealed and is to be treated as never having had effect.

(2)

In section 9(6)(a) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (duration of assessed income period for certain transitional cases to be treated as indefinite) as restored by this section, after “brought to an end” insert “ , on or after 6 April 2009 but before 6 April 2014, ”.