Search Legislation

Pension Schemes Act 2015

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49)

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

60After section 96 insert—

96AProhibition on excluding future accruals etc

Except as mentioned in sections 92(4) and 97G(4), a pension scheme may not contain rules that would have the effect of—

(a)preventing a member from exercising a right under this Chapter in relation to a category of benefits without also exercising a right under this Chapter or otherwise to require a transfer payment to be made in respect of another category of benefits, or

(b)preventing a member who exercises a right under this Chapter in relation to a category of benefits from accruing rights to benefits in another category.

96BMeaning of “scheme rules”: occupational pension schemes

(1)In this Chapter references to the scheme rules, in relation to a pension scheme, are references to—

(a)the rules of the scheme, except so far as overridden by a relevant legislative provision,

(b)the relevant legislative provisions, to the extent that they have effect in relation to the scheme and are not reflected in the rules of the scheme, and

(c)any provision which the rules of the scheme do not contain but which the scheme must contain if it is to conform with the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 4.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a)“relevant legislative provision” means any provision contained in any of the following provisions—

(i)Schedule 5 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1989;

(ii)Chapter 2 or 3 of Part 4 or regulations made under either of those Chapters;

(iii)this Part or regulations made under this Part;

(iv)Part 4A or regulations made under that Part;

(v)section 106(1);

(vi)Part 2 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or orders or regulations made or having effect as if made under that Part;

(vii)Article 28 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999;

(viii)any provision mentioned in Article 279(2) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005;

(ix)section 61 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

(x)regulations made under section 62 or 63 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

(b)a relevant legislative provision is to be taken to override any of the provisions of the scheme if, and only if, it does so by virtue of any of the following provisions—

(i)paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1989;

(ii)section 125(1);

(iii)Article 114(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;

(iv)Article 28(4) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999;

(v)Article 279(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005;

(vi)section 61(3) of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

(vii)regulations made under section 62(4) or 63(4) of the Pension Schemes Act 2015.

96CMeaning of “normal pension age” in this Chapter

(1)In this Chapter “normal pension age”, in relation to a category of benefits under a pension scheme, means—

(a)in a case where the scheme is an occupational pension scheme and those benefits consist only of a guaranteed minimum pension, the earliest age at which the member is entitled to receive the guaranteed minimum pension on retirement from any employment to which the scheme applies,

(b)in any other case where the scheme is an occupational pension scheme and the scheme provides for the member to become entitled to receive any of those benefits at a particular age on retirement from any employment to which the scheme applies, the earliest age at which the member becomes entitled to receive any of the benefits, and

(c)in a case not falling within paragraph (a) or (b), normal minimum pension age as defined by section 279(1) of the Finance Act 2004.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) any scheme rule making special provision as to early retirement on grounds of ill-health or otherwise is to be disregarded.

96DInterpretation of Chapter

In this Chapter—

  • “accrued rights”, in relation to a member of a pension scheme, means rights that have accrued to or in respect of the member to benefits under the scheme;

  • “category”, in relation to benefits, has the meaning given by section 89(6);

  • “flexible benefit” has the meaning given by section 74 of the Pension Schemes Act 2015;

  • “guarantee date”, in relation to a member who has received a statement of entitlement, has the meaning given by section 89A;

  • “member” is to be read in accordance with section 89(11);

  • “normal pension age” has the meaning given by section 96C;

  • “pension credit rights”, in relation to a member of a pension scheme, means rights to benefits under the scheme which are attributable (directly or indirectly) to a pension credit;

  • “salary related occupational pension scheme”: an occupational pension scheme is “salary related” if—

    (a)

    the scheme is not a scheme under which all the benefits that may be provided are money purchase benefits, and

    (b)

    the scheme does not fall within a prescribed class;

  • “scheme rules”, in relation to a pension scheme, has the meaning given by section 96B;

  • “statement of entitlement” has the meaning given by section 89A;

  • “transferrable rights” is to be read in accordance with section 89(11).

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Show Explanatory Notes for Sections: Displays relevant parts of the explanatory notes interweaved within the legislation content.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government 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 were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Impact Assessments

Impact Assessments generally accompany all UK Government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector, civil society organisations and public services. They apply regardless of whether the regulation originates from a domestic or international source and can accompany primary (Acts etc) and secondary legislation (SIs). An Impact Assessment allows those with an interest in the policy area to understand:

  • Why the government is proposing to intervene;
  • The main options the government is considering, and which one is preferred;
  • How and to what extent new policies may impact on them; and,
  • The estimated costs and benefits of proposed measures.
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources