Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Bereavement support payment

29.—(1) A person is entitled to a benefit called bereavement support payment if—

(a) the person’s spouse or civil partner dies,

(b) the person is under pensionable age when the spouse or civil partner dies,

(c) the person is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland, or a specified territory, when the spouse or civil partner dies, and

(d) the contribution condition is met (see section 30).

(2) The Department must by regulations specify—

(a) the rate of the benefit, and

(b) the period for which it is payable.

(3) The regulations may specify different rates for different periods.

(4) In the case of a person who is pregnant or entitled to child benefit in specified circumstances, the regulations may—

(a) specify a higher rate;

(b) provide for the allowance to be payable for a longer period.

(5) A person is not entitled to bereavement support payment for periods after the person has reached pensionable age.

(6) A person is not entitled to bereavement support payment if the death occurred before this section came fully into operation.

(7) In this section—

“pensionable age” has the meaning given by the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1995 Order;

“specified territory” means a territory specified in regulations made by the Department.