The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, which corresponds to an Order (S.I. 2012/780) made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under sections 150 and 150A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, alters the rates and amounts of certain social security benefits and other sums.

Part 2 relates to social security benefits and pensions.

Article 3 and Schedule 1 alter the rates of benefits and increases of benefit (except those referred to in Article 3(1)(b) and (2)) specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Contributions and Benefits Act”).

Article 4 increases the rates and amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act.

Article 5 increases the sums payable as part of a Category A or Category B retirement pension under sections 11(1) and 13(2) and (3) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (“the Pension Schemes Act”) on account of increases in guaranteed minimum pensions.

Article 6 specifies the dates from which the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are altered.

Article 7 increases the rate of certain workmen’s compensation in respect of employment before 5th July 1948.

Article 8 increases earnings limits for child dependency increases.

Article 9 increases the rate of statutory sick pay.

Article 10 increases the rate of statutory maternity pay.

Article 11 increases the rates of ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay.

Article 12 increases the rate of graduated retirement benefit.

Article 13 increases the rates of disability living allowance.

Article 14 increases the rates of age addition excepting those referred to in Article 14(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit which are reduced, if on the qualifying date the beneficiary was under the age of 35, and increased, if on the qualifying date the beneficiary had attained the age of 35 but was under the age of 45.

Article 15 increases the rates of transitional invalidity allowance excepting those referred to in Article 15(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit which are reduced for higher and middle rate cases and increased for lower rate cases.

Article 16 increases the rates of widowed mother’s allowance, widow’s pension, widowed parent’s allowance and bereavement allowance.

Part 3 relates to income support and housing benefit.

Article 17 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income support. Article 17(3) and Schedule 2 set out the personal allowances; Article 17(4) and (5) and Schedule 3 set out the premiums; and Article 17(7) and Schedule 4 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Article 18 provides for the percentage increase of sums payable by way of special transitional additions to income support.

Article 19 increases the sum by which any income support of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Article 20 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit. Article 20(5) and Schedule 5 set out the personal allowances and Article 20(7) and Schedule 6 set out the premiums.

Article 21 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit for persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit. Article 21(5) and Schedule 7 set out the personal allowances and Article 21(6) and (7) and Schedule 8 set out the premiums.

Part 4 relates to jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 22 increases the age-related amounts of contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.

Article 23 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income-based jobseeker’s allowance. Article 23(3) and Schedule 9 set out the personal allowances; Article 23(4) and (5) and Schedule 10 set out the premiums; Article 23(6) and Schedule 11 set out the amounts of premiums relevant to joint-claim couples; and Article 23(8) and Schedule 12 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Article 24 increases the sum by which any income-based jobseeker’s allowance of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.

Part 5 relates to state pension credit.

Article 25 and Schedule 13 specify sums relevant to state pension credit.

Part 6 relates to employment and support allowance.

Article 26 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of employment and support allowance. Article 26(2) and Schedule 14 set out the prescribed amounts; Article 26(3) and Schedule 15 set out the premiums; and Article 26(6) and Schedule 16 set out other miscellaneous amounts.

Part 7 relates to a revocation.

Article 27 revokes the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2011.