Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

51 Category B retirement pension for widowers. E+W+S

(1) A man shall be entitled to a Category B retirement pension if—

(a) he has had a wife and she has died on or after 6th April 1979, and he was married to her when she died; and

(b) they were both over pensionable age when she died; and

(c) before her death she satisfied the contribution conditions for a Category A retirement pension in Schedule 3, Part I, paragraph 5.

[F1 (1ZA) A party to a marriage of a same sex couple shall be entitled to a Category B retirement pension if—

(a) the other party has died and they were married to each other at the time of that death;

(b) they were both over pensionable age at the time of that death; and

(c) before that death the deceased party satisfied the contribution conditions for a Category A retirement pension in Schedule 3, Part 1, paragraph 5.]

[F2 (1A) A civil partner shall be entitled to a Category B retirement pension if—

(a) his or her civil partner has died and they were civil partners of each other at the time of that death,

(b) they were both over pensionable age at the time of that death, and

(c) before that death the deceased civil partner satisfied the contribution conditions for a Category A retirement pension in Schedule 3, Part 1, paragraph 5.]

(2) The weekly rate of a [F3 person's] Category B retirement pension under this section shall, subject to subsection (3) below, be determined in accordance with the provisions of [F4 sections 44 to [F5 45AA]] above [F6 and Schedule 4A below] as they apply in the case of a Category A retirement pension, taking references in those sections to the pensioner as references to the wife [F7 , husband] [F8 or deceased civil partner].

(3) In the case of a widower whose wife dies after [F9 5th October 2002] [F10 , surviving party to a same sex marriage] [F11 or a surviving civil partner], the additional pension falling to be calculated under [F4 sections 44 to [F12 45AA]] above [F6 and Schedule 4A below] by virtue of subsection (2) above shall be one half of the amount which it would be apart from this subsection.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a [F13 person] shall become entitled to a Category B retirement pension [F14 under this section] on the day on which the conditions of entitlement become satisfied in his case and his entitlement shall continue throughout his life.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 51(1ZA) inserted (E.W) (13.3.2014 for specified purposes, 10.12.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 4 para. 13(2) (with Sch. 4 para. 13(5)(6)); S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(j)(ii); S.I. 2014/3169, art. 2; and inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 2(10)(a)

F2 S. 51(1A) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(2) (with Sch. 24 para. 28(6)); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F3 Word in s. 51(2) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(3)(a); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F4 Words in s. 51(2)(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 127(3)-(5) of the amending Act) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 127(2), 180(2)(a) (with Sch. 4)

F5 Word in s. 51(2) substituted (with application in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 5(2)-(5) of the amending Act) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), s. 149(1), Sch. 4 para. 11; S.I. 2011/3033, art. 2(c)(xii)

F6 Words in s. 51(2)(3) inserted (8.1.2001 for specified purposes, 25.1.2001 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), ss. 35(13), 86(1)(b)(2); S.I. 2000/2950, art. 6; S.I. 2001/153, art. 2(a)

F7 Word in s. 51(2) inserted (E.W) (13.3.2014 for specified purposes, 10.12.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 4 para. 13(3); S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(j)(ii); S.I. 2014/3169, art. 2; and inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 2(10)(b)

F8 Words in s. 51(2) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(3)(b); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F9 Words in s. 51(3) substituted (with retrospective effect) by Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19), ss. 39(1)(a)(2)(b), 86(1)(b)(2) (with s. 83(6))

F10 Words in s. 51(3) inserted (E.W) (13.3.2014 for specified purposes, 10.12.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 4 para. 13(4); S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(j)(ii); S.I. 2014/3169, art. 2; and inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 2(10)(c)

F11 Words in s. 51(3) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(4); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F12 Word in s. 51(3) substituted (with application in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 5(2)-(5) of the amending Act) by Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), s. 149(1), Sch. 4 para. 11; S.I. 2011/3033, art. 2(c)(xii)

F13 Words in s. 51(4) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(5)(a); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F14 Words in s. 51(4) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 28(5)(b); S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 51 restricted (19.7.1995) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(2)(a), Sch. 4 para. 3(3)

C2 S. 51 modified (6.10.2002) by The Social Security (Inherited SERPS) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/1085), regs. 1(1), 2, Sch. (as amended (5.12.2005) by S.I. 2005/3030, regs. 1, 2)

C3 S. 51(1ZA) excluded (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), arts. 1(2), 10