Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

146 Interpretation of Part X

(1) In this Part of this Act “qualifying benefit” means—

(a) a retirement pension;

(b) an invalidity pension;

(c) a widowed mother’s allowance or widow’s pension;

(d) a severe disablement allowance;

(e) an invalid care allowance;

(f) industrial death benefit;

(g) an attendance allowance;

(h) an unemployability supplement or allowance;

(i) a war disablement pension;

(j) a war widow’s pension;

(k) income support.

(2) In this Part of this Act—

• “attendance allowance” means—

  (a)

  an attendance allowance;

  (b)

  a disability living allowance;

  (c)

  an increase of disablement pension under section 104 or 105 above;

  (d)

  a payment under regulations made in exercise of the powers in section 150(3)(b) of the 1975 Act or paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 8 to this Act;

  (e)

  an increase of allowance under Article 8 of the [S.I.1983/136.] Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme 1983 (constant attendance allowance for certain persons to whom that Scheme applies) or under the corresponding provision of any Scheme which may replace that Scheme;

  (f)

  an allowance in respect of constant attendance on account of disablement for which a person is in receipt of war disablement pension, including an allowance in respect of exceptionally severe disablement;

• “pensionable age” means—

  (a)

  in the case of a man, the age of 65;

  (b)

  in the case of a woman, the age of 60;

• “retirement pension” includes graduated retirement benefit, if paid periodically;

• “unemployability supplement or allowance” means—

  (a)

  an unemployability supplement payable under Part I of Schedule 7 to this Act; or

  (b)

  any corresponding allowance payable—

  (c)

  by virtue of paragraph 6(4)(a) of Schedule 8 to the Great Britain Contributions and Benefits Act;

  (ii)

  by way of supplement to retired pay or pension exempt from income tax under section 315(1) of the [1988 c. 1.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;

  (iii)

  under the [1939 c. 82.] Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act 1939; or

  (iv)

  by way of supplement to retired pay or pension under the [1947 c. 19.] Polish Resettlement Act 1947;

• “war disablement pension” means—

  (a)

  any retired pay, pension or allowance granted in respect of disablement under powers conferred by or under the [1917 c. 51.] Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917, the [1939 c. 83.] Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act 1939, the [1939 c. 83.] Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act 1939, the [1947 c. 19.] Polish Resettlement Act 1947, or Part VII or section 151 of the [1980 c. 9.] Reserve Forces Act 1980;

  (b)

  without prejudice to paragraph (a) of this definition, any retired pay or pension to which subsection (1) of section 315 of the [1988 c. 1.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 applies;

• “war widow’s pension” means any widow’s pension or allowance granted in respect of a death due to service or war injury and payable by virtue of any enactment mentioned in paragraph (a) of the preceding definition or a pension or allowance for a widow granted under any scheme mentioned in subsection (2)(e) of the said section 315;

and each of the following expressions, namely “attendance allowance”, “unemployability supplement or allowance”, “war disablement pension” and “war widow’s pension”, includes any payment which the Department accepts as being analogous to it.

(3) References in this Part of this Act to a “couple” are references to a married or unmarried couple; and for this purpose “married couple” and “unmarried couple” are to be construed in accordance with Part VII of this Act and any regulations made under it.

(4) In this Part of this Act “the relevant week”, in relation to any year, means the week beginning with the first Monday in December or such other week as may be specified in an order made by the Department.