Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

Alteration of scheme rules after certification N.I.

[F1 33 Alteration of rules of contracted-out schemes. N.I.

[F2 (1) Except in prescribed cases, the rules of a scheme that was a salary related contracted-out scheme cannot be altered unless the alteration is of a prescribed description.

(2) Regulations made by virtue of subsection (1) may operate so as to validate with retrospective effect any alteration of the rules which would otherwise be void under this section.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a scheme if no person is entitled to receive, or has accrued rights to, any benefits under the scheme attributable to a period when the scheme was contracted-out.]

(4) The reference in subsection (3) to a person entitled to receive benefits under a scheme includes a person so entitled by virtue of being the widower [F3 or surviving civil partner] of an earner only in such cases as may be prescribed.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 33 substituted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes, 6.4.1997 in so far as not already in force) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 32; S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F2 S. 33(1)-(3) substituted (14.9.2015 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 24; S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(1)(b)

F3 Words in s. 33(4) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Contracted-out Occupational and Appropriate Personal Pension Schemes) (Surviving Civil Partners) Order (Northern Ireland) 2005 (S.R. 2005/433), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 13

[F4 33A Transfer of liabilities etc.: schemes contracted-out on or after 6 April 1997 N.I.

(1) Regulations may prohibit or restrict—

(a) the transfer of any liability—

(i) for the payment of pensions under a relevant scheme, or

(ii) in respect of accrued rights to such pensions,

(b) the discharge of any liability to provide pensions under a relevant scheme, or

(c) the payment of a lump sum instead of a pension payable under a relevant scheme,

except in prescribed circumstances or on prescribed conditions.

(2) In this section “relevant scheme” means a scheme that was a salary related contracted-out scheme by virtue of section 5(2B) and references to pensions and accrued rights under the scheme are to such pensions and rights so far as attributable to an earner's service on or after the principal appointed day (including, in a case where there has been a transfer payment, any pensions or rights deriving (directly or indirectly) from—

(a) an earner's service on or after the principal appointed day in employment that was contracted-out employment by reference to another scheme, or

(b) in a case where the transfer payment was made before the first abolition date, protected rights under another occupational pension scheme or under a personal pension scheme which derive from payments or contributions in respect of employment on or after the principal appointed day).

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that any provision of this Part shall have effect subject to such modifications as may be specified in the regulations.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 33A inserted (14.9.2015 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 25; S.R. 2015/329, art. 2(1)(b)

F5 34 Alteration of rules of appropriate schemes. N.I.

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Textual Amendments

F5 S. 34 omitted (6.4.2012) by virtue of The Pensions (2008 No. 2 Act) (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/124), arts. 1(b), 4(6)