Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) Act 2022

2 Conversion of guaranteed minimum pensions: Northern Ireland

(1) The Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (9).

(2) In section 20A (conversion of guaranteed minimum pension into other benefits: introduction), in subsection (1)—

(a) omit paragraph (a);

(b) for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) “GMP conversion” means—

(i) the amendment of a scheme in relation to an earner who was alive immediately before the conversion date so that it no longer contains the rules specified in sections 9(1)(a) and (b) and 13(1), or

(ii) the amendment of a scheme in relation to a person who, immediately before the conversion date, was the widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an earner so that it no longer contains the rules specified in section 13(1),”;

(c) after that paragraph insert—

“(ba) “P” means—

(i) in relation to a GMP conversion within paragraph (b)(i), the earner mentioned in that provision;

(ii) in relation to a GMP conversion within paragraph (b)(ii), the survivor mentioned in that provision,”;

(d) omit paragraph (c);

(e) in paragraphs (e) and (f)—

(i) after “scheme” insert “in relation to P”;

(ii) omit “(disregarding money purchase benefits)”.

(3) In section 20B (the conversion conditions)—

(a) in subsection (2), after “benefits” (in both places it occurs) insert “(disregarding money purchase benefits)”;

(b) in subsection (3), for “the earner” substitute “P”;

(c) for subsection (5) substitute—

“(5) Condition 4 is that, in the case of a GMP conversion within section 20A(1)(b)(i) (GMP conversion in relation to earner)—

(a) the converted scheme provides benefits to or in respect of any widow, widower or surviving civil partner of P, and

(b) such conditions as may be prescribed are met in relation to those benefits.”;

(d) in subsection (7)—

(i) in the opening words, omit “in respect of an earner”;

(ii) in paragraph (a), for “in respect of other earners” substitute “in relation to persons other than P”;

(iii) in paragraph (b), for “the earner” substitute “P”.

(4) Omit section 20D (survivors’ benefits).

(5) In section 20E (procedural requirements)—

(a) in subsection (2), for “The employer” substitute “Each relevant person (if any)”;

(b) after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) For the purposes of subsection (2) a person is “relevant” in relation to a scheme if such conditions as may be prescribed are met in relation to the person and the scheme.”;

(c) in subsection (3)(a), for “the earner” substitute “P”;

(d) omit subsection (4).

(6) In section 20F (transfer out)—

(a) in subsection (1), in paragraphs (a) and (b), for “earner’s accrued rights under a GMP-converted scheme” substitute “accrued rights of a person in relation to whom GMP conversion has been effected”;

(b) omit subsection (2);

(c) for subsection (3) substitute—

“(3) Where—

(a) a member of a scheme makes an application under section 91(1), and

(b) GMP conversion has not been effected in relation to the member,

the trustees may with the member’s consent adjust any cash equivalent so as to reflect rights that would have accrued if GMP conversion had been effected in relation to the member in accordance with Conditions 1 to 4 of section 20B.”

(7) In section 20G (powers to amend schemes)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit “(whether in relation to present earners, pensioners or survivors)”;

(b) omit subsection (5).

(8) In section 34A (regulations about relevant gender change cases)—

(a) in subsection (1), omit paragraph (b) (but not the “or” at the end);

(b) in subsection (3), omit paragraph (b) (but not the “or” at the end);

(c) in subsection (6), in the opening words, omit “, 20D”.

(9) In section 43 (further provisions concerning entitlement to guaranteed minimum pensions for the purposes of section 42), in subsection (9), for the words from “the amendment” to the end substitute “GMP conversion (within the meaning given by section 20A(1)) in relation to the person”.

(10) In the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1 (N.I.)), in section 12 (conversion of guaranteed minimum pensions)—

(a) in subsection (8)(c), after “conversion” insert “in relation to the person”;

(b) in subsection (8)(d), after “conversion” insert “in relation to the person”;

(c) in subsection (10), after “conversion” insert “in relation to S”;

(d) in subsection (11), omit “inserted by subsection (3)”.