Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

5 [F1 (1) This paragraph sets out the contribution conditions for— N.I.

(a) a widowed mother's allowance, a widowed parent's allowance or a widow's pension;

(b) a Category A retirement pension (other than one in relation to which paragraph 5A applies);

(c) a Category B retirement pension in the cases provided for by any of sections 48A to [F2 51ZA].]

(2) The first condition is that—

(a) the contributor concerned must in respect of any one relevant year have actually paid contributions of a relevant class; and

(b) the earnings factor derived—

(i) if that year is 1987-88 or any subsequent year, from [F3 so much of the contributor’s earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and] upon which such of those contributions as are primary Class 1 contributions were paid or treated as paid and any Class 2 or Class 3 contributions, or

(ii) if that year is an earlier year, from the contributions referred to in paragraph (a) above,

must be not less than the qualifying earnings factor for that year.

(3) The second condition is that—

(a) the contributor concerned must, in respect of each of not less than the requisite number of years of his working life, have paid or been credited with contributions of a relevant class [F4 or been credited (in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year) with earnings]; and

(b) in the case of each of those years, the earnings factor derived as mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) below must be not less than the qualifying earnings factor for that year.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of sub-paragraph (3) above, the earnings factor—

(a) in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year, is that which is derived from—

(i) [F5 so much of the contributor’s earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and] upon which such of the contributions mentioned in paragraph (a) of that sub-paragraph as are primary Class 1 contributions were paid or treated as paid or earnings credited; and

(ii) any Class 2 or Class 3 contributions for the year; or

(b) in the case of any earlier year, is that which is derived from the contributions mentioned in paragraph (a) of that sub-paragraph.

(5) For the purposes of the first condition, a relevant year is any year ending before that in which the contributor concerned attained pensionable age or died under that age; and the following table shows the requisite number of years for the purpose of the second condition, by reference to a working life of a given duration—

Duration of working life	Requisite number of years
10 years or less	The number of years of the working life, minus 1.
20 years or less (but more than 10)	The number of years of the working life, minus 2.
30 years or less (but more than 20)	The number of years of the working life, minus 3.
40 years or less (but more than 30)	The number of years of the working life, minus 4.
More than 40 years	The number of years of the working life, minus 5.

(6) The first condition shall be taken to be satisfied if the contributor concerned was entitled to [F6 long-term incapacity benefit] at any time during—

(a) the year in which he attained pensionable age or died under that age, or

(b) the year immediately preceding that year.

[F7 (6A) The first condition shall be taken to be satisfied if the contributor concerned was entitled to main phase employment and support allowance at any time during—

(a) the year in which he attained pensionable age or died under that age, or

(b) the year immediately preceding that year.

(6B) The reference in sub-paragraph (6A) above to main phase employment and support allowance is to an employment and support allowance in the case of which the calculation of the amount payable in respect of the claimant includes an addition under section 2(1)(b) or 4(2)(b) of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (addition where conditions of entitlement to support component or work-related activity component satisfied).]

(7) The second condition shall be taken to be satisfied notwithstanding that paragraphs (a) and (b) of sub-paragraph (3) above are not complied with as respects each of the requisite number of years if—

(a) those paragraphs are complied with as respects at least half that number of years F8 ... ; and

(b) in each of the other years the contributor concerned was, within the meaning of regulations, precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home.

[F9 But nothing in this sub-paragraph applies in relation to any benefit to which section 23A above applies.]

[F10 (7A) Regulations may provide that a person is not to be taken for the purposes of sub-paragraph (7)(b) above as precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home unless he meets the prescribed requirements as to the provision of information to the Department.]

(8) For the purposes of [F11 Parts I to VI of this Act] a person’s working life is the period between—

(a) (inclusive) the tax year in which he attained the age of 16; and

(b) (exclusive) the tax year in which he attained pensionable age or died under that age.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 para. 5(1) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 12 para. 58(2)

F2 Figure in Sch. 3 para. 5(1)(c) substituted (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 66(17) (with regs. 6-9)

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(2)(b)(i) substituted (with effect for 2003-04 and subsequent tax years) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c. 19), ss. 6, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 33(4)

F4 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(3)(a) inserted (16.12.1995 subject to Sch. 2 of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(3), 126

F5 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(4)(a)(i) substituted (with effect for 2003-04 and subsequent tax years) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c. 19), ss. 6, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 33(5)

F6 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(6) substituted (13.4.1995) by S.I. 1994/1898 (N.I. 12), art. 13(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 38(3) (with art. 15(1)); S.R. 1994/450, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV

F7 Sch. 3 para. 5(6A)(6B) inserted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), s. 60(1), Sch. 3 para. 3(13); S.R. 2008/276, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 2

F8 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(7)(a) repealed (16.12.1995 with effect in relation to any person attaining pensionable age on or after 6.4.2010) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(3), 123, 168, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 4, Sch. 5 Pt. II

F9 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(7) inserted (11.2.2008) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), s. 3(2)

F10 Sch. 3 para. 5(7A) inserted (8.1.2001) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 36; S.R. 2000/374, art. 2(d)

F11 Words in Sch. 3 para. 5(8) substituted (16.12.1995 subject to Sch. 2 of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 1(3), 131(5)