Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

38 Widow’s pension[F1 : deaths before 9 April 2001]. N.I.

[F2 (A1) This section applies only in cases where a woman's husband has died before 9 April 2001.]

(1) A woman who has been widowed shall be entitled to a widow’s pension at the rate determined in accordance with section 39 below if her late husband satisfied the contribution conditions for a widow’s pension specified in Schedule 3, Part I, paragraph 5 and either—

(a) she was, at the husband’s death, over the age of 45 but under the age of 65; or

(b) she ceased to be entitled to a widowed mother’s allowance at a time when she was over the age of 45 but under the age of 65.

(2) The widow shall not be entitled to the pension for any period after she remarries [F3 or forms a civil partnership], but, subject to that, she shall continue to be entitled to it until she attains [F4 pensionable age].

(3) A widow’s pension shall not be payable—

(a) for any period falling before the day on which the widow’s entitlement is to be regarded as commencing for that purpose by virtue of section 5(1)(l) of the Administration Act;

(b) for any period for which she is entitled to a widowed mother’s allowance; [F5 or

(c) for any period during which she, and a person who is neither her spouse nor her civil partner, are living together as if spouses of each other].

(4) In the case of a widow whose late husband died before 11th April 1988 and who either—

(a) was over the age of 40 but under the age of 55 at the time of her husband’s death; or

(b) is over the age of 40 but under the age of 55 at the time when she ceases to be entitled to a widowed mother’s allowance,

subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for “45” there were substituted “ 40 ”.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 38 heading inserted (6.4.2017) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(1), Sch. 16 para. 11(3); S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)

F2 S. 38(A1) inserted (6.4.2017) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(1), Sch. 16 para. 11(2); S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)

F3 Words in s. 38(2) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 73(2); S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.

F4 Words in s. 38(2) substituted (6.12.2018) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), s. 11(3), Sch. 1 para. 37 (as amended, in the case of s. 11, by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2012 (c. 3), s. 34(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(b))

F5 S. 38(3)(c) and preceding word substituted for s. 38(3)(c)(d) (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(3) (with regs. 6-9)