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Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992
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Changes over time for: Section 39A
Changes to legislation:
Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, Section 39A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act modified by S.R. 2019/211 art. 2(2)(b) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Affecting Order revoked (19.12.2020) without ever being in force by S.R. 2020/347, arts. 1(1), 2)
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 167ZZ10(5) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 38
- s. 4C(5)(i)(j) repealed by 2008 c. 1 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 41(3)(c) Sch. 6 Pt. 7
- s. 5A para. 2 sum modified by S.R. 2022/231 art. 4(4)
- s. 11A(1)(eb) inserted by 2021 c. 26 Sch. 27 para. 14 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. The existing section 11A of Act repealed by paragraph 4(2) of the Schedule to the National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Act 2023 (c. 57))
- s. 30B(3)(b) word substituted by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I.) Sch. 2 Pt. 3 para. 14(b)
- s. 30B(4)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 9 para. 3
- s. 30B(4)(aa) word repealed by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 12 Pt. 8
- s. 35(1)(e) and word inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(a)
- s. 35(3)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(b) substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(c)
- s. 46(5) (6) added by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- s. 46(5)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 2
- s. 47(4A) inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 81(6)
- s. 83A substituted for ss. 83, 84 by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I.) Sch. 2 Pt. 2 para. 2
- s. 83A(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 33 Sch. 24 para. 90(a)
- s. 83A(2) words inserted by 2004 c. 33 Sch. 24 para. 90(b)
- s. 83A(3) words inserted by 2004 c. 33 Sch. 24 para. 90(b)
- s. 123(1)(ea) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(a)
- s. 123(1)(ga) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(a)
- s. 123(1C) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(b)
- s. 123(6A) (6B) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(b)
- s. 123A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(3)
- s. 123A transfer of functions by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 4 Pt. 1
- s. 123A(2) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 123A(4)(b) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 129B-129F inserted (temp. until 31.12.2010) by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) s. 31(1)
- s. 134(2A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(2)
- s. 136(4)(ca) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(6)
- s. 136(4A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(7)
- s. 146(2A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 3(c)
- s. 160(2)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(a)
- s. 160(9)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(b)
- s. 167ZA(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(a)
- s. 167ZA(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(b)
- s. 167ZB(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(a)
- s. 167ZB(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2A) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2B) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(c)
- s. 167ZL(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(a)
- s. 167ZL(8)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(c)
- s. 167ZU(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(2)
- s. 167ZU(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(3)
- s. 167ZW(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(4)
- s. 167ZW(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(5)
- s. 167ZY(5) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- s. 167ZZ9(2)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 37
- s. 169A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(7)
- s. 172(4B) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 4(4)
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 1A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4C inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 2
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(c) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(b)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(3) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(8)
- Sch. 4C para. 3 omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(b) word inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(a)
- Sch. 4C para. 1 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 2 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 5(b) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 6 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(5)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(6)
- Sch. 5 para. 000A1(4) omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 3(2)
- Sch. 11 para. 2(i) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(a)
- Sch. 11 para. 9 inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(b)
[F139A Widowed parent’s allowance.N.I.
[F2(1)This section applies where—
(a)a person's [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] has died before the day on which section 29 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 comes into operation (but see subsection (1A)),
(b)the person has not married or formed a civil partnership [F4or a cohabiting partnership] after the death but before that day, and
(c)the person is under pensionable age on that day.]
[F2(1A)This section does not apply in cases where a woman's husband has died before 9 April 2001.]
(2)The surviving [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] shall be entitled to a widowed parent’s allowance at the rate determined in accordance with section 39C below if the deceased [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] satisfied the contribution conditions for a widowed parent’s allowance specified in Schedule 3, Part I, paragraph 5 and—
(a)the surviving [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] is entitled to child benefit in respect of a child [F5or qualifying young person] falling within subsection (3) below; F6...
(b)the surviving spouse [F7or cohabiting partner] is a woman who either—
(i)is pregnant by her late husband [F8or the deceased cohabiting partner], or
(ii)if she and he were residing together immediately before the time of his death, is pregnant in circumstances falling within section 37(1)(c) above [F9(which is to be read as if the references to her late husband included a reference to the deceased cohabiting partner)]; [F10or
(c)the surviving civil partner [F11or cohabiting partner] is a woman who—
(i)was residing together with the deceased civil partner [F11or cohabiting partner] immediately before the time of the death, and
(ii)is pregnant as the result of being artificially inseminated before that time with the semen of some person, or as a result of the placing in her before that time of an embryo, of an egg in the process of fertilisation, or of sperm and eggs].
(3)A child [F12or qualifying young person] falls within this subsection if F13... the child [F14or qualifying young person] is either—
(a)a son or daughter of the surviving [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] and the deceased [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner]; or
(b)a child [F15or qualifying young person] in respect of whom the deceased [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] was immediately before his or her death entitled to child benefit; or
(c)if the surviving [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] and the deceased spouse [F16or civil partner] were residing together immediately before his or her death, a child [F15or qualifying young person] in respect of whom the surviving [F3spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner] was then entitled to child benefit.
[F17(3A)Only one person is entitled to a widowed parent’s allowance in respect of one death.
(3B)Where, apart from subsection (3A), more than one person would be so entitled, entitlement is to be determined in accordance with subsections (3C) and (3D).
(3C)Where only one of those persons is a member of the same household as the deceased, that person is entitled.
(3D)Where there is more than one person who is a member of the same household as the deceased and would (apart from subsection (3A)) be entitled—
(a)if one of those persons is the deceased’s spouse or civil partner and is pregnant or entitled to child benefit in accordance with subsection (2), that person is entitled;
(b)if there is no spouse or civil partner entitled under paragraph (a), the deceased’s cohabiting partner who is pregnant or entitled to child benefit in accordance with subsection (2) is entitled (but this is subject to paragraphs (c) and (d));
(c)if there is more than one cohabiting partner within paragraph (b), the cohabiting partner who has been a member of the same household as the deceased for longest is entitled;
(d)if there is more than one cohabiting partner within paragraph (b) and each partner has been a member of the same household as the deceased for the same length of time, the Department must determine who is entitled.]
(4)The surviving spouse shall not be entitled to the allowance for any period after she or he remarries [F18or forms a civil partnership] [F19or a cohabiting partnership], but, subject to that, the surviving spouse shall continue to be entitled to it for any period throughout which she or he—
(a)satisfies the requirements of subsection (2)(a) or (b) above; and
(b)is under pensionable age.
[F20(4A)The surviving civil partner shall not be entitled to the allowance for any period after she or he forms a subsequent civil partnership [F21or a cohabiting partnership] or marries, but, subject to that, the surviving civil partner shall continue to be entitled to it for any period throughout which she or he—
(a)satisfies the requirements of subsection (2)(a) or (b) above; and
(b)is under pensionable age.]
[F22(4B)The surviving cohabiting partner shall not be entitled to the allowance for any period after she or he forms a subsequent cohabiting partnership or a civil partnership or marries, but, subject to that, the surviving cohabiting partner shall continue to be entitled to it for any period throughout which she or he—
(a)satisfies the requirements of subsection (2)(a), (b) or (c) above; and
(b)is under pensionable age.]
(5)A widowed parent’s allowance shall not be payable—
(a)for any period falling before the day on which the surviving [F23spouse’s, civil partner’s or cohabiting partner’s] entitlement is to be regarded as commencing by virtue of section 5(1)(l) of the Administration Act; [F24or
F25(b)for any period during which—
(i)the surviving spouse or civil partner, and
(ii)a person who is neither the spouse, nor the civil partner, of the surviving spouse or civil partner,,
are living together as if spouses of each other].
[F26(6)For the purposes of this section, the Department may by regulations prescribe—
(a)circumstances in which the fact that two persons are married to each other, or are civil partners or cohabiting partners of each other, is to be disregarded;
(b)circumstances in which two persons are to be treated as if they were married to each other or were civil partners or cohabiting partners of each other (or as marrying or forming a civil partnership or a cohabiting partnership);
(c)circumstances in which people are to be treated as being, or as not being, members of the same household.
(7)For the purposes of this section and section 39C, two persons are cohabiting partners if they are not married to, or civil partners of, each other but are living together as if they were married or in a civil partnership (and “cohabiting partnership” is to be read accordingly).
(8)The Department must issue a statement of its policy with respect to making determinations under subsection (3D)(d).]]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 39A-39C inserted (24.4.2000 for specified purposes and 9.4.2001 otherwise) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 52(2); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3)(a), Sch. Pt. I
F2S. 39A(1)(1A) substituted for s. 39A(1) (6.4.2017) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(1), Sch. 16 para. 12; S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)
F3Words in s. 39A substituted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(a)
F4Words in s. 39A(1)(b) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(b)
F5Words in s. 39A(2)(a) inserted (10.4.2006) by Child Benefit Act 2005 (c. 6), s. 6(2), Sch. 1 para. 29(2)
F6Word in s. 39A(2) repealed (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(10)(b)(d), Sch. 30; S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.
F7Words in s. 39A(2)(b) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(c)(i)
F8Words in s. 39A(2)(b)(i) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(c)(ii)
F9Words in s. 39A(2)(b)(ii) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(c)(iii)
F10S. 39A(2)(c) and preceding word inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 74(4); S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.
F11Words in s. 39A(2)(c) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(d)
F12Words in s. 39A(3) inserted (10.4.2006) by Child Benefit Act 2005 (c. 6), s. 6(2), Sch. 1 para. 29(3)(a)
F13Words in s. 39A(3) repealed (7.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 47, 60(1), Sch. 8; S.R. 2008/339, art. 2(3)(a) (with art. 3(3))
F14Words in s. 39A(3) inserted (10.4.2006) by Child Benefit Act 2005 (c. 6), s. 6(2), Sch. 1 para. 29(3)(b)
F15Words in s. 39A(3) inserted (10.4.2006) by Child Benefit Act 2005 (c. 6), s. 6(2), Sch. 1 para. 29(3)(c)
F16Words in s. 39A inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 74(2); S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.
F17S. 39A(3A)-(3D) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(e)
F18Words in s. 39A(4) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 74(5); S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.
F19Words in s. 39A(4) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(f)
F20S. 39A(4A) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 74(6); S.I. 2005/3255, art. 2(1), Sch.
F21Words in s. 39A(4A) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(g)
F22S. 39A(4B) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(h)
F23Words in s. 39A(5)(a) substituted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(i)
F24S. 39A(5)(b) and preceding word substituted for s. 39A(5)(b)(c) (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(4) (with regs. 6-9)
F25By The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(a) it is provided (retrospectively to 30.8.2018) that the words “spouse or civil partner” are substituted by the words “spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner” in each place they appear
F26S. 39A(6)-(8) inserted (retrospective to 30.8.2018) by The Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/134), arts. 1(3), 8(2)(j)
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