The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1996

Part I Introduction

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 and shall come into operation for the purposes of—

(a) Articles 1 and 2 on 1st April 1996;

(b) Article 9 on 6th April 1996;

(c) Article 10 on 7th April 1996;

(d) Articles 3 to 6, 8 and 11 to 13 on 8th April 1996;

(e) Articles 16, 17 and 22 on 9th April 1996;

(f) Article 7 on 10th April 1996;

(g) Articles 14, 15 and 23 on 11th April 1996;

(h) Articles 18 to 20, in so far as they relate to a particular beneficiary, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for that beneficiary on or after 8th April 1996, and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph and sub-paragraph (i) below “benefit week” has the same meaning as in the Income Support Regulations;

(i) Article 21(c)(ii), in so far as the sums specified are relevant for the purposes of paragraph 17(2)(a) of Schedule 3 to the Income Support Regulations, on the first day of the benefit week to commence for the beneficiary on or after 8th April 1996; and

(j) except in a case to which sub-paragraph (i) above applies, Article 21 on 1st April 1996.

(2) The increases made by this Order in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act shall take effect for each case on the date specified in relation to that case in Article 6 of this Order.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(1);

“the Pension Schemes Act” means the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993(2);

“the Income Support Regulations” means the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(3).

Part II Social Security Benefits and Pensions

Increase in rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits Act

3.—(1) The sums specified in paragraph (2) below shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 6 below so as to have effect as set out in Schedule 1 to this Order.

(2) The sums mentioned in paragraph (1) above are the sums specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (contributory periodical benefits, non-contributory periodical benefits, increases for dependants and rate of industrial injuries benefit, respectively), except in Part III the sum specified for age addition to a pension of any category, and otherwise under section 79 of that Act.

Increase in rates or amounts of certain pensions or allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act

4.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) below shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 6 below.

(2) The sums falling to be calculated under paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (calculation of weekly rate of retirement allowance) shall be increased by 3.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(3) In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(4) (basic pension of Category A retirement pension)—

(a) for “£56·45” there shall be substituted “£58·65”; and

(b) for “£58·85” there shall be substituted “£61·15”.

(4) It is hereby directed that the sums which are—

(a) the additional pensions in the rates of long-term benefits calculated by reference to any final relevant year earlier than the tax year 1995/1996;

(b) the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act(5) (increase of pension where entitlement is deferred); and

(c) payable to a pensioner as part of his Category A or Category B retirement pension by virtue of an order made under section 120 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975(6) or Article 64 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(7),

shall in each case be increased by 3.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

Increase in rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes Act

5.—(1) The sums specified in paragraph (2) below shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 6 below.

(2) Sums which are payable by virtue of section 11(1) of the Pension Schemes Act (increase of guaranteed minimum where commencement of guaranteed minimum pension is postponed) to a person who is also entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension (including sums payable by virtue of section 13(2) and (3) of that Act), shall be increased by—

(a) 3.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1987/1988 and earlier tax years; and

(b) 0.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1988/1989 and subsequent tax years(8).

Dates on which sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act are increased by this Order

6.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (9) of this Article, which are subject to the provisions of paragraph (10) below, specify the date on which the increases made by this Order in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act or the Pension Schemes Act shall take effect for each case.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, the increases in the sums specified in Articles 3, 4 and 11 of this Order for the rates of Category A or Category B retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall take effect on 8th April 1996.

(3) In the case of a person over pensionable age whose entitlement to a Category A retirement pension is deferred and for whom the rate of unemployment benefit or short-term incapacity benefit falls to be calculated in accordance with section 25(5) or 30B(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(9), the increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 3, 4 and 11 of this Order for Category A and Category B retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall take effect on 11th April 1996.

(4) The increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 4(4)(c) and 5(2) of this Order shall take effect on 8th April 1996.

(5) The increases in the sums specified for the rate of maternity allowance, widowed mother’s allowance, widow’s pension, Category C and Category D retirement pension, child’s special allowance(10), attendance allowance, invalid care allowance (except in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday) together with, in each case where appropriate, increases for dependants, and guardian’s allowance shall in all cases take effect on 8th April 1996.

(6) The increases in the sums specified for the rate of invalid care allowance (in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday) together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, disablement benefit together with increases of disablement pension, maximum disablement gratuity under paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act, industrial death benefit by way of widow’s or widower’s pension and allowance in respect of children together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, and the maximum of the aggregate of weekly benefit payable for successive accidents under section 107(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act, shall in all cases take effect on 10th April 1996.

(7) In any case where a person’s weekly rate of Category A or Category B retirement pension falls to be increased under the provisions of section 47(1) or 50(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(11), by reference to the weekly rate of invalidity allowance or age addition to long-term incapacity benefit to which he was previously entitled, the increase in such sum shall take effect on 8th April 1996.

(8) The increases in the sums specified for the rate of unemployment and incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall in all cases take effect on 11th April 1996.

(9) The increases in the sums falling to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (retirement allowance) shall take effect on 10th April 1996.

(10) In the case of a person who is subject to the provisions of regulations made under section 71(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (adjustment of benefit for persons undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital) the increase in the sum mentioned in Article 4(3)(b) of this Order shall take effect in that case on the day on which the increase in the benefit payable to him apart from those regulations takes effect.

Increase in rate of certain workmen’s compensation in respect of employment before 5th July 1948

7.  In paragraph 2(6)(c) of Schedule 8 to the Contributions and Benefits Act(12) (maximum weekly rate of lesser incapacity allowance supplementing workmen’s compensation) for “£35·25” there shall be substituted “£36·60”.

Earnings limits

8.  In section 80(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(13) (earnings limits in respect of child dependency increases) the sum specified in paragraph (a) is £130·00 and the sums specified in paragraph (b) are £17·00 and £130·00 respectively.

Statutory sick pay

9.  In section 153(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(14) (rate of payment) the sum specified is £54·55.

Statutory maternity pay

10.  In regulation 6 of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(15) (lower rate of statutory maternity pay) the sum specified is £54·55.

Increase in rate of graduated retirement benefit and increments thereof

11.—(1) The sum of 7·64 pence referred to in section 35(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966(16) (graduated retirement benefit) shall be increased by 3.9 per cent. and accordingly the reference in that provision to that sum shall have effect as a reference to 7·94 pence.

(2) The sums which are the increases of graduated retirement benefit under Schedule 2 to the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978(17) (increases for deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension) shall be increased by 3.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(3) The sums which are the additions under section 36(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966(16) (special provision as to graduated retirement benefit for widows and widowers) shall be increased by 3.9 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

Increase in rates of disability living allowance

12.  In regulation 4 of the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992(18) (rate of benefit)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a) for “£46·70” there shall be substituted “£48·50”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(b) for “£31·20” there shall be substituted “£32·40”;

(c) in paragraph (1)(c) for “£12·40” there shall be substituted “£12·90”;

(d) in paragraph (2)(a) for “£32·65” there shall be substituted “£33·90”; and

(e) in paragraph (2)(b) for “£12·40” there shall be substituted “£12·90”.

Sums specified for child benefit

13.  In regulation 2 of the Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and Adjustment of Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976(19) (weekly rates of child benefit)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(a) for “£10·40” there shall be substituted “£10·80”;

(b) in paragraph (1)(b) for “£8·45” there shall be substituted “£8·80”; and

(c) in paragraph (2) the sum specified is £6·30.

Increase in rates of age addition to long-term incapacity benefit

14.  In regulation 9(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994(20) (increase in rate of incapacity benefit where beneficiary is under prescribed age on the qualifying date)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£12·40” there shall be substituted “£12·90”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£6·20” there shall be substituted “£6·45”.

Increase in rates of transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit cases

15.  In regulation 18(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(21) (rate of long-term incapacity benefit in transitional cases)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£12·40” there shall be substituted “£12·90”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£7·80” there shall be substituted “£8·10”; and

(c) in sub-paragraph (c) for “£3·90” there shall be substituted “£4·05”.

Part III Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit

Family credit

16.  In the Family Credit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(22)—

(a) in regulation 13(1)(c)(23) (calculation of income on a weekly basis) for “£40” there shall be substituted “£60”;

(b) in regulation 46(4) (determination of appropriate maximum family credit) the capital sum prescribed is £3,000;

(c) in regulation 46(4), (5) and (6) the amount specified for the credit in respect of a child or young person is nil;

(d) in regulation 47(1) (applicable amount) for “£73·00” there shall be substituted “£75·20”;

(e) in paragraph 19(b) of Schedule 2(24) (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) for “£9·20” there shall be substituted “£9·25”; and

(f) in Schedule 4 (determination of maximum family credit) the sums prescribed shall be increased so as to have effect as set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

Disability working allowance

17.  In the Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992(25)—

(a) in regulation 15(1)(c)(26) (calculation of income on a weekly basis) for “£40” there shall be substituted “£60”;

(b) in regulation 51(4) (determination of appropriate maximum disability working allowance) the capital sum prescribed is £3,000;

(c) in regulation 51(4), (5) and (6) the amount specified for the allowance in respect of a child or young person is nil;

(d) in regulation 52(1) (applicable amount)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a) for “£54·75” there shall be substituted “£56·40”, and

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b) for “£73·00” there shall be substituted “£75·20”;

(e) in paragraph 19(b) of Schedule 3(27) (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) for “£9·20” there shall be substituted “£9·25”; and

(f) in Schedule 5 (determination of appropriate maximum disability working allowance) the sums prescribed shall be increased so as to have effect as set out in Schedule 3 to this Order.

Applicable amounts for income support

18.—(1) The sums relevant to the calculation of an applicable amount as specified in the Income Support Regulations shall be the sums set out in paragraphs (2) to (13) of this Article and the Schedules thereto; and for this purpose references in this Article to numbered regulations or Schedules are, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the regulations of, or Schedules to, the Income Support Regulations bearing those numbers.

(2) In regulations 17(1)(b), 18(1)(c), 21(1) and 71(1)(a)(ii), (b)(ii) and (iii), (c)(ii) and (d)(i), in paragraph 14(a) of Part III of Schedule 2 and in paragraph 1(2) of Part I of Schedule 4, the sum specified is in each case £3,000.

(3) The sums specified in Part I of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: personal allowances) shall be increased and those paragraphs in that Part of Schedule 2 where such a sum is specified shall have effect as set out in Schedule 4 to this Order.

(4) In paragraph 3 of Part II of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: family premium) for “£10·25” there shall be substituted “£10·55”.

(5) The sums specified in Part IV of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: weekly amounts of premiums) shall be as set out in Schedule 5 to this Order.

(6) In paragraph 18(1) of Schedule 3(28) (housing costs: non-dependant deductions)—

(a) in head (a) for “£30·00” there shall be substituted “£32·00”; and

(b) in head (b) for “£5·00” there shall be substituted “£6·00”.

(7) In paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 3—

(a) in head (a) for “£74·00” there shall be substituted “£76·00”;

(b) in head (b) for “£74·00”, “£111·00” and “£10·00” there shall be substituted “£76·00”, “£114·00” and “£12·00” respectively; and

(c) in head (c) for “£111·00”, “£145·00” and “£14·00” there shall be substituted “£114·00”, “£150·00” and “£16·00” respectively.

(8) In paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 4 (applicable amounts of persons in homes for persons in need and nursing homes) for “£227·00” there shall be substituted “£234·00” and those sums relevant to the calculation of an applicable amount which are specified in Schedule 4 shall be increased and those paragraphs in that Schedule where such a sum is specified shall have effect as set out in Part I of Schedule 6 to this Order.

(9) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (8) of this Article, the sums specified in Schedule 4 are those set out in Part II of Schedule 6 to this Order.

(10) Those sums relevant to the calculation of an applicable amount which are specified in Schedule 7 (applicable amounts in special cases) shall be increased and those paragraphs in that Schedule where such a sum is specified shall have effect as set out in Part I of Schedule 7 to this Order.

(11) Except as provided in paragraph (10) above, the sums specified in Schedule 7 are those set out in Part II of Schedule 7 to this Order.

(12) The sums specified in any provision of the Income Support Regulations set out in column (1) of Schedule 8 to this Order are the sums set out in column (2) of that Schedule.

(13) In paragraph 19(b) of Schedule 9(29) (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of income other than earnings) for “£9·20” there shall be substituted “£9·25”.

Income support transitional protection

19.  Sums which are special transitional additions to income support payable in accordance with regulation 15 of the Income Support (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(30) shall be increased by 3.0 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

The relevant sum for income support

20.  In section 125(7) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(31) (trade disputes) for “£25·00” there shall be substituted “£26·00”.

Housing benefit

21.  In the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(32)—

(a) in regulations 16(b) and 17(c) and in paragraph 14(a) of Part III of Schedule 2 (applicable amounts), in so far as they relate to rent, the sum specified in each case is £3,000;

(b) in regulation 63 (non-dependant deductions)—

(i) in paragraph (1)(a)(i) for “£30·00” there shall be substituted “£32·00”,

(ii) in paragraph (1)(b)(i) for “£5·00” there shall be substituted “£6·00”,

(iii) in paragraph (2)(a) for “£74·00” there shall be substituted “£76·00”,

(iv) in paragraph (2)(b) for “£74·00”, “£111·00” and “£10·00” there shall be substituted “£76·00”, “£114·00” and “£12·00” respectively, and

(v) in paragraph (2)(c) for “£111·00”, “£145·00” and “£14·00” there shall be substituted “£114·00”, “£150·00” and “£16·00” respectively; and

(c) in Schedule 1 (ineligible service charges)—

(i) in paragraph 1A(33) for “£16·60”, “£16·60”, “£8·40”, “£11·00”, “£11·00”, “£5·55” and “£2·00” there shall be substituted “£17·10”, “£17·10”, “£8·65”, “£11·35”, “£11·35”, “£5·70” and “£2·05” respectively, and

(ii) in paragraph 5(2) the sums specified are £9·25, £1·15, £0·80 and £1·15 respectively.

Part IV Transitional Provisions and Revocation

Transitional provisions

22.  Notwithstanding the increases of the sums payable in respect of family credit and disability working allowance made by Articles 16 and 17 of this Order, where a period of entitlement to family credit or disability working allowance is running at 9th April 1996, the rate at which it is payable shall be the weekly rate in force for the period prior to 9th April 1996 until the end of the period of entitlement.

Revocation

23.  The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 1995(34) is hereby revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on

L.S.

W. G. Purdy

Assistant Secretary

7th March 1996.