Part IISocial Security Benefits and Pensions

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits Act3.

(1)

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

(2)

The sums mentioned in paragraph (1) 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.

Rates or amounts of certain pensions or allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act4.

(1)

The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (4) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 6.

(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 1·1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(3)

In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act13 (basic pension of Category A retirement pension)—

(a)

for “£64·05” there shall be substituted “£64·75”; and

(b)

for “£66·75” there shall be substituted “£67·50”.

(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 1999-2000;

(b)

the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act14 (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 197515, Article 64 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 198616 or section 132 of the Administration Act,

shall in each case be increased by 1·1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes Act5.

(1)

It is hereby directed that the sums specified in paragraph (2) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 6.

(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 1·1 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 1987-88 and earlier tax years17.

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 Order6.

(1)

Paragraphs (2) to (9), which are subject to the provisions of paragraphs (10) and (11), 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), the increases in the sums specified in Articles 3, 4 and 11 for Category A and Category B retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall take effect on 10th April 2000.

(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 short-term incapacity benefit falls to be calculated in accordance with section 30B(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act18, the increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 3, 4 and 11 for Category A and Category B retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall take effect on 13th April 2000.

(4)

The increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 4(4)(c) and 5(2) shall take effect on 10th April 2000.

(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 allowance19, 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 10th April 2000.

(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 and 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 that Act, shall in all cases take effect on 12th April 2000.

(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 48C(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act20, 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 10th April 2000.

(8)

The increases in the sums specified for the rate of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance together with, where appropriate, increases for dependants, shall in all cases take effect on 13th April 2000.

(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 12th April 2000.

(10)

In the case of a person who is subject to the provisions of regulations made under section 71(1)(b) of the Administration Act21 (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) 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.

(11)

The increases in the sums specified in Articles 3 and 20(c), in so far as those sums are relevant for the purposes of establishing whether the rate of any benefit is not to be increased in respect of an adult dependant because the earnings of the dependant exceed a specified amount, shall take effect—

(a)

except in a case where sub-paragraph (b) applies, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for the beneficiary on or after 10th April 2000;

(b)

in a case where regulation 7(b) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations (date on which earnings are treated as paid) applies, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for the beneficiary on or after 1st April 2000,

and for the purposes of this paragraph “benefit week” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations.

Workmen’s compensation7.

In paragraph 2(6)(c) of Schedule 8 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (maximum weekly rate of lesser incapacity allowance supplementing workmen’s compensation) for “£39·95” there shall be substituted “£40·40”.

Earnings limits8.

In section 80(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act (earnings limits in respect of child dependency increases) the sum specified in paragraph (a) is “£145” and the sums specified in paragraph (b) are “£19” and “£145” respectively.

Statutory sick pay9.

In section 153(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act (rate of payment) for “£59·55” there shall be substituted “£60·20”.

Statutory maternity pay10.

In regulation 6 of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 198722 (lower rate of statutory maternity pay) for “£59·55” there shall be substituted “£60·20”.

Graduated retirement benefit11.

(1)

The sum of 8·67 pence referred to in section 35(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 196623 (graduated retirement benefit) shall be increased by 1·1 per cent. and accordingly the reference in that provision to that sum shall have effect as a reference to 8·77 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) 197824 (increases for deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension) shall be increased by 1·1 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 (special provision as to graduated retirement benefit for widows and widowers) shall be increased by 1·1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

Disability living allowance12.

In regulation 4 of the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199225 (rate of benefit)—

(a)

in paragraph (1)(a) for “£52·95” there shall be substituted “£53·55”;

(b)

in paragraph (1)(b) for “£35·40” there shall be substituted “£35·80”;

(c)

in paragraph (1)(c) for “£14·05” there shall be substituted “£14·20”;

(d)

in paragraph (2)(a) for “£37·00” there shall be substituted “£37·40”; and

(e)

in paragraph (2)(b) for “£14·05” there shall be substituted “£14·20”.

Child benefit13.

In regulation 2(1) of the Child Benefit and Social Security (Fixing and Adjustment of Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197626 (weekly rates of child benefit)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a)(i) for “£14·40” there shall be substituted “£15·00”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) for “£17·10” there shall be substituted “£17·55”; and

(c)

in sub-paragraph (b) for “£9·60” there shall be substituted “£10·00”.

Age addition to long-term incapacity benefit14.

In regulation 9(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199427 (increase in rate of incapacity benefit where beneficiary is under prescribed age on the qualifying date)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a) for “£14·05” there shall be substituted “£14·20”; and

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b) for “£7·05” there shall be substituted “£7·10”.

Transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit cases15.

In regulation 18(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 199528 (rate of long-term incapacity benefit in transitional cases)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (a) for “£14·05” there shall be substituted “£14·20”;

(b)

in sub-paragraph (b) for “£8·90” there shall be substituted “£9·00”; and

(c)

in sub-paragraph (c) for “£4·45” there shall be substituted “£4·50”.