4.—(1) The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(1) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) After regulation 4 (deferred members and pensioners: general) there shall be inserted—
4A.—(1) Where a person falling within regulation 4(2)(a) dies and leaves a surviving civil partner, the surviving civil partner is entitled to benefits the same as those that would, if the member had been married, have been payable to his surviving spouse, and any provisions which would have applied, if the member had been married, to his surviving spouse’s benefits shall apply to the benefits payable to his civil partner.
(2) For the purpose of calculating the benefit to which a surviving civil partner is entitled under paragraph (1) account shall only be taken of the deceased member’s membership after 5th April 1988. This shall include periods of relevant additional membership which are treated as membership after 5th April 1988 as defined in regulation 44(4) of the 2002 Regulations.”.
(3) In regulation 18(1) (community scheme transferees) after the words “surviving spouses” there shall be inserted “, civil partner”.