Amendment of the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) RegulationsI15
1
The Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197913 are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).
2
In regulation 1(2) (citation, commencement and interpretation) in the definition of “shared additional pension”14 after “section 55A” insert “or 55AA”.
3
After regulation 8(3)15 (substitution of former spouse’s or former civil partner’s contribution record to give entitlement to a Category A retirement pension) insert—
3A
The beneficiary shall be treated as satisfying the first contribution condition specified in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (contribution conditions for entitlement to benefit) if his former spouse or former civil partner would have satisfied that condition had Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 not been applicable, as respects any year of his working life up to the year ending on 5th April 2016 (inclusive).
4
For regulation 8A(1)(e)16 substitute—
e
whose former spouse or former civil partner—
i
satisfied the contribution condition specified in paragraph 5A(2) of Schedule 3 to the Contributions and Benefits Act; or
ii
would have satisfied the contribution condition specified in paragraph 5A(2) of Schedule 3 to the Contributions and Benefits Act in respect of contributions paid before 6th April 2016 had Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 not been applicable.
5
In regulation 11(3) (Category C retirement pension for widows of men over pensionable age on 5th July 1948)17 for “higher rate specified in relation to a Category C retirement pension in Part III of Schedule 4 to the Act” substitute “ weekly rate of £69.50”.
6
In paragraph 1(a)18 of Schedule 1 (method of treating former spouse’s or former civil partner’s contributions as those of the beneficiary so as to entitle him to a Category A retirement pension) at the end insert “but where Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 applies to the former spouse or former civil partner, A is the number of his qualifying years up to the year ending 5th April 2016 (inclusive)”.