PART 2SOCIAL 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 so that Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (rates of benefits, etc.), except paragraph 5 of Part III (guardian's allowance) of that Schedule, has effect as set out in Schedule 1 to this Order.
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 except, in—
a
Part III, the sum specified for age addition to a pension of any category, and otherwise under section 79 of that Act;
b
Part IV, the sums specified in column (2) (increase for qualifying child); and
c
Part V M1, the sums specified for the increase in disablement pension for dependent children and death benefit allowance in respect of children and qualifying young persons.
Rates or amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act4
1
The sums falling to be calculated under paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (calculation of weekly rate of a beneficiary's retirement allowance) shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
2
In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act M2 (basic pension of Category A retirement pension)—
a
for “£105∙15” substitute “
£107∙65
”
; and
b
for “£125∙95” substitute “
£129∙20
”
.
3
It is directed that the sums which are—
a
the additional pensions in long-term benefits calculated by reference to any final relevant year earlier than the tax year 2018-19;
b
the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act M3 (pension increase or lump sum where entitlement to retirement pension is deferred);
c
lump sums to which surviving spouses or civil partners will become entitled under paragraph 7A of that Schedule on becoming entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension (entitlement to lump sum where pensioner's deceased spouse or civil partner has deferred entitlement); and
d
shall in each case be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes Act5
It is directed that 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 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 M8) shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent. where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1987-88 and earlier tax years M9.
Rates or amounts of certain pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions Act6
1
In regulation 1A of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 M10 (full rate of state pension) for “£164∙35” substitute “
£168∙60
”
.
2
It is directed that the sums which are increases under section 17 of the Pensions Act in the rates of state pensions under Part 1 of that Act shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
3
The amounts which, under—
a
section 9 of the Pensions Act, are survivor's pensions based on inheritance of deferred old state pension;
b
paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of state pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions Act at the transitional rate which exceed the full rate;
c
paragraphs 5(3) and 6 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of survivor's pensions which either alone or in combination with one or more other pensions under Part 1 of that Act exceed the full rate; and
d
paragraphs 5(3) and 6 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of shared state pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions Act which either alone or in combination with one or more other pensions under Part 1 of that Act exceed the full rate,
shall in each case be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
4
For the purpose of this Article, “old state pension” has the same meaning as in section 22 of the Pensions Act.
Earnings limits7
In section 80(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act M11 (earnings limits in respect of child dependency increases)—
a
for “£235∙00”, in both places where it occurs, substitute “
£240∙00
”
; and
b
for “£31∙00” substitute “
£32∙00
”
.
Statutory sick pay8
In section 153(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act M12 (rate of payment) for “£92∙05” substitute “
£94∙25
”
.
Statutory maternity pay9
In regulation 6 of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 M13 (prescribed rate of statutory maternity pay) for “£145∙18” substitute “
£148∙68
”
.
Statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental pay10
1
In the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 M14—
a
in regulation 2(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory paternity pay) for “£145∙18” substitute “
£148∙68
”
; and
b
in regulation 3(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory adoption pay) for “£145∙18” substitute “
£148∙68
”
.
2
In regulation 40(1)(a) of the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 M15 (weekly rate of payment of statutory shared parental pay) for “£145∙18” substitute “
£148∙68
”
.
Graduated retirement benefit11
1
In section 35(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 M16 (graduated retirement benefit)—
a
the sum of 13∙83 pence shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent.; and
b
the reference in that provision to that sum shall have effect as a reference to 14∙16 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 M17 (increases for deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension) shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
3
The sums which are lump sums to which surviving spouses or civil partners will become entitled under Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 M18 (increases of graduated retirement benefit and lump sums) shall be increased by 2∙4 per cent.
4
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 2∙4 per cent.
Amount of Category C retirement pension under the Social Security (Widow's Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 197912
In regulation 11(3) of the Social Security (Widow's Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 M19 (Category C retirement pension for widows of men over pensionable age on 5th July 1948) for “£75∙50” substitute “
£77∙45
”
.
Maximum additional pension13
In regulation 2A of the Social Security (Maximum Additional Pension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 M20 (prescribed maximum additional pension for survivors who become entitled on or after 6th April 2016) for “£172∙28” substitute “
£176∙41
”
.
Disability living allowance14
In regulation 4 of the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 M21 (rate of benefit)—
a
in paragraph (1)(a) for “£85∙60” substitute “
£87∙65
”
;
b
in paragraph (1)(b) for “£57∙30” substitute “
£58∙70
”
;
c
in paragraph (1)(c) for “£22∙65” substitute “
£23∙20
”
;
d
in paragraph (2)(a) for “£59∙75” substitute “
£61∙20
”
; and
e
in paragraph (2)(b) for “£22∙65” substitute “
£23∙20
”
.
Personal independence payment15
In regulation 24 of the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 M22 (rate of personal independence payment)—
a
in paragraph (1)(a) for “£57∙30” substitute “
£58∙70
”
;
b
in paragraph (1)(b) for “£85∙60” substitute “
£87∙65
”
;
c
in paragraph (2)(a) for “£22∙65” substitute “
£23∙20
”
; and
d
in paragraph (2)(b) for “£59∙75” substitute “
£61∙20
”
.
Age addition to long-term incapacity benefit16
1
Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 9(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 M23 (increase in rate of incapacity benefit where beneficiary is under prescribed age on the qualifying date)—
a
in sub-paragraph (a) for “£22∙35” substitute “
£22∙90
”
; and
b
in sub-paragraph (b) for “£11∙25” substitute “
£11∙50
”
.
2
In so far as a claimant entitled to long-term incapacity benefit corresponds to a claimant under Article 17(2) of the Great Britain Up-rating Order, the sums specified in regulation 9(2)(a) and (b) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 shall be increased to £11∙90 and £6∙60 respectively.
Transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit cases17
1
Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 18(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 M24 (rate of long-term incapacity benefit in transitional cases)—
a
in sub-paragraph (a) for “£22∙35” substitute “
£22∙90
”
;
b
in sub-paragraph (b) for “£14∙40” substitute “
£14∙70
”
; and
c
in sub-paragraph (c) for “£7∙20” substitute “
£7∙35
”
.
2
In so far as a claimant entitled to long-term incapacity benefit corresponds to a claimant under Article 18(2) of the Great Britain Up-rating Order, the sums specified in regulation 18(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 shall be increased to £11∙90, £6∙60 and £6∙60 respectively.
Bereavement benefits18
In the Rate of Bereavement Benefits Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 M25—
a
in regulation 2 (rate of widowed mother's allowance and widow's pension) for “£117∙10” substitute “
£119∙90
”
; and
b
in regulation 3 (rate of widowed parent's allowance) for “£117∙10” substitute “
£119∙90
”
.
Bereavement support payment19
In regulation 3 of the Bereavement Support Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 M26 (rate of bereavement support payment)—
a
in paragraph (1) the sum of £350 remains the same;
b
in paragraph (2) the sum of £3,500 remains the same;
c
in paragraph (4) the sum of £100 remains the same; and
d
in paragraph (5) the sum of £2,500 remains the same.