3.—(1) From and including the respective dates specified in Article 7, 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 of that Schedule (guardian’s allowance), 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(1), the sums specified for the increase in disablement pension for dependent children and death benefit allowance in respect of children and qualifying young persons.
Commencement Information
I1Art. 3 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art.1(1)(b)(i)(2)(3)
I2Art. 3 in operation at 12.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(b)(ii)(2)(3)
4.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (5) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 7.
(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 a beneficiary’s retirement allowance) shall be increased by 0.5 per cent.
(3) In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(2) (basic pension of Category A retirement pension)—
(a)for “£109∙50” substitute “£110∙05”; and
(b)for “£134∙25” substitute “£137∙60”.
(4) 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 2020-21;
(b)the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act(3) (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(4) 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)payable to a pensioner as part of their Category A or Category B retirement pension by virtue of an order made under section 120 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975(5), Article 64 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(6) or section 132 of the Administration Act,
shall in each case be increased by 0.5 per cent.
(5) The sums which are shared additional pensions under sections 55A and 55AA of the Contributions and Benefits Act(7), and the sums which are increases in the rates of such pensions under paragraph 2 of Schedule 5A to that Act(8), shall in each case be increased by 0.5 per cent.
Commencement Information
I3Art. 4 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
I4Art. 4 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
5.—(1) It is directed that the sums specified in paragraph (2) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 7.
(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 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(9)) shall be increased by 0.5 per cent. where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1987-88 and earlier tax years(10).
Commencement Information
I5Art. 5 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
I6Art. 5 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
6.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (4) shall be increased from and including the date specified in Article 7(10).
(2) In regulation 1A of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(11) (full rate of state pension) for “£175.20” substitute “£179∙60”.
(3) 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 0.5 per cent.
(4) 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 0.5 per cent.
(5) For the purpose of this Article, “old state pension” has the same meaning as in section 22 of the Pensions Act.
Commencement Information
I7Art. 6 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
I8Art. 6 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
7.—(1) Paragraph (7), which is subject to the provisions of paragraph (9), and paragraphs (2) to (6), (8), (10) and (11) specify the date on which the changes made by this Order in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14 shall take effect for each case.
(2) Any increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 3, 4, 12 and 13 for Category A, Category B, Category C and Category D retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, any increases for dependants, shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
(3) The increases in the sums mentioned in Article 5 shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
(4) Any increases in the sums specified for the rate of—
(i)attendance allowance, and
(ii)carer’s allowance (except in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday),
shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
(5) Any increases in the sums specified for—
(a)the rate of—
(i)carer’s allowance in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday,
(ii)disablement benefit,
(iii)maximum disablement gratuity under paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act,
(iv)industrial death benefit by way of widow’s and widower’s pension, and
(v)the maximum of the aggregate of weekly benefit payable for successive accidents, under section 107(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act; and
(b)any increases in—
(i)the benefits referred to in sub-paragraphs (a)(i), (ii) and (iv) in respect of dependants, and
(ii)disablement pension,
shall take effect on 14th April 2021.
(6) 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 Act(12) by reference to the weekly rate of invalidity allowance or age addition to long-term incapacity benefit to which the person was previously entitled, any increase in such sum shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
(7) The changes in the sums specified for the rate of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance together with, where appropriate, any increases for dependants, shall take effect on 15th April 2021.
(8) 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 7th April 2021.
(9) Any increase in the sum specified in Article 26(b), in so far as that sum is 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 12th April 2021;
(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 2021,
and for the purpose of this paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations.
(10) Any increases in the sums mentioned in Article 6 for state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
(11) The increase in the sum mentioned in Article 14 shall take effect on 12th April 2021.
Commencement Information
I9Art. 7 in operation at 1.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(a)
8. In section 80(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(13) (earnings limits in respect of child dependency increases)—
(a)in both places, the sum of “£245∙00” remains the same; and
(b)the sum of “£33∙00” remains the same.
Commencement Information
I10Art. 8 comes into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(d)
Valid from 06/04/2021
9. In section 153(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(14) (rate of payment) for “£95∙85” substitute “£96∙35”.
Commencement Information
I11Art. 9 in operation at 6.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(e)
10. In regulation 6 of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(15) (prescribed rate of statutory maternity pay) for “£151∙20” substitute “£151∙97”.
Commencement Information
I12Art. 10 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(f)(2)
I13Art. 10 in operation at 12.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(f)(2)
11.—(1) In the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(16)—
(a)in regulation 2(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory paternity pay) for “£151∙20” substitute “£151∙97”; and
(b)in regulation 3(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory adoption pay) for “£151∙20” substitute “£151∙97”.
(2) In regulation 40(1)(a) of the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(17) (weekly rate of payment of statutory shared parental pay) for “£151∙20” substitute “£151∙97”.
Commencement Information
I14Art. 11 in operation at 4.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(g)
12.—(1) In section 35(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966(18) (graduated retirement benefit)—
(a)the sum of 14∙40 pence shall be increased by 0.5 per cent.; and
(b)the reference in that provision to that sum shall have effect as a reference to 14∙47 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(19) (increases for deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension) shall be increased by 0.5 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(20) (increases of graduated retirement benefit and lump sums) shall be increased by 0.5 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 0.5 per cent.
Commencement Information
I15Art. 12 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
I16Art. 12 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
13. In regulation 11(3) of the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979(21) (Category C retirement pension for widows of men over pensionable age on 5th July 1948) for “£80∙45” substitute “£82∙45”.
Commencement Information
I17Art. 13 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3
I18Art. 13 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
14. In regulation 2A of the Social Security (Maximum Additional Pension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010(22) (prescribed maximum additional pension for survivors who become entitled on or after 6th April 2016) for “£179∙41” substitute “£180∙31”.
Commencement Information
I19Art. 14 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3
I20Art. 14 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)(3)
Valid from 12/04/2021
15. In regulation 4 of the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992(23) (rate of benefit)—
(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for “£89∙15” substitute “£89∙60”;
(b)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£59∙70” substitute “£60∙00”;
(c)in paragraph (1)(c) for “£23∙60” substitute “£23∙70”;
(d)in paragraph (2)(a) for “£62∙25” substitute “£62∙55”; and
(e)in paragraph (2)(b) for “£23∙60” substitute “£23∙70”.
Commencement Information
I21Art. 15 in operation at 12.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(c)
Valid from 12/04/2021
16. In regulation 24 of the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(24) (rate of personal independence payment)—
(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for “£59∙70” substitute “£60∙00”;
(b)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£89∙15” substitute “£89∙60”;
(c)in paragraph (2)(a) for “£23∙60” substitute “£23∙70”; and
(d)in paragraph (2)(b) for “£62∙25” substitute “£62∙55”.
Commencement Information
I22Art. 16 in operation at 12.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(c)
Valid from 15/04/2021
17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 9(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994(25) (increase in rate of incapacity benefit where beneficiary is under prescribed age on the qualifying date)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “£23∙30” substitute “£23∙40”; and
(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£11∙70” substitute “£11∙75”.
(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 £12∙15 and £6∙75 respectively.
Commencement Information
I23Art. 17 in operation at 12.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(h)(2)
I24Art. 17 in operation at 15.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(h)(2)
Valid from 15/04/2021
18.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 18(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(26) (rate of long-term incapacity benefit in transitional cases)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “£23∙30” substitute “£23∙40;
(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£14∙90” substitute “£15∙00”; and
(c)in sub-paragraph (c) for “£7∙45” substitute “£7∙50”.
(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 £12∙15, £6∙75 and £6∙75 respectively.
Commencement Information
I25Art. 18 in operation at 12.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(h)(2)
I26Art. 18 in operation at 15.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(h)(2)
19. In the Rate of Bereavement Benefits Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010(27)—
(a)in regulation 2 (rate of widowed mother’s allowance and widow’s pension) for “£121∙95” substitute “£122∙55”; and
(b)in regulation 3 (rate of widowed parent’s allowance) for “£121∙95” substitute “£122∙55”.
Commencement Information
I27Art. 19 in operation at 1.4.2021 for specified purposes, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)
I28Art. 19 in operation at 1.4.2021 in so far as not already in force, see art. 1(1)(c)(2)
Valid from 12/04/2021
20. In regulation 3 of the Bereavement Support Payment (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019(28) (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.
Commencement Information
I29Art. 20 in operation at 12.4.2021, see art. 1(1)(c)
Part V was amended by paragraph 41 of Schedule 1 to the Child Benefit Act 2005 (c. 6) and Article 71 of the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I. 1))
Section 44(4) was substituted by Article 64 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I.10)) and amended by Article 4(3) of S.R. 2020 No. 40
Schedule 5 was amended by paragraph 36 of Schedule 7 to the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993, paragraphs 6(2) to (4) and 18(15) and (16) of Schedule 2 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I.22)), section 35(1) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 (c. 4 (N.I.)),Article 273(3) and paragraphs 3 to 13 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I)), paragraph 6 of the Schedule to S.R. 2005 No. 434, paragraph 19 of Schedule 1 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c.1 (N.I.)), paragraph 78(2) and (3) of Schedule 12 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5) and regulation 66(18) of S.I. 2019/1514
Paragraph 7A was inserted by paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and amended by paragraph 6(j) of the Schedule to S.R. 2005 No. 434; see also Article 4(4)(c) S.R. 2020 No.40
1975 c. 15; section 120 was amended by paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/396 (N.I. 5)) and repealed by paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 9)
S.I. 1986/1888 (N.I.18); Article 64 was repealed by Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Act 1992
Section 55A was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 to the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and amended by section 37(3) of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 and paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 to the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, and section 55AA was inserted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 11 to that Act
Schedule 5A was inserted by paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
Section 13(2) was amended by paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 1 to S.R. 2005 No. 433, regulation 68(3)(a) and (b) of S.I. 2019/1514 and regulation 40(2) of S.I. 2020/1143
See section 132(4) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 as amended by paragraph 41(c) of Schedule 7 to the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993; see also S.R. 2021 No. 48
S.R. 2015 No. 315; regulation 1A was inserted by regulation 2 of S.R. 2016 No. 88 and amended by Article 6(2) of S.R. 2020 No. 40
Section 47(1) was amended by paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/1898 (N.I.12)); see also regulation 23 of S.R. 1995 No. 35 and section 48C was inserted by paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 2 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
Section 80 was repealed by Schedule 6 to the Tax Credits Act 2002, see also Article 2 of S.R. 2003 No. 212 which saves the repealed provision in certain circumstances and is further modified by section 30 of the Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13) and subsection (4) was amended by Article 8 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
Section 153(1) was amended by Article 10(1) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 and Article 9 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 1987 No. 30; relevant amending Rules are S.R. 2002 No. 354 and S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2002 No. 380; relevant amending Rule is S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2015 No. 94; relevant amending Rule is S.R. 2020 No. 40
1966 c. 6 (N.I.); sections 35 and 36 were repealed by the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18) but are continued in force by regulation 2 of S.R. 1978 No. 105; see also Article 12 of S.R. 2020 No.40
S.R. 1978 No. 105; relevant amending Rules are S.R. 1989 No. 373 and S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2005 No. 121; relevant amending Rules are S.R. 2005 No. 541, S.R. 2006 No. 104, S.R. 2017 No.57 and S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 1979 No. 243; regulation 11(3) was amended by regulation 2(4) of S.R. 1987 No. 404, Article 5(5) of S.R. 2015 No. 411 and Article 13 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2010 No. 62; regulation 2A was inserted by Article 26(4) of S.R. 2015 No. 411 and amended by Article 14 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 1992 No. 32; regulation 4 was amended by regulation 2(5) of S.R. 1993 No. 340 and Article 15 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2016 No. 217; regulation 24 was amended by Article 16 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 1994 No. 461; regulation 9(2) was amended by Article 17 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 1995 No. 35; regulation 18(2) was amended by Article 18 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2010 No. 407; regulations 2 and 3 were amended by Article 19 of S.R. 2020 No. 40
S.R. 2019 No. 181; regulation 3 was amended by Article 20 of S.R. 2020 No.40