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Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992
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Changes over time for: Section 51
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Changes to legislation:
Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, Section 51 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 51:
- s. 167ZZ10(5) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 38
- s. 4C(5)(i)(j) repealed by 2008 c. 1 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 41(3)(c) Sch. 6 Pt. 7
- s. 30B(4)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 9 para. 3
- s. 30B(4)(aa) word repealed by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 12 Pt. 8
- s. 35(1)(e) and word inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(a)
- s. 35(3)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(b) substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(c)
- s. 46(5) (6) added by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- s. 46(5)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 2
- s. 47(4A) inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 81(6)
- s. 123(1)(ea) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(a)
- s. 123(1)(ga) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(a)
- s. 123(1C) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(b)
- s. 123(6A) (6B) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(b)
- s. 123A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(3)
- s. 123A transfer of functions by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 4 Pt. 1
- s. 123A(2) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 123A(4)(b) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 129B-129F inserted (temp. until 31.12.2010) by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) s. 31(1)
- s. 134(2A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(2)
- s. 136(4)(ca) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(6)
- s. 136(4A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(7)
- s. 146(2A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 3(c)
- s. 160(2)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(a)
- s. 160(9)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(b)
- s. 167ZA(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(a)
- s. 167ZA(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(b)
- s. 167ZB(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(a)
- s. 167ZB(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2A) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2B) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(c)
- s. 167ZL(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(a)
- s. 167ZL(8)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(c)
- s. 167ZU(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(2)
- s. 167ZU(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(3)
- s. 167ZW(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(4)
- s. 167ZW(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(5)
- s. 167ZY(5) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- s. 167ZZ9(2)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 37
- s. 169A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(7)
- s. 172(4B) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 4(4)
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 1A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4C inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 2
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(c) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(b)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(3) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(8)
- Sch. 4C para. 3 omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(b) word inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(a)
- Sch. 4C para. 1 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 2 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 5(b) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 6 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(5)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(6)
- Sch. 5 para. 000A1(4) omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 3(2)
- Sch. 11 para. 2(i) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(a)
- Sch. 11 para. 9 inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(b)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 167ZZ10(5) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 38
- s. 4C(5)(i)(j) repealed by 2008 c. 1 (N.I.) Sch. 4 para. 41(3)(c) Sch. 6 Pt. 7
- s. 30B(4)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 9 para. 3
- s. 30B(4)(aa) word repealed by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 12 Pt. 8
- s. 35(1)(e) and word inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(a)
- s. 35(3)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(2)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(b)
- s. 45(2A)(b) substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 1(3)(c)
- s. 46(5) (6) added by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- s. 46(5)(a) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 2
- s. 47(4A) inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 81(6)
- s. 123(1)(ea) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(a)
- s. 123(1)(ga) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(a)
- s. 123(1C) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(2)(b)
- s. 123(6A) (6B) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 5(1)(b)
- s. 123A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 65(3)
- s. 123A transfer of functions by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 4 Pt. 1
- s. 123A(2) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 123A(4)(b) words omitted by S.R. 2016/76 Sch. 6 para. 38
- s. 129B-129F inserted (temp. until 31.12.2010) by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) s. 31(1)
- s. 134(2A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(2)
- s. 136(4)(ca) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(6)
- s. 136(4A) inserted by 2010 c. 13 (N.I.) s. 15(7)
- s. 146(2A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 3(c)
- s. 160(2)(aa) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(a)
- s. 160(9)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(3)(b)
- s. 167ZA(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(a)
- s. 167ZA(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(4)(b)
- s. 167ZB(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(a)
- s. 167ZB(3A) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(5)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2A) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(b)
- s. 167ZE(2B) inserted by 2015 c. 1 (N.I.) s. 12(3)(c)
- s. 167ZL(2)(ba) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(a)
- s. 167ZL(8)(za) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(6)(c)
- s. 167ZU(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(2)
- s. 167ZU(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(3)
- s. 167ZW(2)(ca) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(4)
- s. 167ZW(4)(da) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 69(5)
- s. 167ZY(5) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- s. 167ZZ9(2)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 5 (N.I.) s. 4 Sch. Pt. 2 para. 37
- s. 169A inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(7)
- s. 172(4B) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 4(4)
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 2A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 1A repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4 Pt. 4 para. 2 repealed by 2007 c. 2 (N.I.) Sch. 8
- Sch. 4C inserted by 2008 c. 13 (N.I.) Sch. 2
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(c) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(b)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(3) inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(8)
- Sch. 4C para. 3 omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(3)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(2)(b) word inserted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(7)(a)
- Sch. 4C para. 1 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 2 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(2)
- Sch. 4C para. 5(b) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 6 words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(5)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(4)
- Sch. 4C para. 7(1) words substituted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 6(6)
- Sch. 5 para. 000A1(4) omitted by 2012 c. 3 (N.I.) Sch. 2 para. 3(2)
- Sch. 11 para. 2(i) inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(a)
- Sch. 11 para. 9 inserted by S.I. 2015/2006 (N.I.) art. 68(8)(b)
[F151Category B retirement pension for widowers and surviving civil partners who attained pensionable age before 6 April 2010N.I.
(1)A [F2person] (the pensioner) whose [F3spouse] died while they were married is entitled to a Category B retirement pension if—
(a)they were both over pensionable age at the time of the death,
(b)the pensioner attained pensionable age before 6 April 2010, and
(c)the [F3spouse] satisfied the relevant contribution condition.
(2)But subsection (1) does not confer a right to a Category B retirement pension on [F4—
(a)a woman whose husband has died, or
(b)]a man whose wife died before 6 April 1979.
(3)In subsection (1)(c) “the relevant contribution condition” means—
(a)in a case where the spouse attained pensionable age before 6 April 2010, the conditions in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3, and
(b)in a case where the spouse attained pensionable age on or after 6 April 2010, the condition in paragraph 5A of Schedule 3.
(4)A person (“the pensioner”) whose civil partner died while they were civil partners of each other is entitled to a Category B retirement pension if—
(a)they were both over pensionable age at the time of the death,
(b)the pensioner attained pensionable age before 6 April 2010, and
(c)the deceased civil partner satisfied the relevant contribution condition.
(5)In subsection (4)(c) “the relevant contribution condition” means—
(a)in a case where the deceased civil partner attained pensionable age before 6 April 2010, the conditions in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3, and
(b)in a case where the deceased civil partner attained pensionable age on or after 6 April 2010, the condition in paragraph 5A of Schedule 3.
(6)The weekly rate of a person's Category B retirement pension under this section is to be determined in accordance with sections 44 to 45AA and [F5Schedules 4A and 4B] as they apply in the case of a Category A retirement pension taking references in those sections to the pensioner as references to the spouse or deceased civil partner.
(7)But in the case of—
(a)a man whose wife dies after 5 October 2002,
[F6(aa)a surviving party to a marriage of a same sex couple,] or
(b)a surviving civil partner,
any amount of additional pension falling to be calculated under subsection (6) is to be halved.
(8)For the purposes of any provision of this Act as it applies in relation to this section, no account is to be taken of any earnings factors of the spouse or deceased civil partner for the tax year beginning with 6 April 2016 or any later tax year.
(9)Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person becomes entitled to a Category B retirement pension under this section on the day on which the conditions of entitlement become satisfied and the entitlement continues throughout the person's life.
[F7(10)Subsection (11) applies in the case of a pensioner whose spouse or civil partner—
(a)attained pensionable age on or after 6 April 2016, and
(b)died after attaining pensionable age.
(11)Where this subsection applies, the amount determined in accordance with this section as the weekly rate of the additional pension payable to the pensioner shall be increased by such percentage as equals the overall percentage by which, had the pension been in payment as from the date when the spouse or civil partner reached pensionable age until the spouse’s or civil partner’s death, that weekly rate would have increased during that period by virtue of orders under section 132 of the Administration Act (annual up-rating of benefits).]
[F8(12)Section 51ZA contains special rules for cases involving changes in gender.]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 51 substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 12 para. 56
F2Word in s. 51(1) substituted (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 66(9)(a) (with regs. 6-9)
F3Word in s. 51(1) substituted (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 66(9)(b) (with regs. 6-9)
F4Words in s. 51(2) inserted (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 66(9)(c) (with regs. 6-9)
F5Words in s. 51(6) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Pensions (2015 Act) (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/78), arts. 1, 2(4)(a)
F6S. 51(7)(aa) inserted (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 66(9)(d) (with regs. 6-9)
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