Pension Schemes Act 1993

159 Inalienability of guaranteed minimum pension and protected rights payments. E+W+S

(1) Where—

(a) a person is entitled or prospectively entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension under an occupational pension scheme or to payments giving effect to protected rights under such a scheme; and

(b) his entitlement is in respect of his or another person’s service in employment which was contracted-out by reference to that scheme;

then—

(i) every assignment of or charge on that pension or those payments, and

(ii) every agreement to assign or charge that pension or those payments,

shall be void.

(2) In subsection (1), the references to assignments of and agreements to assign a guaranteed minimum pension do not include references to any assignment of or agreement to assign a policy of insurance or annuity contract in accordance with conditions prescribed by regulations under section 19(4)(b).

(3) Subsection (1) has effect whether or not the assignment, charge or agreement was made at a time when the employment was contracted-out employment or the scheme was a contracted-out scheme in relation to the employment.

(4) Every assignment of or charge on and every agreement to assign or charge protected rights under a personal pension scheme or payments giving effect to such protected rights shall be void.

[F1 (4A) Where a person—

(a) is entitled or prospectively entitled as is mentioned in subsection (1), or

(b) is entitled to such rights or to such a payment as is mentioned in subsection (4),

no order shall be made by any court the effect of which would be that he would be restrained from receiving anything the assignment of which is or would be made void by either of those subsections.

(4B) Subsection (4A) does not prevent the making of an attachment of earnings order under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971.]

(5) On the bankruptcy of a person who—

(a) is entitled or prospectively entitled as is mentioned in subsection (1), or

(b) is entitled to such rights or to such a payment as is mentioned in subsection (4),

nothing shall pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors the assignment of which is or would be made void by either of those subsections.

(6) In the application of this section to Scotland—

(a) references to assignment shall be construed as references to assignation and “assign” shall be construed accordingly; and

(b) the reference to a person’s bankruptcy shall be construed as a reference to the sequestration of his estate or the appointment on his estate of a judicial factor under section 41 of the M1 Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 159(4A)(4B) inserted (6.4.1997) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(1), Sch. 3 para. 41; S.I. 1997/664, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 159 excluded by 1985 c. 66, s. 36C(1) (as inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 95(2), 180(1) (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. 5)

C2 S. 159 excluded by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), s. 342C(1) (as inserted (6.4.1996 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 95(1), 180(1) (with s. 121(5)); S.I. 1996/778, art. 2(5)(a), Sch. Pt. 5)

C3 S. 159 excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes, 6.4.2002 in so far as not already in force) by Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45), s. 342C(2) (as substituted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 15, 89(5)(a); S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(e))

C4 S. 159 excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes) by 1985 c. 66, s. 36C(2) (as substituted by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 16, 89(5)(a); S.I. 2002/153, art. 2(f))

C5 S. 159(4) excluded (27.6.1996 for specified purposes) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 166(5)(a), 180(1) (with s. 167(4)); S.I. 1996/1675, art. 3 (with arts. 4, 5)

C6 S. 159(4)(4A) excluded (1.8.1996) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), ss. 166, 180(1); S.I. 1996/1675, art. 3(b)

C7 S. 159(4)(4A) excluded (11.11.1999 for specified purposes) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 44(1), 89(5)(a); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 4

Commencement Information

I1 Ss. 1-187 in force at 7.2.1994 by S.I. 1994/86, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1980 c. 46.