Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

12 Revaluation of earnings factors for purposes of s. 10: early leavers, etc

(1) Subject to subsection (2), for the purpose of section 10(2) the earner’s earnings factor for any relevant year (so far as derived as mentioned in that section) shall be taken to be that factor as increased by the same percentage as that prescribed for the increase of that factor by the last order under Article 23 of the [S.I. 1975/1503 (N.I. 15).] Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 or section 130 of the [1992 c. 8.] Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 to come into operation before the end of the final relevant year.

(2) The scheme may provide that the earnings factors of an earner whose service in contracted-out employment by reference to the scheme is terminated before the final relevant year shall be determined for the purposes of section 10(2) by reference to the last such order to come into operation before the end of the tax year in which that service ends (“the last service tax year”).

(3) Where a scheme provides as mentioned in subsection (2) the scheme shall provide for the weekly equivalent mentioned in section 10(2) to be increased by at least—

(a) 5 per cent. compound for each relevant year after the last service tax year; or

(b) the amount by which an earnings factor for that year equal to that weekly equivalent would be increased by the last order under Article 23 of the [S.I. 1975/1503 (N.I. 15).] Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 or section 130 of the Social [1992 c. 8.] Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 to come into operation before the end of the final relevant year,

whichever makes the lesser increase; and the provisions included by virtue of this subsection may also conform with such additional requirements as may be prescribed for the purposes of section 51(5).

(4) Except in such cases or classes of case as may be prescribed, the provision made by virtue of subsections (2) and (3) must be the same for all members of the scheme.

(5) In this section—

• “relevant year” has the meaning given in section 10(8), and

• “final relevant year” means the last tax year which is a relevant year in relation to the earner.