Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

9 Minimum pensions for earners. N.I.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the scheme must—

(a) provide for the earner to be entitled to a pension under the scheme if he attains pensionable age; and

(b) contain a rule to the effect that the weekly rate of the pension will be not less than his guaranteed minimum (if any) under sections 10 to 12.

[F1 (1A) But a scheme may be amended so as to omit provision of the kind specified in subsection (1)(a) and (b) if the conditions specified in section 20B are satisfied.]

(2) In the case of an earner who [F2 was a married woman or widow who was liable] to pay primary Class 1 contributions at a reduced rate by virtue of section 19(4) of the M1 Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 [F3 at a time during a relevant year when she was in contracted-out employment by reference to the scheme], subject to the provisions of this Part, the scheme must—

(a) provide for her to be entitled to a pension under the scheme if she attains pensionable age F4 . . .

(b) satisfy such other conditions as may be prescribed.

[F5 “Relevant year” has the meaning given by section 10(8).]

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the scheme must provide for the pension to commence on the date on which the earner attains pensionable age and to continue for his life.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), the scheme may provide for the commencement of the earner’s guaranteed minimum pension to be postponed for any period for which he continues in employment after attaining pensionable age.

(5) The scheme must provide for the earner’s consent to be required—

(a) for any such postponement by virtue of employment to which the scheme does not relate; and

(b) for any such postponement after the expiration of five years from the date on which he attains pensionable age.

(6) Equivalent pension benefits for the purposes of the former legislation are not to be regarded as constituting any part of the earner’s guaranteed minimum pension.

(7) The benefits referred to in subsection (6) are any to which the earner may be immediately or prospectively entitled in respect of a period of employment which—

(a) was for him non-participating employment under that legislation; and

(b) was not on its termination the subject of any payment in lieu of contributions;

but subsection (6) excludes only so much of those benefits as had to be provided in order that the employment should for that period be treated as non-participating.

(8) In this section “the former legislation” means Part III of the M2 National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and the previous corresponding enactments.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 9(1A) inserted (3.3.2009 for specified purposes, 6.4.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 12(1), 21(1); S.R. 2009/75, art. 2(a)(b)

F2 Words in s. 9(2) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 14(a)

F3 Words in s. 9(2) inserted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 14(b)

F4 Words in s. 9(2)(a) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 147, 168, Sch. 3 para. 19, Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F5 Words in s. 9(2) inserted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 14(c)

Marginal Citations

M1 1992 c. 7.

M2 1966 c. 6 (N.I.).