- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Pensions Act 2004
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
Changes to legislation:
Pensions Act 2004, Section 21 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 30 November 2024. 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 21:
- s. 23(1A) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 26(3)
- s. 23(10A) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 26(5)
- s. 38(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 38(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 27
- s. 38(7)(da) inserted by 2021 c. 1 s. 104(2)
- s. 43(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 43(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 28(2)
- s. 52(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 52(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 29
- s. 80(1)(a)(iib) inserted by 2021 c. 1 s. 109(3)
- s. 117A inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 3
- s. 126(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 126(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 31
- s. 188(1)(ba) inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 6
- s. 189A inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 7
- s. 209(9) added by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 8
- s. 318(3)(a)(viii)-(x) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 38(3)(a)
- s. 318(3)(b)(vi)-(viii) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 38(3)(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. 23(1A) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 26(3)
- s. 23(10A) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 26(5)
- s. 38(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 38(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 27
- s. 38(7)(da) inserted by 2021 c. 1 s. 104(2)
- s. 43(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 43(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 28(2)
- s. 52(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 52(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 29
- s. 80(1)(a)(iib) inserted by 2021 c. 1 s. 109(3)
- s. 117A inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 3
- s. 126(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 126(1) by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 31
- s. 188(1)(ba) inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 6
- s. 189A inserted by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 7
- s. 209(9) added by 2008 c. 30 Sch. 10 para. 8
- s. 318(3)(a)(viii)-(x) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 38(3)(a)
- s. 318(3)(b)(vi)-(viii) inserted by 2015 c. 8 Sch. 2 para. 38(3)(b)
21Pension liberation: repatriation ordersE+W+S
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
(1)Subsections (2) and (3) apply where—
(a)a restraining order has effect, and
(b)the Regulator is satisfied that the restrained account contains an amount of money liberated from a pension scheme.
(2)The Regulator may by order—
(a)direct the deposit-taker concerned to pay from the account a sum not exceeding that amount—
(i)towards a pension scheme,
(ii)towards an annuity or insurance policy, or
(iii)to the liberated member, and
(b)where it makes an order under paragraph (a)(i), direct the trustees or managers of the scheme to apply the sum, in such manner as the Regulator may direct, for the purpose of providing benefits under the scheme to or in respect of the liberated member.
(3)If it appears to the Regulator, on taking an overall view of transactions taking place before the restraining order was made, that there are two or more individuals each of whom is a person who is or may be the liberated member in relation to some of the money, the Regulator may determine the sums to be paid from the restrained account under subsection (2) on any basis that appears to the Regulator to be just and reasonable.
(4)Regulations may modify any of the provisions of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48) as it applies in relation to cases where an order is made under subsection (2)(b).
(5)Section 10 of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26) (civil penalties) applies to a deposit-taker who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a direction given to him under subsection (2)(a).
(6)If the trustees or managers of a pension scheme fail to comply with a direction given to them under subsection (2)(b), that section applies to any trustee or manager who has failed to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance.
(7)In this section “restrained account” has the meaning given by section 20.
Commencement Information
I1S. 21(1)-(3)(5)-(7) in force at 6.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7
I2S. 21(4) for the purpose only of conferring power to make regulations, orders or rules, as the case may be, 10.2.2005; and for all other purposes, 6.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(3), Sch. Pt. 3
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Part
PrintThe Whole Cross Heading
PrintThis Section only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
Explanatory Notes
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.