PART 2SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Increase in rates or amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act

4.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (5) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in article 6.

(2) The sums falling to be calculated under paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (calculation of weekly rate of a beneficiary’s retirement allowance) shall be increased by 3.1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(3) In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(1) (basic pension in a Category A retirement pension)—

(a)for “£71.15” substitute “£73.35”; and

(b)for “£79.60” substitute “£82.05”.

(4) It is directed(2) that the sums which are—

(a)the additional pensions in long-term benefits calculated by reference to any final relevant year earlier than the tax year 2004-2005 shall be increased by 3.1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order;

(b)the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act(3) (increase of pension where entitlement is deferred) shall be increased by 3.1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order; and

(c)payable to a pensioner as part of his Category A or Category B retirement pension by virtue of an order made under section 126A of the Social Security Act 1975(4), section 63 of the Social Security Act 1986(5) or section 150(1)(e) of the Administration Act shall be increased by 3.1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(5) The sums which, under—

(a)section 55A of the Contributions and Benefits Act(6), are shared additional pensions; and

(b)section 55C of the Contributions and Benefits Act(7), are increases in the rates of such pensions,

shall in each case be increased by 3.1 per cent. of their amount apart from this Order.

(1)

Section 44(4) was substituted by section 68 of the 1998 Act.

(2)

See section 151(1) of the Administration Act.

(3)

Schedule 5 was amended by paragraph 42 of Schedule 8 to the 1993 Act, paragraph 40 of Schedule 1 to the 1994 Act, paragraphs 6 and 21 of Schedule 4, and Schedule 7, to the Pensions Act 1995, section 39 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (c. 19) (“the 2000 Act”) and Schedule 6 to the Tax Credits Act.

(4)

1975 c. 14; section 126A was inserted by section 12 of the Social Security Act 1979 (c. 18) and repealed by section 86 of, and Schedule 11 to, the Social Security Act 1986 (c. 50).

(5)

Section 63 was repealed by Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6).

(6)

Section 55A was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 to the 1999 Act and amended by section 41 of the 2000 Act.

(7)

Section 55C was inserted by paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 to the 1999 Act.