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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND


2006 No. 104

HOUSING; RATES; SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (Deferral of Retirement Pensions, Shared Additional Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006

  Made 9th March 2006 
  Coming into operation 6th April 2006 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS


PART 1

GENERAL
1. Citation, commencement and interpretation

PART 2

DEFERRAL OF RETIREMENT PENSIONS AND SHARED ADDITIONAL PENSION
2. Interpretation
3. Timing of election
4. Manner of making election
5. Change of election
6. Amendment of the Social Security (Retirement Pensions etc.) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations

PART 3

DEFERRAL OF GRADUATED RETIREMENT BENEFIT
7. Amendment of the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations

PART 4

PAYMENTS
8. Amendment of the Claims and Payments Regulations

PART 5

DECISIONS
9. Amendment of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations
10. Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations

PART 6

AMENDMENT OF BENEFIT REGULATIONS
11. Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations
12. Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations

The Department for Social Development makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 62(1)(a) and (c), 132(4)(a) and (b) and 171(1) and (3) to (5) of, and paragraphs A1(1) and (3) and 3C(2) and (4) of Schedule 5 and paragraph 1(1) and (3) of Schedule 5A to, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992[
1], sections 5(1)(j) and 165(1), (4) and (6) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992[2], Articles 10, 11(3) and (6), 12(1), 18(1) and 74(1) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998[3] and now vested in it[4] and paragraphs 3(1), 4(3) and (5) and 20(1) and (3) of Schedule 7 to the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000[5], sections 15(6)(a) and (b) and 19(1) to (3) of the State Pension Credit Act (Northern Ireland) 2002[6] and paragraph 22 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005[7].

     Regulation 11 is made with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel[8].

     The Social Security Advisory Committee has agreed that proposals in respect of regulations 10 and 11 should not be referred to it[9].



PART 1

GENERAL

Citation, commencement and interpretation
     1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Deferral of Retirement Pensions, Shared Additional Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and shall come into operation on 6th April 2006.

    (2) In these Regulations "the Claims and Payments Regulations" means the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987[
10].



PART 2

DEFERRAL OF RETIREMENT PENSIONS AND SHARED ADDITIONAL PENSION

Interpretation
     2. —(1) In this Part—

    (2) In this Part, references to Schedule 5 and Schedule 5A are to Schedule 5 and Schedule 5A to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.

Timing of election
    
3. —(1) Subject to paragraph (4), the period for making an election under—

is 3 months beginning on the date shown on the notice issued by the Department following the claim for retirement pension or shared additional pension, confirming that the elector is required to make that election.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (4), the period for making an election under paragraph 3C(2) of Schedule 5 (choice between increase of pension and lump sum where pensioner's deceased spouse or civil partner has deferred entitlement) is 3 months beginning on the date shown on the notice issued by the Department following W's claim for retirement pension or, if later, the date of S's death, confirming that the elector is required to make that election[
11].

    (3) Where more than one notice has been issued by the Department in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2), the periods prescribed in those paragraphs shall only begin from the date shown on the latest such notice.

    (4) The periods specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be extended by the Department if it considers it reasonable to do so in any particular case.

    (5) Nothing in this regulation shall prevent the making of an election on or after claiming retirement pension or shared additional pension but before the issue of the notice referred to in paragraph (1) or (2).

Manner of making election
     4. An election under paragraph A1(1) or 3C(2) of Schedule 5 or paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 5A may be made—

Change of election
    
5. —(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (6), this regulation applies in the case of an election which—

    (2) This regulation does not apply in the case of an election which is—

    (3) An election specified in paragraph (1) may be changed by way of application made no later than the last day of the period specified in paragraph (4).

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), the period specified for the purposes of paragraph (3) is 3 months beginning on the date shown on the written notification issued by the Department to the elector, confirming the election which the elector has made or is treated as having made.

    (5) The period specified in paragraph (4) may be extended by the Department if it considers it reasonable to do so in any particular case.

    (6) An election specified in paragraph (1) may not be changed where—

    (7) For the purposes of paragraph (6)(b), repayment in full of the amount paid by way of, or on account of, a lump sum shall only be treated as having occurred if repaid to the Department in the currency in which that amount was originally paid.

    (8) Where the application is to change the election to one under paragraph A1(1)(b) or 3C(2)(b) of Schedule 5 or paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 5A and paragraph (6)(c) does not apply, any amount paid by way of an increase of retirement pension or shared additional pension, or on account of such an increase, in respect of the period of deferment for which the election was originally made, shall be treated as having been paid on account of the lump sum to which the elector is entitled under paragraph 3A or 7A of Schedule 5[13] or paragraph 4 of Schedule 5A.

    (9) An application under paragraph (3) to change an election may be made—

Amendment of the Social Security (Retirement Pensions etc.) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations
     6. In regulation 2(6) of the Social Security (Retirement Pensions etc.) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005[14] (modification of Schedule 5 to the Act), sub-paragraph (a) shall be omitted.



PART 3

DEFERRAL OF GRADUATED RETIREMENT BENEFIT

Amendment of the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations
     7. —(1) The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005[15] shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

    (2) In Schedule 1 (increases of graduated retirement benefit and lump sums)—



    (3) In Schedule 2 (modification of Schedule 1), paragraphs 5 and 10 shall be omitted.



PART 4

PAYMENTS

Amendment of the Claims and Payments Regulations
    
8. In the Claims and Payments Regulations[17] after regulation 21 (direct credit transfer) there shall be inserted the following regulation—



PART 5

DECISIONS

Amendment of the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations
     9. —(1) The Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999[24] shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (6).

    (2) In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)—

    (3) In regulation 3 (revision of decisions), after paragraph (7C)[25] there shall be inserted the following paragraphs—

    (4) In regulation 6(2) (supersession of decisions), after sub-paragraph (m)[26] there shall be added the following sub-paragraph—

    (5) In regulation 7 (date from which a decision superseded under Article 11 takes effect), after paragraph (7) there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

    (6) After regulation 13 there shall be inserted the following regulation—

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations
    
10. —(1) The Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001[27] shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

    (2) In regulation 4 (revision of decisions), after paragraph (6C)[28] there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

    (3) In regulation 7(2) (decisions superseding earlier decisions), after sub-paragraph (h)[29] there shall be added the following sub-paragraph—

    (4) In regulation 8 (date from which decision superseding an earlier decision takes effect), after paragraph (10)[30] there shall be inserted the following paragraph—



PART 6

AMENDMENT OF BENEFIT REGULATIONS

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations
     11. —(1) The Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987[31], as modified in their application to persons to whom regulation 2(1) of the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003[32] applies, shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

    (2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), after the definition of "the Fund"[33] there shall be inserted the following definition—

    (3) In regulation 36 (notional income)—

    (4) In Schedule 5ZA[35] (capital to be disregarded), after paragraph 25A[36] there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations
     12. —(1) The State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003[37] shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4).

    (2) In regulation 1(2) (interpretation), after the definition of "the Fund" there shall be inserted the following definition—

    (3) In regulation 18 (notional income)—

    (4) In Schedule 5 (capital disregarded for the purpose of calculating income), after paragraph 23 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—



Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Social Development on


9th March 2006.

L.S.


John O'Neill
A senior officer of the Department for Social Development


Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on


10th March 2006.

L.S.


Jack Layberry
A senior officer of the Department Finance and Personnel


EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations make provision relating to changes to the regime for deferring entitlement to state pension introduced by the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 which provide for a choice between increments and a lump sum for those who have deferred their entitlement to retirement pension, shared additional pension or graduated retirement benefit, for 12 months or more.

Part 1 provides for the citation, commencement and interpretation of the Regulations.

Part 2 makes provision in relation to deferral of retirement pension and shared additional pension. Regulation 3 prescribes the period within which an election between increments and lump sums of retirement pension and shared additional pension must be made and regulation 4 prescribes the manner in which such elections must be made. Regulation 5 prescribes the circumstances and manner in which and time within which changes to such elections can be made. Regulation 6 omits regulation 2(6)(a) of the Social Security (Retirement Pensions etc.) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005.

Part 3 makes equivalent provision to Part 2 in relation to deferral of graduated retirement benefit.

Part 4 relates to payments. Regulation 8 amends the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987. It provides that when a person chooses a lump sum he may elect to be paid it in the tax year following the tax year which would otherwise be the year for assessing tax on the lump sum.

Part 5 relates to decisions. Regulation 9 amends the Child Support and Social Security (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999. Paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) provide for the revision or supersession of a state pension credit decision when a person becomes entitled to a lump sum. Paragraph (3) also provides for revision of a retirement pension decision, or shared additional pension or graduated retirement benefit decision when an election is changed pursuant to provision made in Parts 2 and 3 of these Regulations. Paragraph (6) provides that a claim for such a pension or benefit following deferment may be decided pending an election for increments or a lump sum.

Regulation 10 amends the Housing Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 to provide for the revision or supersession of a housing benefit decision when a person becomes entitled to a lump sum.

Part 6 amends various benefit regulations in so far as they relate to deferral of retirement pension, shared additional pension and graduated retirement benefit. Regulation 11 amends the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 as modified by the Housing Benefit (State Pension Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 for persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit. Regulation 12 amends the State Pension Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

In regulations 11 and 12, paragraph (2) prescribes a definition of the Graduated Retirement Benefit Regulations for the purposes of those benefits, paragraph (3) provides an exception to the notional income rule in those benefits where a person having deferred their pension or benefit in favour of an increase of pension or benefit, changes that election in favour of a lump sum and paragraph (4) provides that an amount of capital equal to the amount of a lump sum or a payment on account of a lump sum, is to be disregarded in the calculation of income in the case of state pension credit and capital in the case of housing benefit.

In so far as these Regulations are required, for the purposes of regulations 10 and 11, to be referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 149(2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, after agreement by the Social Security Advisory Committee, they have not been so referred by virtue of section 150(1)(b) of that Act. Otherwise they make in relation to Northern Ireland provision corresponding to provision contained in Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, that Act, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.


Notes:

[1] 1992 c. 7; section 62(1)(a) was amended by paragraph 7(a) of Schedule 2 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22)) and paragraph 16(a) of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)); paragraph (c) was inserted by paragraph 16(b) of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and amended by paragraph 5 of the Schedule to S.R. 2005 No. 434; section 171(1) was amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 to the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21); paragraphs A1 and 3C of Schedule 5 were inserted and Schedule 5A added respectively by paragraphs 3, 8 and 14 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005; see also regulations 2 and 3 of S.R. 2005 No. 123back

[2] 1992 c. 8; section 165(1) was amended by paragraph 49(2) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671)back

[3] S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10); Article 18(1) was amended by paragraph 23 of Schedule 6 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and Article 74(1) was amended by paragraph 17 of Schedule 4 to the Tax Credits Act 2002back

[4] See Article 8(b) of S.R. 1999 No. 481back

[5] 2000 c. 4 (N.I.)back

[6] 2002 c. 14 (N.I.)back

[7] S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)back

[8] See section 171(6A) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 as inserted by Article 3(3) of the Social Security (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/1579 (N.I. 8)); see also Article 6(b) of S.R. 1999 No. 481back

[9] See section 150(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992back

[10] S.R. 1987 No. 465; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2005 No. 541back

[11] "W" and "S" have the same meaning as in paragraph 3C of Schedule 5 to the Social Security Contribution and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992back

[12] Paragraphs (5A) to (5G) were substituted by regulation 3(b) of S.R. 2005 No. 541back

[13] Paragraphs 3A and 7A were inserted respectively by paragraphs 7(1) and 10(1) of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005back

[14] S.R. 2005 No. 123back

[15] S.R. 2005 No. 121 as amended by S.R 2005 No. 541. Schedule 1 has effect by virtue of section 35(4) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (c. 6 (N.I.)). Sections 35 and 36 were repealed by the Social Security Act 1973 (c. 38) but are continued in force by regulation 2 of the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978 (S.R. 1978 No. 105)back

[16] Paragraphs 20A and 20B were inserted by regulation 4(10) of S.R. 2005 No. 541back

[17] S.R. 1987 No. 465back

[18] 1992 c. 7; relevant amendments to Schedule 5 were made by paragraphs 2 to 13 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)) and paragraph 6 of the Schedule to S.R. 2005 No. 434back

[19] Schedule 5A was inserted by paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005back

[20] 2005 c. 22back

[21] Section 8(5) provides that subsections (6) and (7) apply where social security regulations make provision enabling the making of an election for a pension lump sum to be paid in the later year of assessmentback

[22] Paragraphs A1 and 3C were inserted respectively by paragraphs 3 and 8 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005back

[23] Regulation 30 was amended by regulation 3(6) of S.R. 1988 No. 369, regulation 7(5) of S.R. 1990 No. 398, regulation 15 of S.R. 1992 No. 7, regulation 3(7) of S.R. 1993 No. 375, regulation 2(5) of S.R. 1994 No. 345, regulation 2(15) of S.R. 1996 No. 354, regulation 2(7) of S.R. 2000 No. 365, regulation 2(7) of S.R. 2002 No. 297, S.R. 2003 No. 191 and regulation 5(6) of S.R. 2005 No. 46back

[24] S.R. 1999 No. 162; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2005 No. 46back

[25] Paragraph (7C) was inserted by regulation 7(2)(b) of S.R. 2005 No. 46back

[26] Sub-paragraph (m) was added by regulation 7(4)(a)(iii) of S.R. 2005 No. 46back

[27] S.R. 2001 No. 213; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2003 Nos. 224 and 418back

[28] Paragraph (6C) was inserted by regulation 4(3) of S.R. 2003 No. 418back

[29] Sub-paragraph (h) was added by regulation 4(4) of S.R. 2003 No. 418back

[30] Paragraph (10) was inserted by regulation 4(3) of S.R. 2003 No. 224back

[31] S.R. 1987 No. 461; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 1992 No. 201 and S.R. 2003 No. 197back

[32] S.R. 2003 No. 197; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2003 No. 418back

[33] The definition of "the Fund" was inserted by regulation 4(2)(a) of S.R. 1992 No. 201back

[34] 1992 c. 7; relevant amendments to Schedule 5 were made by paragraphs 2 to 13 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/255 (N.I. 1)) and paragraph 6 of the Schedule to S.R. 2005 No. 434 and Schedule 5A was inserted by paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005back

[35] See paragraph 1(c) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 2003 No. 197back

[36] Paragraph 25A was inserted by regulation 2(14) of S.R. 2003 No. 418back

[37] S.R. 2003 No. 28back



ISBN 0 337 96410 6


 © Crown copyright 2006

Prepared 22 March 2006


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