Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

Commentary on Sections

PART 1: State pension

Entitlement to Category A and B retirement pensions

Section 5: Up-rating of basic pension etc. and standard minimum guarantee by reference to earnings

Section 5 inserts a new section 132A into the Administration Act to provide that where the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes an order under section 150A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5) the Department may make a corresponding order for Northern Ireland. This will allow the basic state pension and the standard minimum guarantee in state pension credit to be uprated annually in line with earnings.

Subsection (3) provides that an order made under new section 132A in relation to state pension and industrial death benefit will have effect in relation to the tax year designated by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under section 5(4) of the 2007 Act and subsequent tax years.  Subsection (4) provides that an order made under new section 132A in relation to the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit has effect in the tax year in which this Act is passed and subsequent tax years.