The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Articles 51 to 53: supplementary

54.—(1) The first increase required by Article 51 in the rate of a pension must take effect not later than the first anniversary of the date on which the pension is first paid; and subsequent increases must take effect at intervals of not more than twelve months.

(2) Where the first such increase is to take effect on a date when the pension has been in payment for a period of less than twelve months, the increase must be of an amount at least equal to one twelfth of the amount of the increase so required (apart from this paragraph) for each complete month in that period.

(3) In Articles 51 to 53 and this Article—

“annual rate”, in relation to a pension, means the annual rate of the pension, as previously increased under the rules of the scheme or under Article 51,

“the appointed day” means the day appointed under Article 1 for the commencement of Article 51,

“appropriate percentage”, in relation to an increase in the whole or part of the annual rate of a pension, means the revaluation percentage for the revaluation period the reference period for which ends with the last preceding 30th September before the increase is made,

“pension”, in relation to a scheme, means any pension in payment under the scheme and includes an annuity,

“reference period” has the meaning given by paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Pension Schemes Act 1993(1),

“revaluation order” means an order under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 2 to the Pension Schemes Act,

“revaluation percentage” means a percentage specified for a revaluation period by a revaluation order;

“revaluation period” has the meaning given by paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the Pension Schemes Act.