PART 2N.I.SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND PENSIONS

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

3.—(1) From and including the respective dates specified in Article 7, the sums specified in paragraph (2) shall be increased so that Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (rates of benefits, etc.), except paragraph 5 of Part III (guardian’s allowance) of that Schedule, has effect as set out in Schedule 1 to this Order.

(2) The sums mentioned in paragraph (1) are the sums specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Contributions and Benefits Act except, in—

(a)Part III, the sum specified for age addition to a pension of any category, and otherwise under section 79 of that Act; and

(b)Part V(1), the sums specified for the increase in disablement pension for dependent children and death benefit allowance in respect of children and qualifying young persons.

Rates or amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits ActN.I.

4.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (5) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 7.

(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 6.7 per cent.

(3) In section 44(4) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(2) (basic pension of Category A retirement pension)—

(a)for “£124.90” substitute “£133.25”; and

(b)for “£156.20” substitute “£169.50”.

(4) It is directed 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 2023-2024;

(b)the increases in the rates of retirement pensions under Schedule 5 to the Contributions and Benefits Act(3) (pension increase or lump sum where entitlement to retirement pension is deferred); lump sums to which surviving spouses or civil partners will become entitled under paragraph 7A of that Schedule(4) on becoming entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension (entitlement to lump sum where pensioner’s deceased spouse or civil partner has deferred entitlement); and

(c)payable to a pensioner as part of their Category A or Category B retirement pension by virtue of an order made under section 120 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975(5), Article 64 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(6) or section 132 of the Administration Act,

shall in each case be increased by 6.7 per cent.

(5) The sums which are shared additional pensions under sections 55A and 55AA of the Contributions and Benefits Act(7), and the sums which are increases in the rates of such pensions under paragraph 2 of Schedule 5A to that Act(8), shall in each case be increased by 6.7 per cent.

Rates or amounts of certain benefits under the Pension Schemes ActN.I.

5.—(1) It is directed that the sums specified in paragraph (2) shall be increased from and including the respective dates specified in Article 7.

(2) Sums which are payable by virtue of section 11(1) of the Pension Schemes Act (increase of guaranteed minimum where commencement of guaranteed minimum pension postponed) to a person who is also entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension (including sums payable by virtue of section 13(2) and (3) of that Act(9)) shall be increased by—

(a)6.7 per cent where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax year 1987-88 and earlier tax years(10); and

(b)3.7 per cent where the increase under section 11(1) is attributable to earnings factors for the tax years 1988-89 to 1996-97 inclusive.

Rates or amounts of certain pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions ActN.I.

6.—(1) The sums specified in paragraphs (2) to (4) shall be increased from and including the date specified in Article 7(10).

(2) In regulation 1A of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(11) (full rate of state pension) for “£203.85” substitute “£221.20”.

(3) It is directed that the sums which are increases under section 17 of the Pensions Act in the rates of state pensions under Part 1 of that Act shall be increased by 6.7 per cent.

(4) The amounts which, under—

(a)section 9 of the Pensions Act, are survivor’s pensions based on inheritance of deferred old state pension;

(b)paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 2 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of state pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions Act at the transitional rate which exceed the full rate;

(c)paragraphs 5(3) and 6 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of survivor’s pensions which either alone or in combination with one or more other pensions under Part 1 of that Act exceed the full rate; and

(d)paragraphs 5(3) and 6 of Schedule 9 to the Pensions Act, are the amounts of shared state pensions under Part 1 of the Pensions Act which either alone or in combination with one or more other pensions under Part 1 of that Act exceed the full rate,

shall in each case be increased by 6.7 per cent.

(5) For the purpose of this Article, “old state pension” has the same meaning as in section 22 of the Pensions Act.

Dates on which sums specified for rates or amounts of benefits in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 are changed by this OrderN.I.

7.—(1) Paragraph (7), which is subject to the provisions of paragraph (9), and paragraphs (2) to (6), (8), (10) and (11) specify the date on which the changes made by this Order in the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefit in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 shall take effect for each case.

(2) Any increases in the sums mentioned in Articles 3, 4, 11 and 12 for Category A, Category B, Category C and Category D retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit together with, where appropriate, any increases for dependants, shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

(3) The increases in the sums mentioned in Article 5 shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

(4) Any increases in the sums specified for the rate of—

(i)attendance allowance, and

(ii)carer’s allowance (except in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday),

shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

(5) Any increases in the sums specified for—

(a)the rate of—

(i)carer’s allowance in a case where the Department has made arrangements for it to be paid on a Wednesday,

(ii)disablement benefit,

(iii)maximum disablement gratuity under paragraph 9(2) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act,

(iv)industrial death benefit by way of widow’s and widower’s pension, and

(v)the maximum of the aggregate of weekly benefit payable for successive accidents, under section 107(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act; and

(b)any increases in—

(i)the benefit referred to in sub-paragraph (a)(ii) in respect of dependants, and

(ii)disablement pension,

shall take effect on 10th April 2024.

(6) In any case where a person’s weekly rate of Category A or Category B retirement pension falls to be increased under the provisions of section 47(1) or 48C(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(12) by reference to the weekly rate of invalidity allowance or age addition to long-term incapacity benefit to which the person was previously entitled, any increase in such sum shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

(7) The changes in the sums specified for the rate of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance together with, where appropriate, any increases for dependants, shall take effect on 11th April 2024.

(8) The increases in the sums falling to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 13(4) of Schedule 7 to the Contributions and Benefits Act (retirement allowance) shall take effect on 10th April 2024.

(9) Any increase in the sum specified in Article 25(b), in so far as that sum is relevant for the purposes of establishing whether the rate of any benefit is not to be increased in respect of an adult dependant because the earnings of the dependant exceed a specified amount, shall take effect—

(a)except in a case where sub-paragraph (b) applies, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for the beneficiary on or after 8th April 2024;

(b)in a case where regulation 7(b) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations (date on which earnings are treated as paid) applies, on the first day of the first benefit week to commence for the beneficiary on or after 1st April 2024,

and for the purpose of this paragraph, “benefit week” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Computation of Earnings Regulations.

(10) Any increases in the sums mentioned in Article 6 for state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

(11) The increase in the sum mentioned in Article 13 shall take effect on 8th April 2024.

Statutory sick payN.I.

8.  In section 153(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act(13) (rate of payment) for “£109.40” substitute “£116.75”.

Statutory maternity payN.I.

9.  In regulation 6 of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987(14) (prescribed rate of statutory maternity pay) for “£172.48” substitute “£184.03”.

Statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay, statutory shared parental pay and statutory parental bereavement payN.I.

10.—(1) In the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(15)—

(a)in regulation 2(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory paternity pay) for “£172.48” substitute “£184.03”; and

(b)in regulation 3(a) (weekly rate of payment of statutory adoption pay) for “£172.48” substitute “£184.03”.

(2) In regulation 40(1)(a) of the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(16) (weekly rate of payment of statutory shared parental pay) for “£172.48” substitute “£184.03”.

(3) In regulation 20(1)(a) of the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023(17) (weekly rate of payment) for “£172.48” substitute “£184.03”.

>Graduated retirement benefitN.I.

11.—(1) In section 35(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966(18) (graduated retirement benefit)—

(a)the sum of 16.43 pence shall be increased by 6.7 per cent; and

(b)the reference in that provision to that sum shall have effect as a reference to 17.53 pence.

(2) The sums which are the increases of graduated retirement benefit under Schedule 2 to the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1978(19) (increases for deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension) shall be increased by 6.7 per cent.

(3) The sums which are lump sums to which surviving spouses or civil partners will become entitled under Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005(20) (increases of graduated retirement benefit and lump sums) shall be increased by 6.7 per cent.

(4) The sums which are the additions under section 36(1) of the National Insurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (special provision as to graduated retirement benefit for widows and widowers) shall be increased by 6.7 per cent.

Amount of Category C retirement pension under the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979N.I.

12.  In regulation 11(3) of the Social Security (Widow’s Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979(21) (Category C retirement pension for widows of men over pensionable age on 5th July 1948) for “£93.60” substitute “£101.55”.

Maximum additional pensionN.I.

13.  In regulation 2A of the Social Security (Maximum Additional Pension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010(22) (prescribed maximum additional pension for survivors who become entitled on or after 6th April 2016) for “£204.68” substitute “£218.39”.

Disability living allowanceN.I.

14.  In regulation 4 of the Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992(23) (rate of benefit)—

(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for “£101.75” substitute “£108.55”;

(b)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£68.10” substitute “£72.65”;

(c)in paragraph (1)(c) for “£26.90” substitute “£28.70”;

(d)in paragraph (2)(a) for “£71.00” substitute “£75.75”; and

(e)in paragraph (2)(b) for “£26.90” substitute “£28.70”.

Personal independence paymentN.I.

15.  In regulation 24 of the Personal Independence Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016(24) (rate of personal independence payment)—

(a)in paragraph (1)(a) for “£68.10” substitute “£72.65”;

(b)in paragraph (1)(b) for “£101.75” substitute “£108.55”;

(c)in paragraph (2)(a) for “£26.90” substitute “£28.70”; and

(d)in paragraph (2)(b) for “£71.00” substitute “£75.75”.

Age addition to long-term incapacity benefitN.I.

16.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 9(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994(25) (increase in rate of incapacity benefit where beneficiary is under prescribed age on the qualifying date)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “£26.60” substitute “£28.40”; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£13.30” substitute “£14.20”.

(2) In so far as a claimant entitled to long-term incapacity benefit corresponds to a claimant under Article 16(2) of the Great Britain Up-rating Order, the sums specified in regulation 9(2)(a) and (b) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 shall be increased to “£14.70” and “£8.15” respectively.

Transitional invalidity allowance in long-term incapacity benefit casesN.I.

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in regulation 18(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(26) (rate of long-term incapacity benefit in transitional cases)—

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “£26.60” substitute “£28.40”;

(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “£17.10” substitute “£18.20”; and

(c)in sub-paragraph (c) for “£8.55” substitute “£9.10”.

(2) In so far as a claimant entitled to long-term incapacity benefit corresponds to a claimant under Article 17(2) of the Great Britain Up-rating Order, the sums specified in regulation 18(2)(a), (b) and (c) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 shall be increased to “£14.70”, “£8.15” and “£8.15” respectively.

Bereavement benefitsN.I.

18.  In the Rate of Bereavement Benefits Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010(27)—

(a)in regulation 2 (rate of widowed mother’s allowance and widow’s pension) for “£139.10” substitute “£148.40”; and

(b)in regulation 3 (rate ofwidowed parent’s allowance ) for “£139.10” substitute “£148.40”.

Bereavement support paymentN.I.

19.  In regulation 3 of the Bereavement Support Payment (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019(28) (rate of bereavement support payment)—

(a)in paragraph (1) the sum of £350 remains the same;

(b)in paragraph (2) the sum of £3,500 remains the same;

(c)in paragraph (4) the sum of £100 remains the same; and

(d)in paragraph (5) the sum of £2,500 remains the same.