Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to secondary legislation on occupational pension schemes in consequence of the Taxation of Pensions Act 2014 (“the 2014 Act”) and the Pension Schemes Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”). The 2014 Act introduced new types of authorised payments by registered pension schemes, and amended conditions applying to some existing categories of authorised payments. Part 4 of the 2015 Act makes provisions consequential on, or connected with, the changes introduced by the 2014 Act.

Regulation 2 amends the Occupational Pension Schemes (Preservation of Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991. The amendment is consequential on the changes made by the 2014 Act. It ensures that an occupational pension scheme can provide a short service benefit (which is a benefit paid for a member whose pensionable service terminates before normal pension age) using one of the new types of authorised payment (an uncrystallised funds pension lump sum).

Regulation 3 amends regulation 20(1)(a) of the Occupational Pension Schemes (Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 consequential on the changes made by the 2014 Act. The amendment ensures that an occupational pension scheme which is, or has been, contracted-out since April 1997 can pay an uncrystallised funds pension lump sum in respect of pension rights accrued since April 1997 when the scheme was contracted-out.

Regulation 4 amends the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 in consequence of the changes made by the 2014 Act. The amendment ensures that the prohibition on commutation of a pension under an occupational pension scheme does not apply to payment of an uncrystallised funds pension lump sum.

Regulation 5 amends the Occupational Pension Schemes (Modification of Schemes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (“the Modification Regulations”). The amendment made by regulation 5(3) provides that statutory restrictions on the modification of subsisting rights under occupational pension schemes do not apply to a modification which enables members or their survivors to access new types of authorised payments by converting benefits into money purchase benefits. Regulation 5(4) inserts regulation 8B into the Modification Regulations, providing a power for trustees to modify their scheme for the purpose of offering the new types of authorised payments. Consent of the scheme’s employer or employers is required for such a modification, and conditions may be placed in relation to accessing the new types of authorised payments.

Regulation 5(4) also inserts regulation 8C, providing a power for trustees to modify their scheme to ensure that they are not required to make a transfer payment under the scheme rules if they are unable to carry out a check required by section 51 of the 2015 Act, or the check does not confirm that the person seeking the transfer has received appropriate independent advice.

As these Regulations, in so far as they are made under Part 2 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in regulations made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in relation to Great Britain, the requirement for consultation does not apply by virtue of Article 117(2)(e) of that Order.