Explanatory note

This Order provides for the coming into operation of certain provisions in Part 5 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (“the Act”). Part 5 of the Act creates a new Bereavement Support Payment for persons whose spouse or civil partner dies after the coming into operation of section 29 of the Act.

Article 2 brings section 30(5), so far as it relates to paragraphs 20 and 31 of Schedule 16 to the Act, into operation on 9th February 2017. These provisions amend the power in section 155 (reciprocal agreements with countries outside the United Kingdom) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8) so that it applies to bereavement support payment. The power in section 155 allows the Secretary of State by Order to give effect to social security reciprocal agreements with countries outside the United Kingdom by making provision modifying or adapting domestic legislation as it applies in cases affected by such agreements.