Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
Under section 69 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (c.15), the Department of Finance has to provide, by Order, for the increase in the rates of public service pensions. The Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (c.35) defines certain terms and sets out when the pension “begins” (the day after the last day of service in respect of which the pension is payable) and how the increase applies to lump sums.
The increase to be made in the rates of such pensions is the percentage (or in some circumstances a fraction of the percentage) by which the Department for Communities has, by direction under section 132 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8), increased the sums which are the additional pensions in long-term benefits, namely the additional pension entitlements accruing to employees in respect of their earnings after 5th April 1978.
For pensions which began before 8th April 2019 the increase is 1.7 per cent.
For pensions which began on or after 8th April 2019 the increases (following the calculation set out in article 3) are as follows:—
| Pensions Beginning | Percentage Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| 08th April 2019 to 21st April 2019 | 1.70% | |
| 22nd April 2019 to 21st May 2019 | 1.56% | |
| 22nd May 2019 to 21st June 2019 | 1.42% | |
| 22nd June 2019 to 21st July 2019 | 1.28% | |
| 22nd July 2019 to 21st August 2019 | 1.13% | |
| 22nd August 2019 to 21st September 2019 | 0.99% | |
| 22nd September 2019 to 21st October 2019 | 0.85% | |
| 22nd October 2019 to 21st November 2019 | 0.71% | |
| 22nd November 2019 to 21st December 2019 | 0.57% | |
| 22nd December 2019 to 21st January 2020 | 0.43% | |
| 22nd January 2020 to 21st February 2020 | 0.28% | |
| 22nd February 2020 to 21st March 2020 | 0.14% | |
Article 3 of the Order provides for increases on certain deferred lump sums which became payable on or after 8th April 2019 and before 6th April 2020.
The Order also makes provision for the amount by reference to which any increase in the rate of an official pension is to be calculated to be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum pension entitlement deriving from the employment which gives rise to the official pension.