# The Pensions Increase (Review) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 S.R. 2026/64 · made 26 March 2026 · revised to 6 April 2026 Under Article 69 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (c.15) (increase of official pensions), where the Department for Communities under section 132(1) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8), directs that the sums in section 132 of the 1992 (NI) Act are to be increased by a specified percentage, the Department of Finance must make an order to increase the rates in public service pensions. The Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (c.35) defines certain terms, sets out when a pension “begins” and how the increase applies to lump sums. Made under: Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992; Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (Article 69) PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/pensions-increase-review-order-northern-ireland-2026/pdf/nisr_20260064_en.pdf; NI Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/pensions-increase-review-order-northern-ireland-2026/pdf/nisrem_20260064_en_001.pdf ## Introductory text Pensions Made 26th March 2026 Coming into operation 6th April 2026 In accordance with section 132 of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 the Department for Communities has given a direction that the sums which are the additional pensions in long-term benefits are to be increased by a specified percentage. The Department of Finance now makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 69(1), (2), (5) and (5ZA) of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 and now vested in it. ## 1 Citation and commencement This Order may be cited as the Pensions Increase (Review) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and comes into operation on 6th April 2026. ## 2 Interpretation (1) In this Order, “the 1975 Order” means the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975. (2) In this Order, any reference to a pension is a reference to a pension which began before 6th April 2026. ## 3 Pension increases: annual rate and lump sums (1) This article applies to an official pension if— (a) a qualifying condition is satisfied; or (b) the pension is— (i) a derivative pension, (ii) a substituted pension or, (iii) a relevant injury pension. (2) In relation to any period on or after 6th April 2026, the pension authority may increase the annual rate of the pension— (a) for a pension which began before 7th April 2025, by 3.8 per cent; (b) for a pension which began on or after 7th April 2025, by 3.8 per cent multiplied by— A12 where A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning date of the pension and 6th April 2026. (3) In relation to a lump sum which is payable on or after 7th April 2025 but before 6th April 2026, the pension authority may increase the lump sum by 3.8 per cent multiplied by— A12 where A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning date of the lump sum (or, if later, 7th April 2025) and the date on which it becomes payable. ## 4 Reductions in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions (1) Where— (a) a person is entitled to an increase in a guaranteed minimum pension on 6th April 2026; and (b) entitlement to that guaranteed minimum pension arises from an employment from which (either directly, or indirectly by virtue of the payment of a transfer credit) entitlement to the official pension also arises, the amount by reference to which any increase is calculated for the purposes of article 3(2) must be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum pension unless the Department of Finance otherwise direct in accordance with the provision of Article 69A of the 1975 Order. (2) Where on the death of a spouse or civil partner a person becomes entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension in relation to a surviving spouse’s pension or a surviving civil partner’s pension, the amount by reference to which any increase is calculated for the purposes of article 3(2) must be reduced in accordance with Article 69 (5ZA) of the 1975 Order. ## Signature Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance on 26th March 2026. (L.S.) Jeff McGuinness A senior officer of the Department of Finance ## Explanatory note (This note is not part of the Order) Under Article 69 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (c.15) (increase of official pensions), where the Department for Communities under section 132(1) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8), directs that the sums in section 132 of the 1992 (NI) Act are to be increased by a specified percentage, the Department of Finance must make an order to increase the rates in public service pensions. The Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 (c.35) defines certain terms, sets out when a pension “begins” and how the increase applies to lump sums. The increase to be applied is the same as the percentage by which the Department for Communities has, by direction under the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, increased the additional pension entitlements accruing to employees in respect of earnings for service after 5th April 1978. For pensions which began before 7th April 2025 the increase is 3.8 per cent. For pensions which began on or after 7th April 2025 the increases (following the calculation set out in article 3) are as follows:— Pensions Beginning Percentage Increase 7th April 2025 to 21st April 2025 3.80% 22nd April 2025 to 21st May 2025 3.48% 22nd May 2025 to 21st June 2025 3.17% 22nd June 2025 to 21st July 2025 2.85% 22nd July 2025 to 21st August 2025 2.53% 22nd August 2025 to 21st September 2025 2.22% 22nd September 2025 to 21st October 2025 1.90% 22nd October 2025 to 21st November 2025 1.58% 22nd November 2025 to 21st December 2025 1.27% 22nd December 2025 to 21st January 2026 0.95% 22nd January 2026 to 21st February 2026 0.63% 22nd February 2026 to 21st March 2026 0.32% Article 3 of the Order provides for increases on certain deferred lump sums which become payable on or after 7th April 2025 and before 6th April 2026. Article 4 of the Order sets out reductions to pension increases where a person is entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension deriving from an employment giving rise to the official pension. Where that is the case, the amount by reference to which any increase in the person’s pension is to be calculated is to be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum pension entitlement, unless the Department of Finance otherwise direct. --- Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2026/64 (the official version) Page: https://openlegislation.uk/pensions-increase-review-order-northern-ireland-2026 Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.