Article 3 Pension increases: annual rate and lump sumsI1

Northern Ireland

(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^f1 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—

\frac{A}{12}

where A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning date^f2 of the pension and 6th April 2026.

(3)

In relation to a lump sum^f3 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—

\frac{A}{12}

where A is the number of complete months^f4 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.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 3 in operation at 6.4.2026, see art. 1

Footnotes

f1: Section 69(5) of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 provides that the increases in the rate of a pension are to be calculated by reference to the basic rate of the pension as authorised to be increased by section 1 of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 or by any order under section 2 of that Act or section 69 of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.
f2: Section 8(2) of the Pensions (Increase) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 sets out the day on which a pension is deemed to begin for this purpose.
f3: By virtue of Article 69(7) of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (c. 15) “lump sum” includes an instalment of a lump sum.
f4: By virtue of section 69(8) of the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975, where is it necessary to calculate the number of complete months in any period, an incomplete month shall be treated as a complete month if it consists of at least 16 days.