Explanatory note

These Regulations amend regulation 3 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 by substituting paragraph (cb) to—

• provide that when a person’s spouse or civil partner is awarded a Category A retirement pension, that person can be awarded a Category B retirement pension without having to claim it, providing that they are already entitled to either a Category A retirement pension or to a graduated retirement benefit; and

• amend the current provision to clarify that when a person who is entitled to a Category A retirement pension or a graduated retirement benefit marries or enters into a civil partnership, they can be awarded a Category B retirement pension only if their spouse or civil partner is entitled to a Category A retirement pension.

These Regulations 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 and accordingly, by virtue of section 149(3) of, and paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to, the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, are not subject to the requirement of section 149(2) of that Act for prior reference to the Social Security Advisory Committee.