{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-act-1992/section-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-act-1992/section-20.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1992/4",
  "legislation_title": "Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-act-1992",
  "path": "section/20",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Descriptions of contributory benefits.",
  "text": "(1) Contributory benefits under this Part of this Act are of the following descriptions, namely—\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) incapacity benefit, comprising—\n(i) short-term incapacity benefit, and\n(ii) long-term incapacity benefit;\n(d) maternity allowance ... ;\n(e) widow’s benefit, comprising—\n(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(ii) widowed mother’s allowance ... ;\n(iii) widow’s pension;\n(ea) widowed parent's allowance;\n(f) retirement pensions of the following categories—\n(i) Category A, payable to a person by virtue of his own contributions (with increase for adult ... dependants); and\n(ii) Category B, payable to a person by virtue of the contributions of a spouse ... or civil partner\n(fa) shared additional pensions;\n(g) for existing beneficiaries only, child’s special allowance.\n(2) In this Act—\n“long-term benefit” means—\n(a)long-term incapacity benefit;\n(b)a widowed mother’s allowance;\n(ba)a widowed parent’s allowance;\n(bb). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c)a widow’s pension; and\n(d)a Category A or Category B retirement pension\n(e) a shared additional pension;; and\n“short-term benefit” means—\n(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b)short-term incapacity benefit; and\n(c)maternity allowance.\n(3) The provisions of this Part of this Act are subject to the provisions of Chapter II of Part III of the Pensions Act (reduction in benefits for members of schemes that were contracted-out).",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(a) repealed (7.10.1996) by Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18), s. 41(2), Sch. 3; S.I. 1996/2208, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(b) substituted for s. 20(1)(b)(c) (13.4.1995) by Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 (c. 18), s. 16(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(2); S.I. 1994/2926, art. 2(4), Sch. Pt. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(1)(d) repealed (6.4.2010) by Welfare Reform Act 2009 (c. 24), ss. 58(2)(a), 61(2), Sch. 7 Pt. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(e)(i) repealed (24.4.2000 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 8 para. 3(2)(a), Sch. 13 Pt. 5; S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(a), Sch. Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(1) repealed with savings (6.4.2003) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/938, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(ea) substituted (6.4.2017) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(1), Sch. 16 para. 3(2); S.I. 2017/297, art. 3(2) (with arts. 4, 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(1)(f)(i) repealed with savings (6.4.2003) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/938, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(f)(ii) substituted (19.7.1995) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(2)(a), Sch. 4 para. 21(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(1)(f)(ii) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 13; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "S. 20(1)(fa) inserted (1.12.2000) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 12 para. 15(2); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) substituted (13.4 1995) by Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 (c. 18), s. 16(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(3)(a); S.I. 1994/2926, art. 2(4), Sch. Pt. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) inserted (24.4.2000 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 8 para. 3(3); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(a), Sch. Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) omitted (6.4.2017) by virtue of Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(1), Sch. 16 para. 3(3); S.I. 2017/297, art. 3(2) (with arts. 4, 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) inserted (1.12.2000) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 12 para. 15(3); S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(d), Sch. Pt. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) repealed (7.10.1996) by Jobseekers Act 1995 (c. 18), s. 41(2), Sch. 3; S.I. 1996/2208, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(2) substituted (13.4 1995) by Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 (c. 18), s. 16(3), Sch. 1 para. 2(3)(b); S.I. 1994/2926, art. 2(4), Sch. Pt. 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(3) substituted (7.2.1994) by Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48), s. 193(2), Sch. 8 para. 35 (with s. 189. Schs. 6, 9); S.I. 1994/86"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 20(3) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(4), Sch. 13 para. 53"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2007/5",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2007"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2007/5",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2007"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/4/section/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:36:29.915383+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}