{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-northern-ireland-act-1992/section-21",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-northern-ireland-act-1992/section-21.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1992/7",
  "legislation_title": "Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-contributions-and-benefits-northern-ireland-act-1992",
  "path": "section/21",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "21",
  "heading": "Contribution conditions.",
  "text": "(1) Entitlement to any benefit specified in section 20(1) above, other than short-term incapacity benefit under subsection (1)(b) of section 30A below, long-term incapacity benefit under section subsection (5) of that section, maternity allowance under section 35 or 35B below or short-term or long-term incapacity benefit under section 40 or 41 belowor a shared additional pension under section 55A or 55AA below, depends on contribution conditions being satisfied (either by the claimant or by some other person, according to the particular benefit).\n(2) The class or classes of contribution which, for the purposes of subsection (1) above, are relevant in relation to each of those benefits are as follows—\nShort-term benefit\n. . .\n. . .\nShort-term incapacity benefit under section 30A(1)(a) below\nClass 1 or 2\nMaternity allowance\nClass 1 or 2\nOther benefits\n. . .\n. . .\nWidowed mother’s allowance\nClass 1, 2 or 3\nWidowed parent’s allowance\nClass 1, 2 or 3\n. . .\n. . .\nWidow’s pension\nClass 1, 2 or 3\nCategory A retirement pension\nClass 1, 2 or 3\nCategory B retirement pension\nClass 1, 2 or 3\nChild’s special allowance\nClass 1, 2 or 3\n(3) The relevant contribution conditions in relation to the benefits specified in subsection (2) above are those specified in Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) In subsection (4) above and Schedule 3 to this Act—\n(a) “the contributor concerned”, for the purposes of any contribution condition, means the person by whom the condition is to be satisfied;\n(b) “a relevant class”, in relation to any benefit, means a class of contributions specified in relation to that benefit in subsection (2) above;\n(c) “the earnings factor”—\n(i) where the year in question is 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, means, in relation to a person, the aggregate of his earnings factors derived from so much of his earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid and from his Class 2 and Class 3 contributions; and\n(ii) where the year in question is any earlier tax year, means, in relation to a person’s contributions of any class or classes, the aggregate of his earnings factors derived from all those contributions;\n(d) except in the expression “benefit year”, “year” means a tax year.\n(5A) Where primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid on any part of a person’s earnings, the following provisions, namely—\n(a) subsection (5)(c) above;\n(b) sections 22(1)(a) , (2A) and (3)(a), 23(3)(a), 24(2)(a), 44(6)(za) and (a) ... below; and\n(c) paragraphs 2(4)(a) and (5)(a), 4(2)(a), 5(2)(b) and (4)(a) , 5A(3)(a) and 7(4)(a) of Schedule 3 to this Act,\nshall have effect as if such contributions had been paid or treated as paid on so much of the earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit.\n(6) In this Part of this Act “benefit year” means a period—\n(a) beginning with the first Sunday in January in any calendar year, and\n(b) ending with the Saturday immediately preceding the first Sunday in January in the following calendar year;\nbut for any prescribed purposes of this Part of this Act “benefit year” may by regulations be made to mean such other period (whether or not a period of 12 months) as may be specified in the regulations.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) substituted (13.4.1995) by S.I. 1994/1898 (N.I. 12), art. 13(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 3(2); S.R. 1994/450, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (3.11.2000 for specified purposes and 6.4.2001 otherwise) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 67, Sch. 8 para. 20(a); S.R. 2000/332, art. 2(3)(e)(4)(5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 21(1): By S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 67, Sch. 8 para. 20(a); S.R. 2000/332, art. 2(3)(e)(4)(5) it is provided that, for the words \"30A below\", there are substituted (3.11.2000 for specified purposes and 6.4.2001 otherwise) the words \"subsection (5) of that section\""
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (12.1.2000 and 2.4.2000 for specified purposes and otherwise prosp.) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 67, Sch. 8 Pt. VI para. 29(2); S.R. 1999/494, art. 2(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (1.4.2014 with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Participating Wife or Civil Partner of Self-employed Earner) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/102), regs. 1(1), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (1.12.2000) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 74, Sch. 9 para. 6; S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3)(d), Sch. Pt. IV"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(1) inserted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 11 para. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Entry in s. 21(2) repealed (7.10.1996) by S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15), art. 40(2), Sch. 3; S.R. 1996/401, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(2) substituted (13.4.1995) by S.I. 1994/1898 (N.I. 12), art. 13(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 3(3); S.R. 1994/450, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(2) substituted (3.11.2000 for specified purposes and 6.4.2001 otherwise) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 67, Sch. 8 para. 20(b); S.R. 2000/332, art. 2(3)(e)(4)(5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Entry in s. 21(2) repealed (12.1.2000 and 2.4.2000 for specified purposes and otherwise prosp.) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), arts. 67, 76, Sch. 8 Pt. VI para. 29(3), Sch. 10 Pt. V; S.R. 1999/494, art. 2(1)(b)(c)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(2) omitted (6.4.2017) by virtue of Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(1), Sch. 16 para. 4(2); S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Entries in s. 21(2) inserted (24.4.2000 for specified purposes and 9.4.2001 otherwise) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 67, Sch. 8 para. 3(2)(b); S.R. 2000/133, art. 2(3)(a), Sch. Pt. I"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "S. 21(4) omitted (6.4.2017) by virtue of Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(1), Sch. 16 para. 4(3); S.R. 2017/44, art. 2(2) (with arts. 3, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(5)(c)(i) substituted (with effect for 2003-04 and subsequent tax years) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c. 19), ss. 6, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 25"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "S. 21(5A) inserted (6.4.1999) by S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10), art. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 42; S.R. 1999/72, art. 2(b), Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(5A)(b) inserted (8.1.2001, 1.2.2001 for specified purposes and 6.4.2002 otherwise) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 33(2)(a); S.R. 2000/358, art. 2(e), Sch. Pt. IV (as amended by S.R. 2000/374, art. 3); S.R. 2001/34, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(5A)(b) substituted (8.1.2001, 1.2.2001 for specified purposes and 6.4.2002 otherwise) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 33(2)(b); S.R. 2000/358, art. 2(e), Sch. Pt. IV (as amended by S.R. 2000/374, art. 3); S.R. 2001/34, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "Words in s. 21(5A)(b) repealed (6.4.2003) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), s. 61, Sch. 6; S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(e), Sch. 1 (with savings in S.R. 2003/212, art. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "Word in s. 21(5A)(c) inserted (3.1.2012) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), s. 118(1), Sch. 3 para. 2 (with s. 73); S.R. 2011/441, art. 2(c)(ii)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "nia/2007/2",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "nia/2007/2",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "nia/2007/2",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "nia/2007/2",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/7/section/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:36:23.179265+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."
}