Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999
1999 c. 30 · Enacted 11 November 1999 · Extends to United Kingdom
An Act to make provision about pensions and social security; to make provision for reducing under-occupation of dwellings by housing benefit claimants; to authorise certain expenditure by the Secretary of State having responsibility for social security; and for connected purposes.
[11th November 1999]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1C2C3
Annotations to the whole text
Modifications
- C1
Act: transfer of functions (6.4.2005) by Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35), ss. 7(1)(c), 322(1) (with s. 313); S.I. 2005/275, art. 2(7), Sch. Pt. 7
- C2
Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/875), regs. 1(2), 16, Sch. 2 (which amending S.I. was revoked (27.8.2010) by SI 2010/1906, reg. 2)
- C3
Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), reg. 16(2)(c), Sch. 2
Contents
- Part I: Stakeholder pension schemes
- 1Meaning of “stakeholder pension scheme”.
- 2Registration of stakeholder pension schemes.
- 3Duty of employers to facilitate access to stakeholder pension schemes.
- 4Obtaining information with respect to compliance with section 3 and corresponding Northern Ireland legislation. Repealed
- 5Powers of inspection for securing compliance with section 3 and corresponding Northern Ireland legislation. Repealed
- 6Application of certain enactments.
- 7Reduced rates of contributions etc: power to specify different percentages. Repealed
- 8Interpretation and application of Part I.
- Part II: Pensions: general
- Payments by employers to pension schemes
- 9Monitoring of employers’ payments to personal pension schemes.
- 10Late payments by employers to occupational pension schemes.
- Pensions and bankruptcy
- 11Effect of bankruptcy on pension rights: approved arrangements.
- 12Effect of bankruptcy on pension rights: unapproved arrangements.
- 13Sections 11 and 12: application to Scotland.
- 14No forfeiture on bankruptcy of rights under pension schemes.
- 15Excessive pension contributions made by persons who have become bankrupt.
- 16Excessive pension contributions made by persons who have become bankrupt: Scotland.
- Miscellaneous
- 17Compensating occupational pension schemes. Repealed
- 18Miscellaneous amendments.
- Part III: Pensions on divorce etc.
- Pension sharing orders
- 19Orders in England and Wales.
- 20Orders in Scotland.
- Sections 25B to 25D of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
- 21Amendments.
- 22Extension to overseas divorces etc.
- Miscellaneous
- 23Supply of pension information in connection with divorce etc.
- 24Charges by pension arrangements in relation to earmarking orders.
- Supplementary
- 25Power to make consequential amendments of Part III.
- 26Interpretation of Part III.
- Part IV: Pension sharing
- Chapter I: Sharing of rights under pension arrangements
- Pension sharing mechanism
- 27Scope of mechanism.
- 28Activation of pension sharing.
- 29Creation of pension debits and credits.
- 30Cash equivalents.
- Pension debits
- 31Reduction of benefit.
- 32Effect on contracted-out rights.
- Pension credits
- 33Time for discharge of liability.
- 34“Implementation period”.
- 35Mode of discharge of liability.
- Treatment of pension credit rights under schemes
- 36Safeguarded rights. Repealed
- 37Requirements relating to pension credit benefit.
- 38Treatment in winding up.
- Indexation
- 39Public service pension schemes.
- 40Other pension schemes.
- Charges by pension arrangements
- 41Charges in respect of pension sharing costs.
- Adaptation of statutory schemes
- 42Extension of scheme-making powers.
- 43Power to extend judicial pension schemes.
- Supplementary
- 44Disapplication of restrictions on alienation.
- 45Information.
- 46Interpretation of Chapter I.
- Chapter II: Sharing of state scheme rights
- 47Shareable state scheme rights.
- 48Activation of benefit sharing.
- 49Creation of state scheme pension debits and credits.
- 49ACreation of debits and credits: transferor in new state pension system and sharing activated on or after 6 April 2016
- 50Effect of state scheme pension debits and credits.
- 51Interpretation of Chapter II.
- Part V: Welfare
- Chapter I: Social security benefits
- Additional pensions
- 52Preservation of rights in respect of additional pensions.
- State maternity allowance
- 53Extension of entitlement to state maternity allowance.
- Benefits for widows and widowers
- 54Bereavement payments.
- 55New allowances for bereaved spouses.
- 56Entitlement to Category B retirement pension by reference to new allowances.
- Work-focused interviews
- 57Claim or full entitlement to certain benefits conditional on work-focused interview. Repealed
- 58Optional work-focused interviews. Repealed
- Jobseeker’s allowance
- 59Couples to make joint claim for allowance.
- 60Special schemes for claimants for jobseeker’s allowance.
- Incapacity for work
- 61Incapacity for work: personal capability assessments.
- Incapacity benefits
- 62Incapacity benefit: restriction to recent contributors.
- 63Incapacity benefit: reduction for pension payments.
- 64Incapacity benefit: persons incapacitated in youth.
- 65Abolition of severe disablement allowance.
- Disability benefits
- 66Attendance allowance.
- 67Disability living allowance.
- Miscellaneous
- 68Certain overpayments of benefit not to be recoverable.
- 69Child benefit: claimant to state national insurance number.
- 70Welfare benefits: miscellaneous amendments.
- Supplementary
- 71Sharing of functions as regards claims and information.
- 72Supply of information for certain purposes.
- Chapter II: National Insurance contributions
- 73New threshold for primary Class 1 contributions.
- 74New threshold for primary Class 1 contributions: Northern Ireland.
- 75Earnings of workers supplied by service companies etc.
- 76Earnings of workers supplied by service companies etc: Northern Ireland.
- 77Class 1B contributions.
- 78Class 1B contributions: Northern Ireland.
- Chapter III: Other welfare provisions
- 79Measures to reduce under-occupation by housing benefit claimants.
- 80Supply of information for child support purposes. Repealed
- Part VI: General
- Miscellaneous
- 81Contributions and pensions administration.
- 82Authorisation of certain expenditure.
- Supplementary
- 83Regulations and orders.
- 84Consequential amendments etc.
- 85Transitional provisions.
- 86General financial provisions.
- 87Corresponding provisions for Northern Ireland.
- 88Repeals.
- 89Commencement.
- 90Extent.
- 91Short title, general interpretation and Scottish devolution.
- Schedule 1: Application of 1993 and 1995 Acts to registered schemes
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
- 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
- Schedule 2: Pensions: miscellaneous amendments
- Income payments orders against pension payments
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- Extended meaning of “personal pension scheme”
- 3Paragraph 3
- Revaluation of earnings factors: meaning of “relevant year”
- 4Paragraph 4
- Interim arrangements
- 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
- Effect of certain orders on guaranteed minimum pensions
- 6Paragraph 6
- Mandatory payment of contributions equivalent premiums
- 7Paragraph 7
- Payment by Secretary of State of unpaid pension contributions
- 8Paragraph 8
- Supervision by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
- 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- Occupational pension schemes: institutions who may hold money deposited by trustees etc.
- 12Paragraph 12
- Annual increase in rate of pension
- 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
- Occupational pension schemes: certificates etc. relating to minimum funding requirement
- 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
- Excess assets of wound-up schemes
- 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
- Pensions Compensation Board
- 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
- Diligence against pensions: Scotland
- 17Paragraph 17
- Pensionable service
- 18Paragraph 18
- Occupational pension schemes: rights of employee who is director of corporate trustee
- 19Paragraph 19
- Schedule 3: Pension sharing orders: England and Wales
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- Schedule 4: Amendments of sections 25B to 25D of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Schedule 5: Pension credits: mode of discharge
- Funded pension schemes
- 1Paragraph 1
- Unfunded public service pension schemes
- 2Paragraph 2
- Other unfunded occupational pension schemes
- 3Paragraph 3
- Other pension arrangements
- 4Paragraph 4
- Appropriate rights
- 5Paragraph 5
- Qualifying arrangements
- 6Paragraph 6
- Disqualification as destination for pension credit
- 7Paragraph 7
- Adjustments to amount of pension credit
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- General
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- 13AParagraph 13A
- 14Paragraph 14
- Schedule 6: Effect of state scheme pension debits and credits
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Schedule 7: Joint claims for jobseeker’s allowance
- Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18)
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
- 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
- 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
- 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
- 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- Social Security Act 1998 (c.14)
- 17Paragraph 17
- Schedule 8: Welfare benefits: minor and consequential amendments
- Part I: Bereavement benefits
- Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c.1)
- 1Paragraph 1
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
- Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c.48)
- 18Paragraph 18
- Pensions Act 1995 (c.26)
- 19Paragraph 19
- Part II: Incapacity
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 20Paragraph 20
- 21Paragraph 21
- 22Paragraph 22
- 23Paragraph 23
- 24Paragraph 24
- 25Paragraph 25
- Part III: Abolition of severe disablement allowance
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
- Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53)
- 27Paragraph 27
- Part IV: Income support Not yet in force
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 28Paragraph 28
- Part V: Jobseeker’s allowance
- Jobseekers Act 1995 (c.18)
- 29Paragraph 29
- Part VI: Maternity allowance
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 30Paragraph 30
- 31Paragraph 31
- 32Paragraph 32
- Part VII: Retirement pensions
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 33Paragraph 33
- Part VIII: Administration of benefits
- 34Paragraph 34
- Schedule 9: New threshold for primary Class 1 contributions
- Part I: New primary threshold
- Earnings limits and thresholds for Class 1 contributions
- 1Paragraph 1
- Liability for Class 1 contributions
- 2Paragraph 2
- Notional payment of primary Class 1 contribution where earnings not less than lower earnings limit
- 3Paragraph 3
- Calculation of primary Class 1 contributions
- 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
- Calculation of secondary Class 1 contributions
- 5Paragraph 5
- Part II: Reduced contributions in respect of members of contracted-out schemes
- Reduced rates for members of salary related contracted-out schemes
- 6Paragraph 6
- Reduced rates for members of money purchase contracted-out schemes
- 7Paragraph 7
- Payments by Inland Revenue out of and into National Insurance Fund
- 8Paragraph 8
- Part III: National Health Service allocation
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule 10: New threshold for primary Class 1 contributions: Northern Ireland
- Part I: New primary threshold
- Earnings limits and thresholds for Class 1 contributions
- 1Paragraph 1
- Liability for Class 1 contributions
- 2Paragraph 2
- Notional payment of primary Class 1 contribution where earnings not less than lower earnings limit
- 3Paragraph 3
- Calculation of primary Class 1 contributions
- 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
- Calculation of secondary Class 1 contributions
- 5Paragraph 5
- Part II: Reduced contributions in respect of members of contracted-out schemes
- Reduced rates for members of salary related contracted-out schemes
- 6Paragraph 6
- Reduced rates for members of money purchase contracted-out schemes
- 7Paragraph 7
- Payments by Inland Revenue out of and into National Insurance Fund
- 8Paragraph 8
- Part III: Health Service allocation
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule 11: Contributions and pensions administration
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7)
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.8)
- 13Paragraph 13
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
- 18Paragraph 18
- 19Paragraph 19
- Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c.48)
- 20Paragraph 20
- 21Paragraph 21
- 22Paragraph 22
- 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
- Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c.49)
- 24Paragraph 24
- 25Paragraph 25
- 26Paragraph 26
- 27Paragraph 27
- 28Paragraph 28
- Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c.2)
- 29Paragraph 29
- 30Paragraph 30
- 31Paragraph 31
- 32Paragraph 32
- 33Paragraph 33
- Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671)
- 34Paragraph 34
- Transfer of certain functions under subordinate legislation: Great Britain
- 35Paragraph 35
- Transfer of certain functions under subordinate legislation: Northern Ireland
- 36Paragraph 36
- Savings
- 37Paragraph 37
- 38Paragraph 38
- Schedule 12: Consequential amendments
- Part I: Amendments consequential on Parts III and IV
- Senior Courts Act 1981 (c.54)
- 1Paragraph 1
- Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 (c.42)
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.37)
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c.1)
- 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 14Paragraph 14
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16Paragraph 16
- 17Paragraph 17
- 18Paragraph 18
- 19Paragraph 19
- 20Paragraph 20
- 21Paragraph 21
- 22Paragraph 22
- Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
- 23Paragraph 23
- 24Paragraph 24
- 25Paragraph 25
- 26Paragraph 26
- 27Paragraph 27
- Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c.48)
- 28Paragraph 28
- 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
- 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
- 31Paragraph 31
- 32Paragraph 32
- 33Paragraph 33
- 34Paragraph 34
- 35Paragraph 35
- 36Paragraph 36
- 37Paragraph 37
- 38Paragraph 38
- 39Paragraph 39
- 40Paragraph 40
- 41Paragraph 41
- 42Paragraph 42
- Pensions Act 1995 (c.26)
- 43Paragraph 43
- 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
- 45Paragraph 45 Repealed
- 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
- 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
- 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
- 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
- 50Paragraph 50
- 51Paragraph 51
- 52Paragraph 52
- 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
- 54Paragraph 54
- 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
- 56Paragraph 56
- 57Paragraph 57
- 58Paragraph 58
- 59Paragraph 59
- 60Paragraph 60 Repealed
- 61Paragraph 61
- 62Paragraph 62
- 63Paragraph 63
- Family Law Act 1996 (c.27)
- 64Paragraph 64 Repealed
- 65Paragraph 65 Repealed
- 66Paragraph 66 Repealed
- Part II: Other consequential amendments
- Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.66)
- 67Paragraph 67
- 68Paragraph 68
- 69Paragraph 69
- Insolvency Act 1986 (c.45)
- 70Paragraph 70
- 71Paragraph 71
- 72Paragraph 72
- Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (c.1)
- 73Paragraph 73
- 74Paragraph 74
- 75Paragraph 75 Repealed
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.4)
- 76Paragraph 76
- 77Paragraph 77
- 78Paragraph 78
- Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
- 79Paragraph 79
- 80Paragraph 80
- 81Paragraph 81
- 82Paragraph 82
- 83Paragraph 83
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c.7)
- 84Paragraph 84
- 85Paragraph 85
- 86Paragraph 86
- Social Security Act 1998 (c.14)
- 87Paragraph 87
- Schedule 13: Repeals
- IPensions: miscellaneous
- IIPensions on divorce etc
- IIIPension sharing
- IVAbolition of severe disablement allowance
- VBenefits: miscellaneous
- VINational Insurance contributions etc
- VIINational Insurance contributions etc: Northern Ireland