The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Type Ni-Statutory-Rule
Publication 1996-12-31
State In force
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
Department Government Printer for Northern Ireland
PDF Download
articles Not indexed
Reform history JSON API

Made: 31st December 1996

Coming into operation: 6th April 1997

The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 89(1), 89(1B), 89A(2) and (3), 90(3), 91(2), (5) and (6), 93(1) to (3) and (4), 94(1) to (4), 95(4) and (7), 109(1) and (3), 149(1), 164(1) and (4), 177(2) to (4) and 178(1) and (3) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993[^f00001] and Article 10(2) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995[^f00002] and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Part I — General

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1

Part II — Restrictions on Right to Cash Equivalent

Pre-1986 leavers

2

Chapter IV of Part IV of the Act shall not apply to a member of a salary related scheme whose pensionable service terminated before 1st January 1986 if all of the member’s accrued rights to benefits under the scheme—

Rules on continuation in employment after termination of pensionable service

3

Right to further cash equivalent on termination of employment to which the scheme applies

4

and that part shall be increased or reduced by the amount by which it falls short of or exceeds the value of the cash equivalent of those benefits as so recalculated.

  • “the relevant date” means the date when the member’s employment terminates or the date of the relevant application, whichever is the later;

and

  • “the last option date” means the date which falls— one year before the date on which the member attains normal pension age; or six months after the date when his employment terminates, whichever is the later.

Treatment of a number of employments as a single employment

5

For the purposes of section 94(1) and (1A) (variation and loss of rights to cash equivalent) and of regulations 3 and 4, where a member’s employment to which a scheme applies terminates but that member enters again into employment to which that scheme applies, then, if there is between those 2 employments—

they shall be treated as a single employment.

Part III — Guaranteed Statements of Entitlement and Calculation of Transfer Values

Guaranteed statements of entitlement

6

Manner of calculation and verification of cash equivalents

7

and, subject to paragraph (2), in this regulation and in regulations 8 and 11 “actuary” means the scheme actuary or, in relation to a scheme to which Article 47(1)(b) does not apply, the actuary referred to in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.

Further provisions as to calculation of cash equivalents and increases and reductions of cash equivalents (other than guaranteed cash equivalents)

8

where the actuarial valuation is the latest actuarial valuation obtained in accordance with Article 57 before the guarantee date.

the cash equivalent, or, as the case may be, that part of it which relates to that specified part of those accrued rights, may be reduced by the percentage by which the scheme is so shown to be deficient.

Increases and reductions of guaranteed cash equivalents

9

Increases of cash equivalents on late payment

10

Disclosure

11

Part IV — Receiving Schemes, Annuities and Arrangements

Requirements to be met by receiving schemes, annuities and arrangements

12

Part V — Time Limits for Payment of Cash Equivalents

Extension of time limits for payment of cash equivalents

13

The Regulatory Authority may grant an extension of the period mentioned in section 95(2)(a) or, as the case may be, (b)[^f00030] (trustees' duties after exercise of option) if the trustees have within that period applied to the Regulatory Authority for an extension and—

Part VI — Modification of the Act

Extension of time within which member may exercise option to take a guaranteed cash equivalent

14

the member acquires a right to the guaranteed cash equivalent as so increased or reduced.

Cases where normal pension age is earlier than 60

15

In their application to a member of a scheme whose normal pension age is earlier than 60, section 89(1)(a)(i)[^f00032] (scope of Chapter IV) shall have effect as if the words “at least one year” were omitted and sections 91(8)(a) (ways of taking right to cash equivalent), 94(7)(a) (variation and loss of rights under section 90) and 95(2)(a) and (b) (trustees' duties after exercise of option) shall have effect as if the references therein to normal pension age were references to the age of 60.

16

Schemes with an overseas element

17

Termination of pensionable service in certain circumstances to be disregarded

18

Hybrid schemes

19

Part VII — Penalties

Maximum penalty under Article 10

20

Where Article 10 (civil penalties) applies by virtue of section 89A(4)[^f00035] or 95(7)[^f00036], the maximum amount for the purposes of Article 10(2) shall be £1,000 in the case of an individual and £10,000 in any other case.

Part VIII — Revocations and Transitional Provisions

Revocations and transitional provisions

21

SCHEDULE 1 — Information to be made available to Members

1

Whether any cash equivalent (within the meaning of Chapter IV of Part IV of the Act) is available to the member or would be so available if the member’s pensionable service were to terminate and if so—

and in either case whether that part is attributable to the whole or only to part of those benefits;

2

Whether any transfer value (not being a cash equivalent within the meaning of Chapter IV of Part IV of the Act) is available to the member or would be so available if the member’s pensionable service were to terminate and if so—

and in either case whether that part is attributable to the whole or only to part of those benefits; and

SCHEDULE 2 — Transitional Provisions

In the case of an application such as is mentioned in regulation 21(2), the 1985 Regulations are modified as follows—

(3B) Paragraphs (3) and (3A) shall not apply after the expiry of the first period within which the trustees are required under Article 57 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 to obtain an actuarial valuation (as defined in Article 56(5)(c) of that Order) nor where the trustees have obtained such a valuation within that period.

SCHEDULE 3 — Regulations revoked

Column (1) Column (2) Column (3)
Citation Reference Extent of revocation
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 S.R. 1985 No. 358 The whole Regulations
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Revaluation and Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 S.R. 1986 No. 114 The whole Regulations
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 S.R. 1986 No. 225 Regulation 12
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986 S.R. 1986 No. 362 Regulation 4
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 S.R. 1987 No. 285 The whole Regulations
The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 S.R. 1987 No. 292 Regulation 7
The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Tax Approval and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 S.R. 1988 No. 107 Regulation 3
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 S.R. 1988 No. 109 Regulation 3
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 S.R. 1988 No. 127 The whole Regulations
The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer to Self- employed Pension Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 S.R. 1988 No. 214 Regulation 2
The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 S.R. 1990 No. 203 Regulation 6
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Preservation of Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991 S.R. 1991 No. 37 In Schedule 1, paragraph 2
The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 S.R. 1994 No. 300 In Schedule 2, paragraph 5

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on 31st December 1996.

John O'Neill — Assistant Secretary

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations replace the Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 (“the 1985 Regulations”) which are, subject to transitional provisions, now revoked. The Regulations supplement the changes introduced by the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the Order”) to Chapter IV of Part IV of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (“the Act”). They also consolidate and amend the 1985 Regulations. Provisions carried forward from the 1985 Regulations are amended to take into account new provisions introduced by the Order and changes made by the Order to the Act other than to Chapter IV of Part IV. Provisions carried forward from the 1985 Regulations which have been amended substantively for other reasons are contained in regulation 8(3) (requirement to obtain actuary’s report before directing that cash equivalents shall not take account of discretionary benefits), regulation 10 (requirement to increase cash equivalent if paid late) and regulation 11 (disclosure requirements and penalties).

Part I contains general provisions relating to citation, commencement and interpretation.

Part II provides restrictions on the right to take a cash equivalent if the member’s pensionable service terminated before 1st January 1986 or if the member terminates pensionable service while still in employment to which the scheme applies.

Part III concerns the new requirements relating to guaranteed statements of entitlement for members of salary related occupational pension schemes. Part III also deals with the way in which cash equivalents are to be calculated. Regulation 6 sets out the time limits within which the guarantee date in respect of a guaranteed statement of entitlement must fall and within which the statement must be provided to the member. Regulations 7 to 10 provide how cash equivalents are to be calculated and the circumstances in which they can be increased or reduced. Regulation 11 consolidates (with minor amendments) provisions relating to estimates of cash equivalents which were previously contained in the Occupational Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1986. Regulation 11 also contains further disclosure requirements. Penalties are imposed for breaches of any of the requirements of regulation 11.

Part IV sets out the requirements which a pension scheme must satisfy if a cash equivalent is to be used for acquiring transfer credits in it or rights under it, the requirements which an annuity must satisfy if a cash equivalent is to be used for purchasing it and the requirements which an overseas arrangement or a self-employed pension arrangement must satisfy if a cash equivalent is to be used for subscribing to it.

Part V provides for the extension by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority of the statutory time limits for payment of cash equivalents on the application of the trustees or managers of the scheme in question.

Part VI modifies the Act in certain circumstances. Regulation 14 modifies section 90(1)(aa) of the Act to extend the period within which a member may apply to take a guaranteed cash equivalent where that member has been informed that that guaranteed cash equivalent is to be increased or reduced or where the member has disputed the amount of the cash equivalent. Regulation 19 modifies certain provisions of Chapter IV of Part IV of the Act in relation to a scheme which provides or may provide both salary related and money purchase benefits. Regulations 15 to 18 carry forward provisions previously contained in the 1985 Regulations.

Part VII sets out the penalties that apply for breaches of obligations imposed by section 89A (obligation to provide guaranteed statements of entitlement within certain time limits) and section 95(2) (obligation to pay cash equivalent within certain time limits) of the Act.

Part VIII contains consequential revocations and transitional provisions.

Some of the enabling provisions of the Act under which these Regulations are made were amended, or inserted by, Articles 148 to 151 of, and paragraphs 6, 7 and 8(c) and (e) of Schedule 4 to, the Order.

The Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 91 (C. 4)) provides for the coming into operation of Article 10(2) of the Order and Articles 148 to 150 of, and paragraphs 6, 7 and 8(c) and (e) of Schedule 4 to, the Order, for the purpose only of authorising the making of regulations, on 6th April 1996. The Pensions (1995 Order) (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 307 (C. 18)) provides for the coming into operation of Article 151 of the Order, for the purpose of authorising the making of regulations, on 23rd July 1996.

As these Regulations make in relation to Northern Ireland only provision corresponding to provision contained in regulations made by the Secretary of State for Social Security in relation to Great Britain, the requirement for consultation under Article 117(1) of the Order does not apply by virtue of paragraph (2)(e) of that Article.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1993 c. 49; section 89(1)(a) was substituted by Article 148(2) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22)); section 89(1B) was inserted by Article 148(3) of that Order; section 89A was inserted by Article 149 of that Order; section 90(3) was inserted by Article 150(5) of that Order; section 93(2) was amended by paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 4 to that Order; section 93(3) was amended by paragraph 6(b) of Schedule 4 to that Order; section 94 was amended by paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to that Order; section 95(4) was substituted by paragraph 8(c) of Schedule 4 to that Order; section 95(7) was added by paragraph 8(e) of Schedule 4 to that Order and section 164 was substituted by Article 151(1) of that Order

[^f00002]: S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22)

[^f00003]: S.R. 1985 No. 358, as amended by S.R. 1986 Nos. 114, 225 and 362, S.R. 1987 Nos. 285 and 292, S.R. 1988 Nos. 107, 109, 127 and 214, S.R. 1990 No. 203, S.R. 1991 No. 37 and S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00004]: Section 93(3A) was inserted by paragraph 6(c) of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00005]: Section 90 was amended by Article 150 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00006]: 1987 c. 22

[^f00007]: 1985 c. 6; section 736 was substituted by section 144(1) of the Companies Act 1989 (c. 40)

[^f00008]: Section 89(1A) was inserted by Article 148(3) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00009]: 1988 c. 1

[^f00010]: S.R. 1996 No. 618

[^f00011]: In relation to regulation 11, see also S.R. 1986 No. 320, as amended by S.R. 1988 No. 109 and S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00012]: 1954 c. 33 (N.I.)

[^f00013]: 1971 c. 35 (N.I.); Schedule 2 was amended by paragraph 11 of Schedule 6 to the Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972/1073 (N.I. 10)), regulation 79 of S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1972 No. 319, paragraph 109 of Schedule 2 to the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), Schedule 6 to the Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 (S.I. 1975/1503 (N.I. 15)) and paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (S.I. 1984/1821 (N.I. 11))

[^f00014]: See S.R. & O. (N.I.) 1973 No. 15, S.R. 1975 Nos. 38, 154 and 226, S.R. 1977 No. 14 and S.R. 1992 No. 294

[^f00015]: Regulation 2A was inserted by regulation 2(4) of S.R. 1987 No. 285 and amended by regulation 2 of S.R. 1988 No. 127, regulation 6 of S.R. 1990 No. 203 and paragraph 5(7) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00016]: S.I. 1996/1919 (N.I. 16)

[^f00017]: The Institute of Actuaries is at Staple Inn Hall, High Holborn, London WCIV 7QJ

[^f00018]: The Faculty of Actuaries is at 17 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DF

[^f00019]: S.I. 1972/1073 (N.I. 10)

[^f00020]: S.R. 1986 No. 225, to which there are amendments not relevant to these regulations

[^f00021]: Section 51 is amended by Article 138(1) of, and paragraph 42 of Schedule 3 to, the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00022]: Section 56 is amended by paragraph 46 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00023]: Section 28A was inserted by Article 143(1) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00024]: S.R. 1991 No. 37; the definition of “authorised friendly society” was substituted by regulation 8(b) of S.R. 1995 No. 7

[^f00025]: Section 91(1) is amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00026]: S.R. 1996 No. 509

[^f00027]: S.R. 1985 No. 356; regulations 2, 3 and 4 were amended by regulation 3(2) to (4) of S.R. 1986 No. 362, regulation 4(2) of S.R. 1987 No. 284, regulation 6(2) to (4) of S.R. 1987 No. 292, regulation 4(1) of S.R. 1988 No. 214, regulation 4(2) of S.R. 1988 No. 109, regulation 3 of S.R. 1992 No. 304 and paragraph 4(4) and (6) to (8) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00028]: Section 611A was inserted by paragraph 15 of Schedule 6 to the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26)

[^f00029]: Section 90 was amended by Article 150 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00030]: Section 95(2)(a) and (b) is substituted by paragraph 8(a) of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00031]: Section 49 applies to occupational pension schemes by virtue of section 48(1) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993. Section 49 is amended by paragraph 40 of Schedule 3 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00032]: Section 89(1)(a) was substituted by Article 148(2) of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00033]: Sections 73 to 76 are repealed by paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and section 78 is amended by paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to that Order

[^f00034]: S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15)

[^f00035]: Section 89A was inserted by Article 149 of the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00036]: Section 95(7) was added by paragraph 8(e) of Schedule 4 to the Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

[^f00037]: Regulation 4(3) and (3A) was substituted for regulation 4(3) by regulation 12 of S.R. 1986 No. 225 and regulation 4(3A) was amended by paragraph 5(12)(a) of Schedule 2 to S.R. 1994 No. 300

[^f00038]: Regulation 3(2)(b)(ii) was amended by regulation 3 of S.R. 1986 No. 114 and regulation 2(5) of S.R. 1987 No. 285

Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.

This text is published under legislation.gov.uk's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence. legislation.gov.uk
Open Government Licence v3.0 (attribution required)
© Crown and database right. Derived from content available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 from legislation.gov.uk.