Commencement Dates
225.The provisions set out in Part 1 of the Act come into force on 6 April 2016, although some or all the provisions may be commenced earlier by means of an order. This will enable those sections which provide regulation-making powers to be commenced in advance of the implementation of the new state pension so appropriate regulations can be made. Provision is also made to allow the Secretary of State to make an order to amend the date that Part 1 is to come into force and to make corresponding amendments to Part 1 of the Act and any other enactment amended by it.
226.The provisions in section 29 (State pension credit: preserving indefinite status of certain existing assessed income periods), section 51 (Pension Protection Fund: compensation cap to apply separately to certain benefits) and Part 7 (Final provisions) came into force on the day the Act received Royal Assent.
227.The provisions in Part 3 (Pensionable age), sections 34 and 35 (Power to prohibit offer of incentives to transfer pension rights), section 41 (Penalty notices under sections 40 and 41 of the Pensions Act 2008), section 47 (Preparation of guidance for pensions illustrations), section 48 (Pensions Regulator’s objectives) and paragraph 30(2) of Schedule 13 (removing the duty for the Secretary of State to review and publish a report on the need for an alteration to rebate rates as these will be irrelevant following the abolition of contracting-out) will commence two months after Royal Assent.
228.The remainder of the Act will be brought into force by means of commencement orders made by the Secretary of State or the Treasury. An order may appoint different days for different purposes or make transitional provision and savings.