Commentary on Sections Schedule 29 – Minor and consequential amendments: Northern Ireland Paragraphs 108 to 112 - Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/ 3147 (N.I. 11))
1150.The Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 makes provision in relation to pension sharing orders over shareable state scheme rights upon a divorce or nullity of a marriage. Paragraphs 108 to 112 amend the 1999 Order to ensure that these provisions are applied in the same way on the dissolution or nullity of a civil partnership.
1151.Paragraph 108 amends Article 21 of the 1999 Order to provide that pension information must be supplied in connection with the dissolution of a civil partnership just as it must be supplied in connection with a divorce.
1152.Article 22 of the 1999 Order allows persons responsible for pension arrangements to recover prescribed charges relating to earmarking orders made in relation to a marriage. Paragraph 109 amends Article 22 so that it applies to earmarking orders made in relation to a civil partnership.
1153.Article 25 of the 1999 Order makes provision in relation to the activation of pension sharing orders. Paragraph 110 amends Article 25 to provide that pension sharing orders made in relation to a civil partnership are dealt with in the same manner as those made in connection with a marriage.
1154.Article 31 of the 1999 Order makes provision in relation to the implementation period required for a pension credit to be effected in relation to a marriage. Paragraph 111 amends Article 31 to ensure that pension credits to be effected in relation to a civil partnership are subject to the same implementation period.
1155.Article 45 of the 1999 Order provides for the activation of benefit sharing in relation to pension sharing orders made in connection with a marriage. Paragraph 112 extends the scope of Article 45 so that it also applies to pension sharing orders made in connection with a civil partnership.