Commentary on Sections Part 1 – Categories of Pension Scheme Section 7: Interpretation of Part 1
56.This section defines terms for the purposes of Part 1.
57.‘Normal pension age’, in relation to retirement benefits, refers to the earliest age at which, or occasion on which, the pension scheme member is entitled to receive benefits from the scheme without adjustment for taking benefits early or late. If there is no such age or occasion, ‘normal pension age’ will be normal minimum pension age as defined by section 279(1) of the Finance Act 2004 – that is, before 6th April 2010, 50, and on or after that date, 55. A ‘fixed’ normal pension age means a pension age (or other decumulation occasion) that cannot be changed except by an amendment to the scheme rules.
58.‘Pension scheme’ has the meaning given by section 1(5) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 – that is ‘a scheme or other arrangements comprised in one or more instruments or agreements, having or capable of having effect so as to provide benefits to or in respect of people: on retirement; on having reached a particular age or on termination of service in an employment’.
59.‘Retirement benefit’ refers to the benefit that a member of a pension scheme receives, which can be provided either in the form of a ‘retirement income’ or a ‘retirement lump sum’. Retirement income is a pension or annuity payable to the member on reaching normal pension age. A retirement lump sum is a lump sum which is payable to the member on reaching normal pension age or made available for the provision of other retirement benefits on or after this time (this may include the purchase of an annuity).