Consultee letterThis consultation seeks views on the draft Employment Equality (Age) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019.
The Regulations amend the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006. The amendments enable integrated pension schemes to take into account a member’s State Pension when calculating the occupational pension payable, where the member has a State Pension age later than age 65, without breaching equality requirements relating to age. This takes account of the fact that State Pension age has started to increase beyond age 65.
The consultation is mainly aimed at pension administrators and employers who operate integrated pension schemes. Comments are also welcomed from the pension industry, pension schemes trustees and members, member representative organisations and any other interested organisations.
In general, Northern Ireland’s pensions policy and legislation operate in line with Great Britain, and there is, in effect, a single pensions system across the UK. The Regulations make provision for Northern Ireland similar to the draft Equality Act (Age Exceptions for Pension Schemes) (Amendment) Order 2019 proposed for Great Britain.”