Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013
In short
This law, the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013, amends existing social welfare and pensions legislation. It primarily focuses on the revision of decisions regarding social welfare benefits and the discharge of liabilities in occupational pension schemes, especially when employers are insolvent.
What it regulates
- The revision of decisions made by deciding officers, appeals officers, and designated persons concerning social welfare benefits.
- The discharge of liabilities in the winding up of certain occupational pension schemes.
- The discharge of liabilities of occupational pension schemes when employers are insolvent.
- The restructuring of certain occupational pension schemes, including the reduction of benefits in some cases.
Who it concerns
- Individuals receiving social welfare benefits.
- Individuals involved in occupational pension schemes, particularly those being wound up or where employers are insolvent.
Key points
- Deciding officers can revise decisions if new evidence, new facts, a mistake in law or facts, or a relevant change of circumstances comes to light.
- Appeals officers can revise their own decisions based on new evidence, new facts, or a relevant change of circumstances.
- Designated persons can revise determinations regarding supplementary welfare allowance based on new evidence, new facts, a mistake in law or facts, or a relevant change of circumstances.
- A "relevant change of circumstances" includes changes that occurred before, or occur on or after, the coming into operation of this Act.
Legal text
Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
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- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2013 Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 49 of 2013 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS (NO. 2) ACT 2013 CONTENTS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, construction and collective citations PART 2 Amendments to Social Welfare Acts 2. Definition 3. Amendment of section 301 of Principal Act 4. Amendment of section 317 of Principal Act 5. Amendment of section 324 of Principal Act 6. Amendment of Schedule 3 to Principal Act PART 3 Amendments to Pensions Act 1990 7. Definition 8. Amendment of section 41 of Act of 1990 9. Amendment of section 48 of Act of 1990 10. Insertion into Act of 1990 of new section 48A 11. Amendment of section 50 of Act of 1990 12. Amendment of section 50B of Act of 1990 13. Amendment of section 50C of Act of 1990 14. Amendment of section 59B of Act of 1990 SCHEDULE Amendment of Schedule 3 to Principal Act Acts Referred to Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25) Pensions Acts 1990 to 2013 Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984 (No. 21) Social Welfare Acts Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 (No. 2) Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26) Number 49 of2013 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS (NO. 2) ACT 2013 An Act to amend and extend the Social Welfare Acts; to amend and extend the Pensions Act 1990; to make additional provision for the discharge of the liabilities in the winding up of certain occupational pension schemes and to provide for the discharge of liabilities of such schemes where employers are insolvent on or before the date of the wind up of such schemes; to provide for the payment, in certain circumstances, by the Minister for Finance of moneys to secure the discharge of certain liabilities in respect of certain occupational pension schemes that are being wound up where certain employers are insolvent on or before the date of the wind up of such schemes; to make additional provision for the restructuring of certain occupational pension schemes and for that purpose to provide for the reduction in the benefits being paid to certain persons under such schemes; and to provide for related matters. [25th December, 2013] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, construction and collective citations 1.
- PART 2 Amendments to Social Welfare Acts Definition
- In this Part “Principal Act” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 . Amendment of section 301 of Principal Act 3.
- a)revise any decision of a deciding officer— (
- i)where it appears to him or her that the decision was erroneous— (I) in the light of new evidence or new facts which have been brought to his or her notice since the date on which the decision was given, or (II) by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts, or (
- ii)where— (I) the effect of the decision was to entitle a person to any benefit within the meaning of section 240, and (II) it appears to the deciding officer that there has been any relevant change of circumstances which has come to notice since that decision was given, or (
- b)revise any decision of an appeals officer where— (
- i)the effect of the decision of the appeals officer was to entitle a person to any benefit within the meaning of section 240, and (
- ii)it appears to the deciding officer that there has been any relevant change of circumstances which has come to notice since the decision of the appeals officer was given, and the provisions of this Part as to appeals apply to a revised decision under this subsection in the same manner as they apply to an original decision of a deciding officer.”, (
- b)by substituting the following subsection for subsection (2A) (inserted by section 18 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 ): “(2A) A deciding officer may at any time revise any determination of a designated person— (
- a)where it appears to him or her that the determination was erroneous— (
- i)in the light of new evidence or new facts which have been brought to his or her notice since the date on which the determination was made, or (
- ii)by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts, or (
- b)where— (
- i)the effect of the determination was to entitle a person to supplementary welfare allowance, and (
- ii)it appears to the deciding officer that there has been any relevant change of circumstances which has come to notice since that determination was made, and the provisions of this Part as to appeals shall apply to a decision of a deciding officer under this subsection in the same manner as they apply to an original decision of a deciding officer.”, and (
- c)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- a)where it appears to him or her that the decision was erroneous in the light of new evidence or new facts which have been brought to his or her notice since the date on which it was given, or (
- b)where— (
- i)the effect of the decision was to entitle a person to any benefit within the meaning of section 240, and (
- ii)it appears to the appeals officer that there has been any relevant change of circumstances which has come to notice since that decision was given.
- a)revise a determination of a designated person in relation to entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance— (
- i)where it appears to him or her that the determination was erroneous— (I) in the light of new evidence or new facts which have been brought to his or her notice since the date on which the determination was made, or (II) by reason of some mistake having been made in relation to the law or the facts, or (
- ii)where— (I) the effect of the determination was to entitle a person to supplementary welfare allowance, and (II) it appears to the designated person that there has been any relevant change of circumstances since that determination was made, or (
- b)revise the decision of an appeals officer where— (
- i)the effect of the decision of the appeals officer was to entitle a person to supplementary welfare allowance, and (
- ii)it appears to the designated person that there has been any relevant change of circumstances which has come to notice since that decision was given, and the provisions of this Part as to appeals apply to a revised determination or a revised decision under this subsection, as the case may be, in the same manner as they apply to an original determination of a designated person.”, and (
- b)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is amended in the manner specified in the Schedule. PART 3 Amendments to Pensions Act 1990 Definition
- In this Part “Act of 1990” means the Pensions Act 1990 . Amendment of section 41 of Act of 1990
- Section 41
- a)firstly— (
- i)all additional benefits secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions or a transfer of rights from another scheme to which paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule relates to the extent that the rights to which the transfer relates were originally secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions, and (
- ii)benefits, the rate or amount of which is directly determined by the accumulated value of the contributions paid by or in respect of a member, or a transfer of rights from another scheme to the extent that the rate or amount of the rights to which the transfer relates is directly determined by the accumulated value of the contributions paid by or in respect of the member; (
- b)secondly, in respect of the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in that paragraph, the portion specified in subsection (1AC), to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- c)thirdly, 50 per cent of the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- d)fourthly, the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in that paragraph, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- e)fifthly, the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; and (
- f)sixthly, the benefits specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons and members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within any of the categories referred to in any of those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged, before discharging the liabilities of the scheme for other benefits. (1AB) Notwithstanding subsections
- a)firstly— (
- i)all additional benefits secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions or a transfer of rights from another scheme to which paragraph 2 of the Third Schedule relates to the extent that the rights to which the transfer relates were originally secured or granted by way of additional voluntary contributions, and (
- ii)benefits, the rate or amount of which is directly determined by the accumulated value of the contributions paid by or in respect of a member, or a transfer of rights from another scheme to the extent that the rate or amount of the rights to which the transfer relates is directly determined by the accumulated value of the contributions paid by or in respect of the member; (
- b)secondly, 50 per cent of the benefits specified in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in that paragraph, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- c)thirdly, 50 per cent of the benefits specified in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- d)fourthly, in respect of the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in that paragraph— (
- i)the annual amount, or (
- ii)€12,000, whichever is the lesser, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- e)fifthly, the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraph 1 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in that paragraph, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; (
- f)sixthly, the benefits (not including post-retirement increases in such benefits) specified in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within the categories referred to in those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged; and (
- g)seventhly, the benefits specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Third Schedule to or in respect of those persons and members of the scheme who, at the date of the winding up of the scheme, were within any of the categories referred to in any of those paragraphs, to the extent that those benefits have not already been discharged, before discharging the liabilities of the scheme for other benefits. (1AC) For the purposes of paragraph (
- b)of subsection (1AA), the portion of the benefits shall be— (
- a)where the annual amount is €12,000 or less— (
- i)the annual amount, or (
- ii)€12,000, whichever is the lesser, or (
- b)where the annual amount is greater than €12,000 and is less than €60,000— (
- i)€12,000, or (
- ii)90 per cent of the annual amount, whichever is the greater, or (
- c)where the annual amount is €60,000 or more— (
- i)€54,000, or (
- ii)80 per cent of the annual amount, whichever is the greater.”, (
- b)by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1B): “(1C) The liabilities of the relevant scheme in respect of the benefits referred to in— (
- a)each of the paragraphs (
- a)to (
- f)of subsection (1AA) shall rank equally between each other and shall be paid in full unless the resources of the relevant scheme are insufficient to meet those liabilities, in which case they shall abate in equal proportions as between each other, and (
- b)each of the paragraphs (
- a)to (
- g)of subsection (1AB) shall rank equally between each other and shall be paid in full unless the resources of the relevant scheme are insufficient to meet those liabilities, in which case they shall abate in equal proportions as between each other. (1D) Where in the discharge of the liabilities of a relevant scheme under subsection (1AB), the resources of the relevant scheme are not sufficient to discharge, in whole or in part, the liabilities of the scheme in respect of the benefits referred to in paragraphs (b), (
- c)and (
- d)of subsection (1AB), or any of those benefits referred to in any of those paragraphs, the Minister for Finance shall, in accordance with section 48A, pay the amount certified under section 48A that is required to provide for the discharge of those liabilities in respect of those benefits in accordance with those paragraphs.”, (
- c)in subsection
- b)or (1A) applies”, (
- d)in subsection
- b)and paragraphs (a), (b), (
- c)and (
- d)of subsection (1A)”, (
- f)in subsection (3B)— (
- i)by substituting “in subsections
- b)and paragraphs (a), (b), (
- c)and (
- d)of subsection (1A)”, and (
- ii)by substituting “in subsections
- d)and (1AB)(e)” for “in subparagraph (
- ii)of subsection
- b)and paragraph (
- b)of subsection (1A)”, and (
- g)by inserting the following subsections after subsection
- a)references to a post-retirement increase shall not include a post-retirement increase which became payable before the date of the winding up, and (
- b)references to an employer being insolvent for the purposes of the Act of 1984 shall be construed in accordance with that Act.
- a)the trustees of that scheme shall direct the actuary appointed to that scheme to prepare a statement of the difference between those liabilities in respect of the benefits referred to in section 48(1D) and the resources of that scheme that are available to discharge those liabilities in respect of those benefits, and (
- b)the statement referred to in paragraph (
- a)shall— (
- i)include a statement of the amount required to discharge the liabilities in respect of the benefits referred to in that paragraph (in this section referred to as the ‘relevant amount’), and (
- ii)include a statement by the actuary appointed to the relevant scheme that the relevant amount is the amount required for the discharge of the liabilities of that relevant scheme in respect of the benefits referred to in section 48(1D).
- a)apply to the Board to certify the relevant amount concerned, and (
- b)submit a copy of the statement referred to in subsection
- a)apply to the Minister to request the payment by the Minister for Finance of an amount equal to the certified amount for the purpose of the discharge by the trustees of the liabilities of the relevant scheme in respect of the benefits referred to in section 48(1D), and (
- b)include in such application the statement referred to in subsection
- a)guidelines or guidance notes issued by the Board under section 10, and (
- b)guidelines made by the Minister under subsection
- a)by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1A): “(1B) The Board may, by notice in writing, following an application by the trustees or otherwise, direct the trustees of a relevant scheme (other than a regulatory own funds scheme) to take such measures as may be specified by the Board in the notice or, if no measures are specified in the notice, such measures as may be necessary to reduce, in accordance with subsection (1C) and subject to subsection (1D), the benefits payable from the scheme to or in respect of persons receiving benefits under the scheme or persons who have reached normal pensionable age, where— (
- a)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit an actuarial funding certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- b)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- c)the actuarial funding certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, (
- d)the Board consents to the amendment of a scheme in accordance with section 50A, (
- e)the trustees of the scheme fail to submit a funding standard reserve certificate within the period specified in section 43, (
- f)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have not submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49, or (
- g)the funding standard reserve certificate certifies that the scheme does not satisfy the funding standard reserve and the trustees of the scheme have submitted a funding proposal in accordance with section 49. (1C) A reduction in the benefits referred to in subsection (1B) shall, subject to subsection (1D), be made as follows: (
- a)where the annual amount is €12,000 or less, no reduction shall be made from such annual amount; (
- b)where the annual amount is greater than €12,000 and is less than €60,000, the reduction in such annual amount shall not exceed 10 per cent; (
- c)where the annual amount is €60,000 or more, the reduction in such annual amount shall not exceed 20 per cent. (1D) Where— (
- a)the reduction referred to in subsection (1C) would result in the annual amount being reduced to less than €12,000, that reduction shall operate to reduce such annual amount to €12,000, and (
- b)the annual amount is €60,000 or more and the reduction referred to in subsection (1C) would result in such annual amount being reduced to less than €54,000, that reduction shall operate to reduce such annual amount to €54,000.”, (
- b)in subsection
- c)in subsection (2A)— (
- i)by substituting “, (1A) or (1B)” for “or (1A)”, and (
- ii)in paragraph (b), by substituting “, paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A) or paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1B)” for “or paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A)”, (
- d)in subsection
- i)by substituting “, (1A) or (1B)” for “or (1A)”, (
- ii)in paragraph (a)(i), by inserting “or (1B)” after “subsection (1A)”, and (iii) in paragraph (b)(iii)(II), by substituting “, paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A) or paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1B)” for “or paragraph (
- c)or (
- g)of subsection (1A)”, (
- e)in subsection
- Table 2 In Reference No.1, substitute “7 or 8;” for “7, 8 or 8A;”.
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