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Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

Type Public General Act

Publication 1992-02-13

Last updated 2026-05-06

State In force

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(7) The Treasury may by regulations provide that the amount of a contribution which apart from the regulations would fall to be computed in accordance with subsection (6) above shall instead be computed by reference to the amount of a Class 3 contribution for a tax year earlier than the payment year but not earlier than the contribution year.

Right to pay additional Class 3 contributions in certain cases

13A

(1) An eligible person is entitled, if he so wishes, but subject to any conditions prescribed by regulations made by the Treasury and to the following provisions of this section, to pay Class 3 contributions in respect of a missing year.

(2) A missing year is a tax year not earlier than 1975-76 in respect of which the person would under regulations under section 13 be entitled to pay Class 3 contributions but for a limit on the time within which contributions may be paid in respect of that year.

(3) A person is not entitled to pay contributions in respect of more than 6 tax years under this section.

(4) A person is not entitled to pay any contribution under this section after the end of 6 years beginning with the day on which he attains pensionable age.

(5) A person is an eligible person if the following conditions are satisfied.

(6) The first condition is that the person attained or will attain pensionable age in the period—

(a) beginning with 6th April 2008, and

(b) ending with 5th April 2015.

(7) The second condition is that there are at least 20 tax years each of which is a year to which subsection (8) or (10) applies.

(8) This subsection applies if—

(a) the year is one in respect of which the person has paid or been credited with contributions that are of a relevant class for the purposes of paragraph 5 or 5A of Schedule 3 or been credited (in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year) with earnings, and

(b) in the case of that year, the earnings factor derived as mentioned in subsection (9) is not less than the qualifying earnings factor for that year.

(9) For the purposes of subsection (8)(b) the earnings factor—

(a) in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year, is that which is derived from—

(i) so much of the person's earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and upon which such of the contributions mentioned in subsection (8)(a) as are primary Class 1 contributions were paid or treated as paid or earnings credited, and

(ii) any Class 2 or Class 3 contributions for the year, or

(b) in the case of any earlier year, is that which is derived from the contributions mentioned in subsection (8)(a).

(10) This subsection applies (in the case of a person who attained or will attain pensionable age before 6th April 2010) if the year is one in which the person was precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home within the meaning of regulations under paragraph 5(7) of Schedule 3.

(11) The third condition applies only if the person attained or will attain pensionable age before 6th April 2010.

(12) That condition is that—

(a) the person has, in respect of any one tax year before that in which he attains pensionable age, actually paid contributions that are of a relevant class for the purposes of paragraph 5 of Schedule 3, and

(b) in the case of that year, the earnings factor derived as mentioned in subsection (13) is not less than the qualifying earnings factor for that year.

(13) For the purposes of subsection (12)(b) the earnings factor—

(a) in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year, is that which is derived from—

(i) so much of the person's earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and upon which such of the contributions mentioned in subsection (12)(a) as are primary Class 1 contributions were paid or treated as paid, and

(ii) any Class 2 or Class 3 contributions for the year, or

(b) in the case of any earlier year, is that which is derived from the contributions mentioned in subsection (12)(a).

Restriction on right to pay Class 3 contributions.

14

(1) No person shall be entitled to pay a Class 3 contribution in respect of any tax year if his earnings factor, or the aggregate of his earnings factors, for that year derived—

(a) in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent year, from earnings upon which Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid or from Class 2 contributions actually paid; or

(b) in the case of any earlier year, from contributions actually paid,

is equal to or exceeds the qualifying earnings factor for that year; and regulations may provide for precluding the payment of Class 3 contributions in other cases.

(2) Regulations may provide for the repayment of Class 3 contributions that have been paid in cases where their payment was precluded by, or by regulations made under, subsection (1) above.

(3) Contributions repayable by virtue of regulations under subsection (2) above shall, for the purpose of determining the contributor’s entitlement to any benefit, be treated as not having been paid (but nothing in this subsection shall be taken to imply that any other repayable contributions are to be treated for the purposes of benefit as having been paid).

(4) Where primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid on any part of a person’s earnings, subsection (1)(a) above shall have effect as if such contributions had been paid or treated as paid on so much of those earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) above shall be made by the Treasury.

Class 3A contributions

Class 3A contributions in return for units of additional pension

14A

(1) An eligible person is entitled to pay a Class 3A contribution before the cut-off date, in return for a unit of additional pension.

(1A) The cut-off date is—

(a) 5th April 2017, or

(b) if later the end of the 30-day period beginning with the day on which the person is sent information about Class 3A contributions by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in response to a request made before 6th April 2017.

(2) A person is eligible to pay a Class 3A contribution if the person—

(a) is entitled to a Category A, Category B or Category D retirement pension or graduated retirement benefit, or

(b) has deferred entitlement to a Category A or Category B retirement pension or graduated retirement benefit.

(3) The amount of a Class 3A contribution needed to obtain a unit of additional pension is to be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Treasury.

(4) Before making those regulations the Treasury must consult the Government Actuary or the Deputy Government Actuary.

(5) A person—

(a) may pay Class 3A contributions on more than one occasion, but

(b) may not obtain more than the maximum number of units of additional pension.

(6) The maximum number of units of additional pension that a person may obtain is to be specified by the Treasury in regulations.

(7) In this section “deferred”, in relation to graduated retirement benefit, has the meaning given by section 36(4A) of the National Insurance Act 1965.

(8) For the meaning of “deferred” in relation to a Category A or Category B retirement pension, see section 55(3) of this Act.

Class 3A contributions: repayment

14B

(1) The Treasury may by regulations provide for a Class 3A contribution to be repaid in specified circumstances.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision about applications for repayments and other procedural matters.

(3) A person is to be treated as never having had a unit of additional pension if the Class 3A contribution paid in respect of it is repaid.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide for benefits paid to a person because of the unit of additional pension to be recovered by deducting them from the repayment.

Class 3A contributions: power to change eligibility or remove the option to pay

14C

(1) The Treasury may by regulations change who is eligible to pay Class 3A contributions.

(2) The Treasury may by regulations remove the option for people to pay Class 3A contributions.

(3) Regulations under this section may, in particular, amend an Act.

Class 4 contributions

Class 4 contributions recoverable under the Income Tax Acts.

15

(1) Class 4 contributions shall be payable for any tax year in respect of all profits which—

(a) are immediately derived from the carrying on or exercise of one or more trades, professions or vocations, ...

(b) are profits chargeable to income tax under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 for the year of assessment corresponding to that tax year and

(2) Class 4 contributions in respect of profits ... shall be payable—

(a) in the same manner as any income tax which is, or would be, chargeable in respect of those profits ... (whether or not income tax in fact falls to be paid), and

(b) by the person on whom the income tax is (or would be) charged,

in accordance with assessments made from time to time under the Income Tax Acts.

(3) The amount of a Class 4 contribution under this section for any tax year is equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the main Class 4 percentage of so much of the profits ... referred to in subsection (1) above (computed in accordance with Schedule 2 to this Act) as exceeds £12,570 but does not exceed £50,270; and

(b) the additional Class 4 percentage of so much of those profits ... as exceeds £50,270;

but the figures specified in this subsection are subject to alteration under section 141 of the Administration Act.

(3ZA) For the purposes of this Act—

(a) the main Class 4 percentage is 6%; and

(b) the additional Class 4 percentage is 2 per cent;

but the main Class 4 percentage is subject to alteration under section 143 of the Administration Act.

(3A) Where income tax is (or would be) charged on a member of a limited liability partnership in respect of profits ... arising from the carrying on of a trade or profession by the limited liability partnership, Class 4 contributions shall be payable by him if they would be payable were the trade or profession carried on in partnership by the members.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) For the purposes of this section the year of assessment which corresponds to a tax year is the year of assessment (within the meaning of the Tax Acts) which consists of the same period as that tax year.

Application of Income Tax Acts and destination of Class 4 contributions.

16

(1) All the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, including in particular—

(a) provisions as to assessment, collection, repayment and recovery, and

(b) the provisions of Part VA (payment of tax) and Part X (penalties) of the Taxes Management Act 1970, and

(d) the provisions of Part 4 (follower notices and accelerated payments) and Part 5 (promoters of tax avoidance schemes) of the Finance Act 2014, and

(e) the provisions of Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 2016 (serial tax avoidance), and

(f) the provisions of Schedules 24 to 26 to the Finance Act 2021 (penalties),

shall, with the necessary modifications, apply in relation to Class 4 contributions under this Act and the Northern Ireland Contributions and Benefits Act as if those contributions were income tax chargeable under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 in respect of the profits of a trade, profession or vocation which is not carried on wholly outside the United Kingdom.

(2) Subsection (1) above is subject to any provision made by or under—

(a) sections 17(3) and (4) and 18 below;

(b) sections 17(3) and (4) and 18 of the Northern Ireland Contributions and Benefits Act; and

(3) Schedule 2 to this Act has effect for the application or modification, in relation to Class 4 contributions under this Act and the Northern Ireland Contributions and Benefits Act, of certain provisions of the Income Tax Acts, and the exclusion of other provisions, and generally with respect to the contributions.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exceptions, deferment and incidental matters relating to Class 4 contributions.

17

(1) The Inland Revenue may by regulations provide—

(a) for excepting persons from liability to pay Class 4 contributions, or any prescribed part of such contributions, in accordance with sections 15 and 16(1) to (3) above; or

(b) for deferring any person’s liability,

...

(2) Exception from liability, or deferment, under subsection (1) above may, in particular, be by reference—

(a) to a person otherwise liable for contributions being under a prescribed age at the beginning of a tax year;

(b) to a person having attained pensionable age;

(c) to a person being in receipt of earnings in respect of which primary Class 1 contributions are, or may be, payable; or

(d) to a person not satisfying prescribed conditions as to residence or presence in the United Kingdom.

(3) The Inland Revenue may by regulations provide for any incidental matters arising out of the payment of any Class 4 contributions recovered by the Inland Revenue, including in particular the return, in whole or in part, of such contributions in cases where—

(a) payment has been made in error; or

(b) repayment ought for any other reason to be made.

(4) The Inland Revenue may by regulations provide for any matters arising out of the deferment of liability to pay Class 4 contributions, or any part of such contributions, under subsection (1) above, including in particular provision for the amount of a person’s profits or gains (as computed in accordance with Schedule 2 to this Act) to be certified by the Inland Revenue to ... the person liable.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Class 4 contributions recoverable under regulations.

18

(1) The Inland Revenue may by regulations make provision so that where—

(a) an earner, in respect of any one or more employments of his, is treated by regulations under section 2(2)(b) above as being self-employed; and

(b) in any tax year he has earnings from any such employment (one or more) which fall within paragraph (b)(i) of subsection (8) of section 11 above but is not liable for a higher weekly rate of Class 2 contributions by virtue of regulations under that subsection; and

he is to be liable, in respect of those earnings, to pay a Class 4 contribution ....

(1A) The amount of a Class 4 contribution payable by virtue of regulations under this section is equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the main Class 4 percentage of so much of the total of the earnings referred to in subsection (1)(b) above as exceeds £12,570 but does not exceed £50,270; and

(b) the additional Class 4 percentage of so much of that total as exceeds £50,270;

but the figures specified in this subsection are subject to alteration under section 141 of the Administration Act.

(2) In relation to Class 4 contributions payable by virtue of regulations under this section, regulations made by the Inland Revenue may—

(a) apply any of the provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act (except a provision conferring power to make regulations); and

(b) make any such provision as may be made by regulations under that Schedule, except paragraph 6 or 7BZA.

Class 4 contributions: partnerships

18A

(1) The Treasury may by regulations—

(a) modify the way in which liabilities for Class 4 contributions of a partner in a firm are determined, or

(b) otherwise modify the law relating to Class 4 contributions,

as they consider appropriate to take account of the passing or making of a provision of the Income Tax Acts relating to firms or partners in firms.

(2) “Firm” has the same meaning as in the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (and includes a limited liability partnership in relation to which section 863(1) of that Act applies); and “partner” is to be read accordingly and includes a former partner.

(3) Regulations under this section may have retrospective effect; but they may not have effect before the beginning of the tax year in which they are made.

General

General power to regulate liability for contributions.

19

(1) Regulations may provide either generally or in relation to—

(a) any prescribed category of earners; or

(b) earners in any prescribed category of employments,

that their liability in a particular tax year in respect of contributions of prescribed classes, or any prescribed part of such contributions, is not to exceed such maximum amount or amounts as may be prescribed.

(2) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) above may provide—

(a) for an earner whose liability is subject to a maximum prescribed under that subsection to be liable in the first instance for the full amount of any contributions due from him apart from the regulations, or to be relieved from liability for such contributions in prescribed circumstances and to the prescribed extent; and

(b) for contributions paid in excess of any such maximum to be repaid at such times, and in accordance with such conditions, as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations may provide, in relation to earners otherwise liable for contributions of any class or any part of such contributions, for excepting them from the liability for such periods, and in such circumstances, as may be prescribed.

(4) As respects any woman who was married or a widow on 6th April 1977 (the date of the coming into force of the repeal of the old provisions that primary Class 1 contributions might be paid at a reduced rate and Class 2 contributions need not be paid by a married woman or a widow) regulations shall provide—

(a) for enabling her to elect that so much of her liability in respect of primary Class 1 contributions as is attributable to section 8(1)(a) above shall be a liability to contribute at such reduced rate as may be prescribed; and

(b) either for enabling her to elect that her liability in respect of Class 2 contributions shall be a liability to contribute at such reduced rate as may be prescribed or for enabling her to elect that she shall be under no liability to pay such contributions; and

(5) Regulations under subsection (4) above may—

(a) provide for the making or revocation of any election under the regulations to be subject to prescribed exceptions and conditions;

(b) preclude a person who has made such an election from paying Class 3 contributions while the election has effect;

(c) provide for treating an election made or revoked for the purpose of any provision of the regulations as made or revoked also for the purpose of any other provision of the regulations;

(d) provide for treating an election made in accordance with regulations under section 130(2) of the 1975 Act as made for the purpose of regulations under subsection (4) above.

(5A) Regulations under any of subsections (1) to (5) above shall be made by the Treasury.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for earnings factors to be derived, for such purposes as may be prescribed, as follows, that is to say—

(a) in the case of earnings factors for 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year—

(i) from earnings upon which primary Class 1 contributions are paid at a reduced rate by virtue of regulations under subsection (4) above; or

(ii) from Class 2 contributions paid at a reduced rate by virtue of such regulations; and

(b) in the case of earnings factors for any earlier tax year, from contributions which are paid at a reduced rate by virtue of regulations under subsection (4) above;

and if provision is made for a person to have earnings factors so derived for the purpose of establishing entitlement to any benefit, the regulations may, in relation to that person, vary or add to the requirements for entitlement to that benefit.

Class 1, 1A or 1B contributions paid in error

19A

(1) This section applies where—

(a) payments by way of Class 1, Class 1A or Class 1B contributions are made in respect of earnings paid to or for the benefit of an earner (or in respect of a benefit made available to an earner) in 1998-99 or a subsequent tax year (“year 1”);

(b) the payments are made in error, in that the employment from which the earnings are derived (or by reason of which the benefit is made available) is not employed earner’s employment; and

(c) the person making the payments has not been notified of the error by the Inland Revenue before the end of the tax year following year 1 (“year 2”).

(2) After the end of year 2 the earner shall, except in such circumstances as may be prescribed, be treated for all purposes relating to—

(a) contributions and contributory benefits; and

(b) statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay,

as if the earnings were derived from (or the benefit were made available by reason of) employed earner’s employment.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) above shall be made by the Treasury.

Extended meaning of “benefit” etc in Part 1

19B

In this Part references to “benefit” or “contributory benefit” include benefit under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014.

Part II — Contributory Benefits

Preliminary

Descriptions of contributory benefits.

20

(1) Contributory benefits under this Part of this Act are of the following descriptions, namely—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) incapacity benefit, comprising—

(i) short-term incapacity benefit, and

(ii) long-term incapacity benefit;

(d) maternity allowance ... ;

(e) widow’s benefit, comprising—

(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii) widowed mother’s allowance ... ;

(iii) widow’s pension;

(ea) widowed parent's allowance;

(f) retirement pensions of the following categories—

(i) Category A, payable to a person by virtue of his own contributions (with increase for adult ... dependants); and

(ii) Category B, payable to a person by virtue of the contributions of a spouse ... or civil partner

(fa) shared additional pensions;

(g) for existing beneficiaries only, child’s special allowance.

(2) In this Act—

“long-term benefit” means—long-term incapacity benefit;a widowed mother’s allowance;a widowed parent’s allowance;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a widow’s pension; anda Category A or Category B retirement pension a shared additional pension;; and

“short-term benefit” means—. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .short-term incapacity benefit; andmaternity allowance.

(3) The provisions of this Part of this Act are subject to the provisions of Chapter II of Part III of the Pensions Act (reduction in benefits for members of schemes that were contracted-out).

Contribution conditions.

21

(1) Entitlement to any of the benefits specified in section 20(1) above, other than short-term incapacity benefit under subsection (1)(b) of section 30A below, long-term incapacity benefit under subsection (5) of that section , maternity allowance under section 35 or 35B below or short-term or long-term incapacity benefit under section 40 or 41 below or a shared additional pension under section 55A or 55AA below, depends on contribution conditions being satisfied (either by the claimant or by some other person, according to the particular benefit).

(2) The class or classes of contribution which, for the purposes of subsection (1) above, are relevant in relation to each of those benefits are as follows—

. . .	. . .
Short-term incapacity benefit under section 30A(1)(a) below	Class 1 or 2
. . .	. . .
. . .	. . .
---	---
Widowed mother’s allowance	Class 1, 2 or 3
Widowed parent’s allowance	Class 1, 2 or 3
. . .	. . .
Widow’s pension	Class 1, 2 or 3
Category A retirement pension	Class 1, 2 or 3
Category B retirement pension	Class 1, 2 or 3
Child’s special allowance	Class 1, 2 or 3

(3) The relevant contribution conditions in relation to the benefits specified in subsection (2) above are those specified in Part I of Schedule 3 to this Act.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) In subsection (4) above and Schedule 3 to this Act—

(a) “the contributor concerned”, for the purposes of any contribution condition, means the person by whom the condition is to be satisfied;

(b) “a relevant class”, in relation to any benefit, means a class of contributions specified in relation to that benefit in subsection (2) above;

(i) where the year in question is 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, means, in relation to a person, the aggregate of his earnings factors derived from so much of his earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid and from his Class 2 and Class 3 contributions; and

(ii) where the year in question is any earlier tax year, means, in relation to a person’s contributions of any class or classes, the aggregate of his earnings factors derived from all those contributions;

(d) except in the expression “benefit year”, “year” means a tax year.

(5A) Where primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid on any part of a person’s earnings, the following provisions, namely—

(a) subsection (5)(c) above;

(b) sections 22(1)(a) , (2A) and (3)(a), 23(3)(a), 24(2)(a), 44(6)(za) and (a) ... below; and

shall have effect as if such contributions had been paid or treated as paid on so much of the earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit.

(6) In this Part of this Act “benefit year” means a period—

(a) beginning with the first Sunday in January in any calendar year, and

(b) ending with the Saturday immediately preceding the first Sunday in January in the following calendar year;

but for any prescribed purposes of this Part of this Act “benefit year” may by regulations be made to mean such other period (whether or not a period of 12 months) as may be specified in the regulations.

Earnings factors.

22

(1) A person shall, for the purposes specified in subsection (2) below, be treated as having annual earnings factors derived—

(a) in the case of 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, from so much of his earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid and from Class 2 and Class 3 contributions; and

(b) in the case of any earlier tax year, from his contributions of any of Classes 1, 2 and 3;

but subject to the following provisions of this section and those of section 23 below.

(2) The purposes referred to in subsection (1) above are those of—

(a) establishing, by reference to the satisfaction of contribution conditions, entitlement to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, to a contributory employment and support allowance or to any benefit specified in section 20(1) above, other than maternity allowance; ...

(b) calculating the additional pension in the rate of a long-term benefit ; and

(c) establishing entitlement to a state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014 and, where relevant, calculating the rate of a state pension under that Part; and

(d) establishing entitlement to bereavement support payment under section 30 of the Pensions Act 2014.

(2A) For the purposes specified in subsection (2)(b) above, in the case of the first appointed year or any subsequent tax year a person’s earnings factor shall be treated as derived only from so much of his earnings as did not exceed the applicable limit and on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid.

This subsection does not affect the operation of sections 44A and 44B (deemed earnings factors).

(2B) “The applicable limit” means—

(a) in relation to a tax year before 2009-10, the upper earnings limit;

(b) in relation to 2009-10 or any subsequent tax year, the upper accrual point.

(3) Separate earnings factors may be derived for 1987-88 and subsequent tax years—

(a) from earnings not exceeding the upper earnings limit upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid;

(b) from earnings which have been credited;

(d) by any combination of the methods mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) above,

and may be derived for any earlier tax year from contributions of different classes paid or credited in the same tax year, and from contributions which have actually been paid, as opposed to those not paid but credited.

(4) Subject to regulations under section 19(4) to (6) above, no earnings factor shall be derived—

(a) for 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, from earnings in respect of which primary Class 1 contributions are paid at the reduced rate, or

(b) for any earlier tax year, from primary Class 1 contributions paid at the reduced rate or from secondary Class 1 contributions.

(5) Regulations may provide for crediting—

(a) for 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, earnings or Class 2 or Class 3 contributions, or

(b) for any earlier tax year, contributions of any class,

for the purpose of bringing a person’s earnings factor for that tax year to a figure which will enable him to satisfy contribution conditions of entitlement to a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, to a contributory employment and support allowance or to any prescribed description of benefit (whether his own entitlement or another person’s).

(5ZA) Regulations may provide for crediting—

(a) for 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year, earnings or Class 2 or Class 3 contributions, or

(b) for any earlier tax year, contributions of any class,

for the purpose of bringing an earnings factor for that tax year to a figure which will make that year a “qualifying year”, “pre-commencement qualifying year” or “post-commencement qualifying year” of a person for the purposes of Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014 (see sections 2(4) and 4(4) of that Act).

(5ZB) Regulations under subsection (5ZA) must provide for crediting a person with such contributions as may be specified in respect of periods on or after 6 April 1975 during which the person was—

(a) a spouse or civil partner of a member of Her Majesty's forces,

(b) accompanying the member on an assignment outside the United Kingdom, and

(5A) Section 23A makes provision for the crediting of Class 3 contributions for the purpose of determining entitlement to the benefits to which that section applies.

(6) Regulations may impose limits with respect to the earnings factors which a person may have or be treated as having in respect of any one tax year.

(7) The power to amend regulations made before 30th March 1977 (the passing of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1977) under subsection (5) above may be so exercised as to restrict the circumstances in which and the purposes for which a person is entitled to credits in respect of weeks before the coming into force of the amending regulations; but not so as to affect any benefit for a period before the coming into force of the amending regulations if it was claimed before 18th March 1977.

(8) In this section, “contributory employment and support allowance” means a contributory allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (employment and support allowance).

(9) References in this Act or any other Act to earnings factors derived from so much of a person's earnings as do not exceed the upper accrual point or the upper earnings limit are to be read, in relation to earners paid otherwise than weekly, as references to earnings factors derived from so much of those earnings as do not exceed the prescribed equivalent.

Provisions supplemental to sections 21 and 22.

23

(1) Earnings factors derived as mentioned in section 22(1) above, including earnings factors as increased by any order under section 148 of the Administration Act—

(a) shall be expressed, subject to subsection (2) below, as whole numbers of pounds; and

(b) shall be made ascertainable from tables or rules to be drawn up by the Secretary of State and embodied in regulations.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not require earnings factors in respect of the tax year 1978-79 or any subsequent tax year which have been revalued for the purpose of calculating guaranteed minimum pensions under the Pensions Act or the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 to be expressed as whole numbers of pounds.

(3) The tables and rules referred to in subsection (1) above shall be drawn up so that, in general—

(a) in respect of the tax year 1987-88 and any subsequent tax year, the amount of earnings not exceeding the upper earnings limit upon which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid gives rise, subject to subsections (3A) and (4) below, to an earnings factor for that year equal or approximating to the amount of those earnings; and

(b) any number of Class 2 or Class 3 contributions in respect of a tax year gives rise to an earnings factor for that tax year equal or approximating to that year’s lower earnings limit for Class 1 contributions multiplied by the number of contributions.

(3A) For the purposes specified in section 22(2)(b) (additional pension), subsection (3)(a) has effect in relation to 2009-10 and subsequent tax years as if the reference to the upper earnings limit were to the upper accrual point.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such modifications of subsection (3)(a) above as appear to him to be appropriate in consequence of section 8(2) above.

Contributions credits for relevant parents and carers

23A

(1) This section applies to the following benefits—

(a) a Category A retirement pension in a case where the contributor concerned attains pensionable age on or after 6th April 2010;

(b) a Category B retirement pension payable by virtue of section 48A or 48AA below in a case where the contributor concerned attains pensionable age on or after that date;

(c) a Category B retirement pension payable by virtue of section 48B below in a case where the contributor concerned dies on or after that date without having attained pensionable age before that date;

(d) a widowed parent's allowance payable in a case where the contributor concerned dies on or after that date;

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) The contributor concerned in the case of a benefit to which this section applies shall be credited with a Class 3 contribution for each week falling after 6th April 2010 in respect of which the contributor was a relevant carer.

(3) A person is a relevant carer in respect of a week if the person—

(a) is awarded child benefit for any part of that week in respect of a child under the age of 12,

(b) is a foster parent for any part of that week, or

(4) Regulations may make provision for a person's entitlement to be credited with Class 3 contributions by virtue of falling within subsection (3)(b) or (c) above to be conditional on the person—

(a) applying to be so credited in accordance with the prescribed requirements, and

(b) complying with the prescribed requirements as to the provision of information to the Secretary of State or to the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

(5) The contributor concerned in the case of a benefit to which this section applies shall be credited with 52 Class 3 contributions for each tax year ending before 6th April 2010 in which the contributor was precluded from regular employment by responsibilities at home within the meaning of regulations under paragraph 5(7) of Schedule 3.

(6) But the maximum number of tax years for which a person can be credited with contributions under subsection (5) above is—

(a) in the case of a benefit mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (c) above, 22;

(b) in the case of a benefit mentioned in subsection (1)(d) ... above, half the requisite number of years of the person's working life.

(7) The table in paragraph 5(5) of Schedule 3 (requisite number of years of a working life of given duration) applies for the purposes of subsection (6)(b) above as it applies for the purposes of the second condition set out in paragraph 5(3) of that Schedule.

(8) For the purpose of determining entitlement to a benefit to which this section applies, a week that falls partly in one tax year and partly in another is to be treated as falling in the year in which it begins and not in the following year.

(8A) Where this section, or regulations made under it, have the effect that the contributor concerned is credited, on or after 6 April 2016, with contributions for a tax year starting before that date, the contributions are to be treated for the purposes of calculating the rate under paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to the Pensions Act 2014 as having been credited before 6 April 2016.

(9) In this section—

“the contributor concerned” has the meaning given in section 21(5)(a) above;

“foster parent” has the meaning given by regulations.

Records of earnings and calculation of earnings factors in absence of records.

24

(1) Regulations may provide for requiring persons to maintain, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, records of such earnings paid by them as are relevant for the purpose of calculating earnings factors, and to retain such records for so long as may be prescribed.

(2) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that records of earnings relevant for the purpose of calculating a person’s earnings factors for the tax year 1987-88 or any subsequent tax year have not been maintained or retained or are otherwise unobtainable, then, for the purpose of determining those earnings factors, he may—

(a) compute, in such manner as he thinks fit, an amount which shall be regarded as the amount of so much of that person’s earnings as did not exceed the upper earnings limit and on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid; or

(b) take the amount of those earnings to be such sum as he may specify in the particular case.

Unemployment benefit

Unemployment benefit.

25

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Determination of days for which unemployment benefit is payable.

25A

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Power to amend provisions as to days of entitlement.

25B

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Duration of unemployment benefit.

26

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Interruption of employment in connection with trade dispute.

27

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Unemployment benefit - other disqualifications etc.

28

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Exemptions from disqualification for unemployment benefit.

29

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Abatement of unemployment benefit on account of payments of occupational or personal pension.

30

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Incapacity benefit

Incapacity benefit: entitlement.

30A

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a person who satisfies

(a) either of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below; or

(b) if he satisfies neither of those conditions, each of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2A) below,

is entitled to short-term incapacity benefit in respect of any day of incapacity for work (“the relevant day”) which forms part of a period of incapacity for work.

(2) The conditions mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above are that—

(a) he is under pensionable age on the relevant day and satisfies the contribution conditions specified for short-term incapacity benefit in Schedule 3, Part I, paragraph 2; or

(b) on that day he is over pensionable age but not more than 5 years over that age, the period of incapacity for work began before he attained pensionable age, and—

(i) he would be entitled to a Category A retirement pension if his entitlement had not been deferred or if he had not made an election under section 54(1) below, or

(ii) he would be entitled to a Category B retirement pension by virtue of the contributions of his deceased spouse or deceased civil partner, but for any such deferment or election.

(2A) The conditions mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above are that—

(a) he is aged 16 or over on the relevant day;

(b) he is under the age of 20 or, in prescribed cases, 25 on a day which forms part of the period of incapacity for work;

(c) he was incapable of work throughout a period of 196 consecutive days immediately preceding the relevant day, or an earlier day in the period of incapacity for work on which he was aged 16 or over;

(d) on the relevant day he satisfies the prescribed conditions as to residence in Great Britain, or as to presence there; and

(e) he is not, on that day, a person who is receiving full-time education.

(3) A person is not entitled to short-term incapacity benefit under subsection (1)(a) above for the first 3 days of any period of incapacity for work.

(4) In any period of incapacity for work a person is not entitled to short-term incapacity benefit for more than 364 days.

(5) Where a person ceases by virtue of subsection (4) above to be entitled to short-term incapacity benefit, he is entitled to long-term incapacity benefit in respect of any subsequent day of incapacity for work in the same period of incapacity for work on which he is not over pensionable age.

(6) Regulations may provide that persons who have previously been entitled to incapacity benefit shall, in prescribed circumstances, be entitled to short-term incapacity benefit under subsection (1)(b) above notwithstanding that they do not satisfy the condition set out in paragraph (b) of subsection (2A) above.

(7) Regulations may prescribe the circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as receiving full-time education for the purposes of paragraph (e) of that subsection.

Incapacity benefit: rate.

30B

(1) The amount payable by way of incapacity benefit in respect of any day is 1/7th of the appropriate weekly rate.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit is the lower or higher rate specified in Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 2.

The benefit is payable at the lower rate so specified for the first 196 days of entitlement in any period of incapacity for work and at the higher rate so specified thereafter.

(3) In the case of a person over pensionable age the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit is, subject to subsection (4) below, that at which the relevant retirement pension referred to in section 30A(2)(b) above would have been payable.

But in determining that rate any increase of the following descriptions shall be disregarded—

(a) any increase (for married people or civil partners) under section 51A(2) below or (for deferred retirement) under Schedule 5 to this Act;

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) any increase (for Category A or Category B pensioners) under section 150 of the Administration Act (annual up-rating) of the sums mentioned in subsection (1)(e) of that section.

(4) In the case of a person who has been entitled to short-term incapacity benefit for 196 days or more in any period of incapacity for work and—

(a) is terminally ill, or

(b) he is entitled to the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance,

the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit payable, if greater than the rate otherwise payable to him under subsection (2) or (3) above, shall be equal to the rate at which long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above would be payable to him if he were entitled to it.

For the purposes of this subsection a person is terminally ill if he suffers from a progressive disease and his death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months.

(5) References to short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate shall be construed as including short-term incapacity benefit payable to any person who has been entitled to that benefit for 196 days or more in a period of incapacity for work, notwithstanding that the rate of benefit is determined in accordance with subsection (3) or (4) above.

(6) Subject as follows, the weekly rate of long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above is that specified in Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 2A.

(7) Regulations may provide that if a person is, on the qualifying date in relation to a period of incapacity for work, under such age as may be prescribed, the rate of long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above payable to him in respect of any day in that period shall be increased by such amount as may be prescribed.

For this purpose “the qualifying date” means the first day of the period of incapacity for work or such earlier day as may be prescribed.

(8) This section has effect subject to sections 30DD (reduction for pension payments) and section 30E (reduction for councillor’s allowance) below.

Incapacity benefit: days and periods of incapacity for work.

30C

(1) For the purposes of any provisions of this Act relating to incapacity benefit, subject to the following provisions and save as otherwise expressly provided—

(a) a day of incapacity for work means a day on which a person is incapable of work;

(b) a period of incapacity for work means a period of 4 or more consecutive days, each of which is a day of incapacity for work; and

(c) any two such periods not separated by a period of more than 8 weeks shall be treated as one period of incapacity for work.

(2) Any day which falls within the maternity allowance period (as defined in section 35(2) below) shall be treated for the purposes of any provision of this Act relating to incapacity benefit as a day of incapacity for work unless the woman is disqualified for receiving a maternity allowance for that day by virtue of regulations under section 35(3)(a) below.

(3) Regulations may make provision (subject to the preceding provisions of this section) as to the days which are or are not to be treated as days of incapacity for work for the purposes of any provision of this Act relating to incapacity benefit.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide—

(a) that paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above shall have effect as if the reference there to 4 consecutive days were to such lesser number of days, whether consecutive or not, within such period of consecutive days as may be prescribed; and

(b) that paragraph (c) of that subsection shall have effect as if for the reference to 8 weeks there were substituted a reference to such larger number of weeks as may be prescribed.

(5) Where a person claims the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit, or long-term incapacity benefit, under section 30A above for a period commencing after he has ceased to be in qualifying remunerative work (within the meaning of Part 1 of the Tax Credits Act 2002) and—

(a) the day following that on which he so ceased was a day of incapacity for work for him,

(b) he has been entitled to the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit, or to long-term incapacity benefit, under section 30A above within the period of two years ending with that day of incapacity for work, and

every day during that period on which he satisfied those conditions is to be treated for the purposes of the claim as a day of incapacity for work for him.

(5A) A person satisfies the relevant tax credit conditions on a day if—

(a) he is entitled for the day to the disability element of working tax credit (on a claim made by him or by him jointly with another) or would be so entitled but for the fact that the relevant income (within the meaning of Part 1 of the Tax Credits Act 2002) in his or their case is such that he is not so entitled, and

(b) either working tax credit or any element of child tax credit other than the family element is paid in respect of the day on such a claim.

(6) Where—

(a) a person becomes engaged in training for work, and

(b) he was entitled to the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit, or to long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above, for one or more of the 56 days immediately before he became so engaged, and

(c) the first day after he ceases to be so engaged is for him a day of incapacity for work and falls not later than the end of the period of two years beginning with the last day for which he was entitled to such benefit,

any day since that day in which he was engaged in training for work shall be treated for the purposes of any claim for such benefit for a period commencing after he ceases to be so engaged as having been a day of incapacity for work.

In this subsection “training for work” means training for work in pursuance of arrangements made under section 2(1) of the Employment and Training Act 1973 or section 2(3) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 or training of such other description as may be prescribed.

(7) For the purposes of this section “week” means any period of 7 days.

Incapacity benefit: construction of references to days of entitlement.

30D

(1) The following provisions have effect in calculating for the purposes of—

(a) section 30A(4) above (length of entitlement to short-term incapacity benefit),

(b) section 30B(2) above (period after which short-term incapacity benefit is payable at higher rate),

(c) section 30B(4) above (period after which incapacity benefit is payable at long-term rate in case of terminal illness), and

(d) section 30B(5) above (construction of references to short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate),

the number of days for which a person has been entitled to short-term incapacity benefit.

(2) There shall be included—

(a) the first three days of the period of incapacity for work, and

(b) in the case of a woman, any days for which she was entitled to maternity allowance.

(3) There shall also be included such days as may be prescribed in respect of which a person was entitled to statutory sick pay, and on the first of which he satisfied the contribution conditions for short-term incapacity benefit.

(4) There shall be excluded any days in respect of which a person was disqualified for receiving incapacity benefit.

Incapacity benefit: reduction for pension payments and PPF periodic payments.

30DD

(1) Where—

(a) a person is entitled to incapacity benefit in respect of any period of a week or part of a week,

(b) there is—

(i) a pension payment;

(ii) a PPF periodic payment; or

(iii) any combination of the payments specified in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above,

payable to him in respect of that period (or a period which forms part of that period or includes that period or part of it), and

(c) the amount of the payment or payments (or, as the case may be, the amount which in accordance with regulations is to be taken as payable to him by way of pension payments or PPF periodic payments in respect of that period), when taken together exceeds the threshold,

the amount of that benefit shall be reduced by an amount equal to 50 per cent. of that excess.

(2) In subsection (1) above “the threshold” means—

(a) if the period in question is a week, £85 or such greater amount as may be prescribed; or

(b) if that period is not a week, such proportion of the amount mentioned in paragraph (a) as falls to be calculated in accordance with regulations on such basis as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations may secure that a person of any prescribed description does not suffer any reduction under subsection (1) above in any amount of incapacity benefit to which he is entitled.

(4) Regulations may provide—

(a) for sums of any specified description to be disregarded for the purposes of this section;

(b) for sums of any specified description to be treated for those purposes as payable to persons as pension payments or PPF periodic payments (including, in particular, sums in relation to which there is a deferred right of receipt);

(c) for the aggregation of sums of any specified description which are payable as pension payments or PPF periodic payments (or treated as being so payable) in respect of the same or different periods;

(d) for such sums or aggregate sums to be apportioned between or otherwise allocated to periods in respect of which persons are entitled to incapacity benefit.

(5) In this section “pension payment” means—

(a) a periodical payment made in relation to a person under a personal pension scheme or, in connection with the coming to an end of an employment of his, under an occupational pension scheme or a public service pension scheme;

(b) a payment of any specified description, being a payment made under an insurance policy providing benefits in connection with physical or mental illness, disability, infirmity or defect; or

and “specified” means prescribed by or determined in accordance with regulations under this section.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) “occupational pension scheme”, “personal pension scheme” and “public service pension scheme” each have the meaning given by section 1 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993, except that “personal pension scheme” includes an annuity contract or trust scheme approved under section 620 or 621 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, or a substituted contract within the meaning of section 622(3) of that Act, which is treated as having become a registered pension scheme by virtue of paragraph 1(1)(f) of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2004.

Incapacity benefit: reduction for councillor’s allowance.

30E

(1) Where the net amount of councillor’s allowance to which a person is entitled in respect of any week exceeds such amount as may be prescribed, an amount equal to the excess shall be deducted from the amount of any incapacity benefit to which he is entitled in respect of that week, and only the balance remaining (if any) shall be payable.

(2) In this section “councillor’s allowance” means—

(a) in England or Wales, an allowance under or by virtue of—

(i) section 173 or 177 of the Local Government Act 1972, or

(ii) a scheme made by virtue of section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989,

other than such an allowance as is mentioned in section 173(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, or

(b) in Scotland, an allowance under or by virtue of section 49 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 or a scheme made by virtue of section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

and where any such allowance is paid otherwise than weekly, an amount calculated or estimated in accordance with regulations shall be regarded as the weekly amount of the allowance.

(3) In subsection (1) above “net amount”, in relation to any councillor’s allowance to which a person is entitled, means the aggregate amount of the councillor’s allowance or allowances to which he is entitled for the week in question, reduced by the amount of any expenses incurred by him in that week in connection with his membership of the council or councils in question.

Sickness benefit

Sickness benefit.

31

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Sickness benefit - disqualifications etc.

32

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Invalidity benefits

Invalidity pension.

33

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Invalidity allowance.

34

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Maternity

State maternity allowance for employed or self-employed earner.

35

(1) A woman shall be entitled to a maternity allowance under this section, at the appropriate weekly rate determined under section 35A below, if—

(a) she has become pregnant and has reached, or been confined before reaching, the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement; and

(b) she has been engaged in employment as an employed or self-employed earner for any part of the week in the case of at least 26 of the 66 weeks immediately preceding the expected week of confinement; and

(c) her average weekly earnings (within the meaning of section 35A below) are not less than the maternity allowance threshold for the tax year in which the beginning of the period of 66 weeks mentioned in paragraph (b) above falls;

(d) she is not entitled to statutory maternity pay for the same week in respect of the same pregnancy.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a maternity allowance under this section shall be payable for the period (“the maternity allowance period”) which, if she were entitled to statutory maternity pay, would be the maternity pay period under section 165 below.

(3) Regulations may provide—

(a) for disqualifying a woman for receiving a maternity allowance under this section if—

(i) during the maternity allowance period, except in prescribed cases, she does any work in employment as an employed or self-employed earner;

(ia) during the maternity allowance period she fails without good cause to observe any prescribed rules of behaviour; or

(ii) at any time before she is confined she fails without good cause to attend for, or submit herself to, any medical examination required in accordance with the regulations;

(b) that this section and section 35A below shall have effect subject to prescribed modifications in relation to cases in which a woman has been confined and—

(i) has not made a claim for a maternity allowance under this section in expectation of that confinement (other than a claim which has been disallowed); or

(ii) has made a claim for a maternity allowance under this section in expectation of that confinement (other than a claim which has been disallowed), but she was confined more than 11 weeks before the expected week of confinement;

(c) that subsection (2) above shall have effect subject to prescribed modifications in relation to cases in which a woman fails to satisfy the conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) or (c) above at the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement, but subsequently satisfies those conditions at any time before she is confined.

(3A) Regulations may provide for the duration of the maternity allowance period as it applies to a woman to be reduced, subject to prescribed restrictions and conditions.

(3B) Regulations under subsection (3A) are to secure that the reduced period ends at a time—

(a) after a prescribed period beginning with the day on which the woman is confined, and

(b) when at least a prescribed part of the maternity allowance period remains unexpired.

(3C) Regulations under subsection (3A) may, in particular, prescribe restrictions and conditions relating to—

(a) the end of the woman's entitlement to maternity leave;

(b) the doing of work by the woman;

(c) the taking of prescribed steps by the woman or another person as regards leave under section 75E of the Employment Rights Act 1996 in respect of the child;

(d) the taking of prescribed steps by a person other than the woman as regards statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.

(3D) Regulations may provide for a reduction in the duration of the maternity allowance period as it applies to a woman to be revoked, or to be treated as revoked, subject to prescribed restrictions and conditions.

(3E) A woman who would, but for the reduction in duration of a maternity pay period by virtue of section 165(3A), be entitled to statutory maternity pay for a week is not entitled to a maternity allowance for that week.

(4) A woman who has become entitled to a maternity allowance under this section shall cease to be entitled to it if she dies before the beginning of the maternity allowance period; and if she dies after the beginning, but before the end, of that period, the allowance shall not be payable for any week subsequent to that in which she dies.

(5) Where for any purpose of this Part of this Act or of regulations it is necessary to calculate the daily rate of a maternity allowance under this section the amount payable by way of that allowance for any day shall be taken as one seventh of the weekly rate of the allowance.

(6) In this section “confinement” means—

(a) labour resulting in the issue of a living child, or

(b) labour after 24 weeks of pregnancy resulting in the issue of a child whether alive or dead,

and “confined” shall be construed accordingly; and where a woman’s labour begun on one day results in the issue of a child on another day she shall be taken to be confined on the day of the issue of the child or, if labour results in the issue of twins or a greater number of children, she shall be taken to be confined on the day of the issue of the last of them.

(6A) In this section “the maternity allowance threshold”, in relation to a tax year, means (subject to subsection (6B) below) £30.

(6B) The Secretary of State may, in relation to any tax year after 2001-2002, by order increase the amount for the time being specified in subsection (6A) above to such amount as is specified in the order.

(6C) When deciding whether, and (if so) by how much, to increase the amount so specified the Secretary of State shall have regard to the movement, over such period as he thinks fit, in the general level of prices obtaining in Great Britain (estimated in such manner as he thinks fit).

(6D) The Secretary of State shall in each tax year carry out such a review of the amount for the time being specified in subsection (6A) above as he thinks fit.

(7) The fact that the mother of a child is being paid maternity allowance under this section shall not be taken into consideration by any court in deciding whether to order payment of expenses incidental to the birth of the child.

Appropriate weekly rate of maternity allowance under section 35.

35A

(1) For the purposes of section 35(1) above the appropriate weekly rate is (subject to subsection (5A) below) whichever is the lower rate of—

(a) a weekly rate equivalent to 90 per cent of the woman’s average weekly earnings; and

(b) the weekly rate for the time being prescribed under section 166(1)(b) below.

(4) For the purposes of this section a woman’s “average weekly earnings” shall be taken to be the average weekly amount (as determined in accordance with regulations) of specified payments which—

(a) were made to her or for her benefit as an employed earner, or

(b) are (in accordance with regulations) to be treated as made to her or for her benefit as a self-employed earner,

during the specified period.

(5) Regulations may, for the purposes of subsection (4) above, provide—

(a) for the amount of any payments falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection to be calculated or estimated in such manner and on such basis as may be prescribed;

(b) for a payment made outside the specified period to be treated as made during that period where it was referable to that period or any part of it;

(c) for a woman engaged in employment as a self-employed earner to be treated as having received a payment in respect of a week—

(i) equal to an amount 90 per cent of which is equal to the weekly rate prescribed under section 166(1)(b) below that is in force on the last day of the week, if she has paid a Class 2 contribution in respect of the week, or

(ii) equal to the maternity allowance threshold in force on that day, if she could have paid, but has not paid, such a contribution in respect of the week;

(d) for aggregating payments made or treated as made to or for the benefit of a woman where, either in the same week or in different weeks, she was engaged in two or more employments (whether, in each case, as an employed earner or a self-employed earner).

(5A) Where subsection (5B) below applies the appropriate weekly rate is the weekly rate for the time being prescribed under section 166(1)(b) below.

(5B) This subsection applies where a woman is treated by virtue of regulations under sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (c) of subsection (5) above as having received a payment in respect of each week in the specified period equal to the amount mentioned in that sub-paragraph.

(6) In this section “the maternity allowance threshold” has the same meaning as in section 35 above and “specified” means prescribed by or determined in accordance with regulations.

State maternity allowance for participating wife or civil partner of self-employed earner

35B

(1) A woman (W) shall be entitled to a maternity allowance under this section, at the weekly rate given by subsection (3) below, if—

(a) W has become pregnant and has reached, or been confined before reaching, the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement; and

(b) for any part of the week in the case of at least 26 of the 66 weeks immediately preceding the expected week of confinement, W has worked with a person (S) who at the time of her doing so—

(i) was her spouse or civil partner, and

(ii) was engaged in employment as a self-employed earner; and

(d) W is not entitled to a maternity allowance under section 35 above, or statutory maternity pay, for the same week in respect of the same pregnancy.

(2) In this section—

(a) a reference to W working with S is a reference to W participating in the activities engaged in by S as a self-employed earner, performing the same tasks or ancillary tasks, without being employed by S or being in partnership with S;

(b) a reference to W ceasing to work with S is a reference to W ceasing to do so either permanently or until after her confinement.

(3) The rate of allowance under this section for any particular week is 90 per cent of the amount of the maternity allowance threshold for the tax year in which the week ends.

(4) Subject to subsections (10) and (11) below, a maternity allowance under this section shall be payable for the period of 14 weeks (“the 14-week period”) beginning as set out in subsection (5), (6), (7) or (8) below (whichever applies).

(5) If W ceases to work with S before the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement, the 14-week period begins with the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement.

(6) If W ceases to work with S on a day that falls within the period beginning with the commencement of the 11th week before the expected week of confinement and ending with the end of the fifth week before the expected week of confinement, the 14-week period begins immediately after that day.

(7) If on a day that falls within the period beginning with the commencement of the fourth week before the expected week of confinement and ending with the date of confinement—

(a) W ceases to work with S, or

(b) she refrains from working with S wholly or partly because of her pregnancy or confinement,

Bereavement benefits: deaths before the day on which section 30 of the Pensions Act 2014 comes into force

Bereavement payment.

36

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Cases in which sections 37 to 41 apply.

36A

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Widowed mother’s allowance : deaths before 9 April 2001.

37

(A1) This section applies only in cases where a woman's husband has died before 9 April 2001.

(1) A woman who has been widowed shall be entitled to a widowed mother’s allowance at the rate determined in accordance with section 39 below if her late husband satisfied the contribution conditions for a widowed mother’s allowance specified in Schedule 3, Part I, paragraph 5 and either—

(a) the woman is entitled to child benefit in respect of a child or qualifying young person falling within subsection (2) below; or

(b) the woman is pregnant by her late husband; or

(c) if the woman and her late husband were residing together immediately before the time of his death, the woman is pregnant as the result of being artificially inseminated before that time with the semen of some person other than her husband, or as the result of the placing in her before that time of an embryo, of an egg in the process of fertilisation, or of sperm and eggs.

(2) A child or qualifying young person falls within this subsection if ... the child or qualifying young person is either—

(a) a son or daughter of the woman and her late husband; or

(b) a child or qualifying young person in respect of whom her late husband was immediately before his death entitled to child benefit; or

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