The Department for Communities has made a Statutory Rule entitled “The Pension (2015 Act) (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015” (S.R. 2017 No. 66), which comes into operation in accordance with Article 1 of the Order.

The Rule makes consequential amendments in relation to the provisions of Part 5 of Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.which creates a new bereavement support payment for persons whose spouse or civil partner dies on or after 6th April 2017. Bereavement support payment replaces the existing social security benefits for the bereaved (bereavement allowance, widowed parent’s allowance and bereavement payment).

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.