Search Results
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
This Order, which corresponds to an Order (S.I. 2024/242) made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under sections 150, 150A, 151 and 151A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, alters the rates and amounts of certain social security benefits and other sums.
Part 2 relates to social security benefits, pensions and allowances.
Article 3 and Schedule 1 alter the rates of benefits and increases of benefit (except those referred to in Article 3(2)) specified in Parts I, III, IV and V of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (“the Contributions and Benefits Act”).
Article 4 increases the rates and amounts of certain pensions and allowances under the Contributions and Benefits Act.
Article 5 increases the sums payable as part of a Category A or Category B retirement pension under sections 11(1) and 13(2) and (3) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 on account of increases in guaranteed minimum pensions.
Article 6 increases the rates and amounts relating to the state pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 including the full rate, amounts exceeding the full rate, the rate of increments and inherited increments.
Article 7 specifies the dates from which the sums specified for rates or amounts of benefits in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 are altered.
Article 8 increases the rate of statutory sick pay.
Article 9 increases the rate of statutory maternity pay.
Article 10 increases the rates of statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay, statutory shared parental pay and statutory parental bereavement pay.
Article 11 increases the rate of graduated retirement benefit.
Article 12 increases the amount of a Category C retirement pension.
Article 13 increases the prescribed maximum additional pension for the purposes of section 52(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.
Article 14 increases the rates of disability living allowance.
Article 15 increases the rates of personal independence payment.
Article 16 increases the rates of age addition and the rates referred to in Article 16(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit in so far as they correspond to a claimant in Great Britain who was subject to regulation 2(3) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Up-rating Modification) (Transitional) Regulations 2008.
Article 17 increases the rates of transitional invalidity allowance and the rates referred to in Article 17(2) for claimants entitled to long-term incapacity benefit in so far as they correspond to a claimant in Great Britain who was subject to regulation 2(3) of the Employment and Support Allowance (Up-rating Modification) (Transitional) Regulations 2008.
Article 18 increases the rates of widowed mother’s allowance, widow’s pension and widowed parent’s allowance.
Article 19 specifies the rates of bereavement support payment.
Part 3 relates to income support and housing benefit.
Article 20 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income support. Article 20(3) and Schedule 2 sets out certain personal allowances and Article 20(4) and (5) and Schedule 3 set out the premiums.
Article 21 provides for the percentage increase of sums payable by way of special transitional additions to income support.
Article 22 states the sum by which any income support of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.
Article 23 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit. Article 23(5) and Schedule 4 sets out certain personal allowances and Article 23(7) and Schedule 5 set out the premiums.
Article 24 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of housing benefit for persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit. Article 24(5) and Schedule 6 set out the personal allowances and Article 24(6) and (7) and Schedule 7 set out the premiums.
Part 4 relates to jobseeker’s allowance.
Article 25 increases the age-related amounts for contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance.
Article 26 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of income-based jobseeker’s allowance. Article 26(3) and Schedule 8 sets out certain personal allowances; Article 26(4) and (5) and Schedule 9 set out the premiums; Article 26(6) and Schedule 10 set out the amounts of premiums relevant to joint-claim couples.
Article 27 states the sum by which any jobseeker’s allowance of a person involved in a trade dispute is reduced.
Article 28 increases the amounts of jobseeker’s allowance for the purposes of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.
Part 5 relates to state pension credit.
Article 29 specifies sums relevant to state pension credit.
Part 6 relates to employment and support allowance.
Article 30 sets out the sums relevant to the applicable amount for the purposes of employment and support allowance under the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. Article 30(2) and (3) and Schedule 11 increase the contributory allowance of employment and support allowance and the prescribed amounts for income-related employment and support allowance; Article 30(3), (4) and (5) and Schedule 12 sets out the premiums and Article 30(6) increases the components.
Article 31 increases the prescribed amounts for employment and support allowance set out in regulation 62 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.
Part 7 relates to universal credit.
Article 32 and Schedule 13 specify the amounts relevant to universal credit.
Article 33 increases the amounts specified for the transitional severe disability premium element in paragraph 5 of Schedule 2, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 3, to the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.
Article 34 revokes the Social Security (2023 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Posted worker
Posted workers are sent by their employer to temporarily work abroad in another European Union member state.
Apprenticeship
An apprentice is someone who is engaged through an employment contract to undertake a course of training and learning in order to practice a skilled trade or profession.
Early Conciliation
The Labour Relations Agency provides an Early Conciliation service following a change in NI employment law which took effect on 27 January 2020. This service helps to resolve workplace disputes in a legally binding way, without the need to take a case to the Industrial or Fair Employment Tribunal. Click below for more information or to make an Early Conciliation notification.
Labour Relations Agency retains Bronze Diversity Mark
The Labour Relations Agency has successfully retained the Bronze Diversity Charter Mark in recognition of their ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion within the workplace.
Employee engagement
Employee engagement plays a crucial role in the success of any organisation. It goes beyond the surface level of job satisfaction and encompasses the emotional and psychological connection that an employee has with their work and their workplace. Engaged employees are not just committed to their job, but they are also invested in the values of their organisation. They are more likely to put in discretionary effort, go the extra mile, and take ownership of their work, leading to improved performance and productivity.
Lyons to bring forward Miscarriage Leave and Pay regulations for NI
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons today launched a consultation which will bring forward dedicated legislation for Miscarriage Leave and Pay in Northern Ireland.
Real Living Wage podcast
In October 2024 the Living Wage Foundation announced an increase in the Real Living Wage to £12.60 per hour, a voluntary wage rate that is calculated based on the cost of living and is intended to provide a decent standard of living for employees.
In this podcast we are joined by Mary McManus, Regional Manager for Living Wage NI, based in Advice NI (a partnership between Advice NI and the Living Wage Foundation and funded by the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland) and Elaine Clarke, Director of Employment Relations Services at the Labour Relations Agency, to talk more about what the Real Wage standard is, where it came from and the challenges and benefits for employers of signing up.
Landmark Holiday Pay case concluded by UK Supreme Court
The long awaited decision from the Supreme Court in the case of Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland v Agnew and others [UKSC33] was passed down on the 04/10/2023.
In essence the case was about how to properly calculate holiday pay and how far back claims can go where the amount was miscalculated.
Misconduct and gross misconduct
Disciplinary issues arise when the employer has concerns about an employee’s conduct, absence from work or the way they are performing in their job. They may start a disciplinary procedure which could lead to disciplinary action (including dismissal in more serious cases).