Section 155 | Effect of alternation of rates of benefit under Part II and V of Contributions and Benefits Act

(1)This section has effect where the rate of any benefit to which this section applies is altered—

(a)by an Act subsequent to this Act;

(b)by an order under section 150, 150A or 152 above; or^F1

(c)in consequence of any such Act or order altering any maximum rate of benefit;

and in this section “the commencing date” means the date fixed for payment of benefit at an altered rate to commence.

(2)This section applies to benefit under Part II, III, IV or V of the Contributions and Benefits Act.

(3)Subject to such exceptions or conditions as may be prescribed, where—

(a)the weekly rate of a benefit to which this section applies is altered to a fixed amount higher or lower than the previous amount; and

(b)before the commencing date an award of that benefit has been made (whether before or after the passing of the relevant Act or the making of the relevant order),

except as respects any period falling before the commencing date, the benefit shall become payable at the altered rate without any claim being made for it in the case of an increase in the rate of benefit or any review of the award in the case of a decrease, and the award shall have effect accordingly.

(4)Where—

(a)the weekly rate of a benefit to which this section applies is altered; and

(b)before the commencing date (but after that date is fixed) an award is made of the benefit,

the award either may provide for the benefit to be paid as from the commencing date at the altered rate or may be expressed in terms of the rate appropriate at the date of the award.

(5)Where in consequence of the passing of an Act, or the making of an order, altering the rate of disablement pension, regulations are made varying the scale of disablement gratuities, the regulations may provide that the scale as varied shall apply only in cases where the period taken into account by the assessment of the extent of the disablement in respect of which the gratuity is awarded begins or began after such day as may be prescribed.

(6)Subject to such exceptions or conditions as may be prescribed, where—

(a)for any purpose of any Act or regulations the weekly rate at which a person contributes to the cost of providing for a child or qualifying young person, or to the maintenance of an adult dependant, is to be calculated for a period beginning on or after the commencing date for an increase in the weekly rate of benefit; but^F2

(b)account is to be taken of amounts referable to the period before the commencing date,

those amounts shall be treated as increased in proportion to the increase in the weekly rate of benefit.

(7)So long as sections 36 and 37 of the National Insurance Act 1965 (graduated retirement benefit) continue in force by virtue of regulations made under Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 or under Schedule 3 to the Consequential Provisions Act, regulations may make provision for applying the provisions of this section—

(a)to the amount of graduated retirement benefit payable for each unit of graduated contributions,^F3

(b)to increases of such benefit under any provisions made by virtue of section 24(1)(b) of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 or section 62(1)(a) of the Contributions and Benefits Act, and^F3

(c)to any addition under section 37(1) of the National Insurance Act 1965 (addition to weekly rate of retirement pension for widows, widowers and surviving civil partners to the amount of such benefit).^F3F4