(1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008.

(2) The Social Welfare Acts and sections 2 to 25 shall be read together as one.

(3) Sections 26 to 29 and the Pensions Acts 1990 to 2007 may be cited together as the Pensions Acts 1990 to 2008.

(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), this Act shall come into operation on its passing.

(5) Sections 3, 8, 9 and 10 shall come into operation, or be taken to have come into operation, on the dates respectively specified in those sections.

(6) Sections 5, 12 to 17, 18 (2) to (4) and 27 to 31 shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.