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Pensions 11/07/2005
A civil partner's rights in their partner's state retirement pension or public sector pension is the same as that of a widower.
Civil partnership entitles you to be treated in the same way as married couples for state retirement pension. You also have rights to your partner’s public sector pension and/or contracted-out pension (you’ll have the same rights as a married man who survives his wife). For more information on these contact the Pension Service:
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
0845 60 60 265
Private pensions aren’t so clear cut. Some schemes may offer rights equal to those of a married couple, but it depends on the pension provider and agreement. The regulations against discrimination in provision of goods and services (Equality Act 2006: will become law in October 2006) should require that pension companies must not discriminate between same-sex and mixed-sex couples. You will need to discuss this with your pension provider and may need to get independent financial advice, especially if your or your employers' contributions to your pension scheme began before 5th December 2005.
If you aren't in a civil partnership, many pensions offer the opportunity for bidie-ins to share benefits, but only with a specifically named person. If your employer offers pension benefits to mixed-sex couples living together, your employer must offer the same benefits to same-sex couples living together.
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