Civil partnership

The Civil Partnership Act 2004, which came into effect on 5 December 2005, allows two people of the same sex to register their relationship as a 'civil partnership'. If this applies to you and you were in the Pension Scheme on or after 6 April 1988, the Scheme must provide a surviving civil partner's pension if the scheme member dies and leaves a surviving civil partner, whether the civil partnership took place before or after the member left pensionable employment.

The benefits differ depending on the scheme:

Classic

If a member dies with at least two years service and leaves a surviving civil partner, they will receive a pension at the rate of 50% of the members pension based on the service from 6 April 1988.

If a member dies in service, we will normally enhance the civil partner's pension. For the first three months a civil partner will receive a pension at the deceased member's rate of pensionable pay.

If the scheme member dies in retirement the civil partner's pension may be paid at the rate of the deceased member's pension for the first three months.

In both cases the increased pension may be paid for a longer period of time if any dependant children are in the care of the civil partner.

Classic Plus

A civil partner will receive a pension at the rate of 50% of the member's pension based on service from 6 April 1988 to 30 September 2002 and 37.5% of the members pension based on service from 1 October 2002. If a member dies in service, an enhancement will normally apply.

Premium and Nuvos

If a member has a minimum of two years service a civil partner will receive a pension at the rate of 37.5% of the members pension. If a member dies in service, an enhancement will normally apply.