Civil Partnerships & Your Pension

You can view a pdf. version of this booklet here.

The Civil Partnership Act came into force on 5th December 2005 allowing same sex couples to gain legal recognition for their relationship, opening the door to the same benefits as married couples.

This booklet aims to tell you briefly about the registration procedure in general, but more importantly to tell you about the impact on your LGPS benefits. This includes an introduction to the type of survivor pension rights your civil partner will be entitled to if you do register the partnership. It also looks at the lump sum life cover offered by the Scheme – something you have whether or not you register a civil partnership.

If you want to know more – please contact the Avon Pension Fund

Civil Partnerships - A Brief Guide

Civil partnerships allow same sex couples to gain legal recognition for their relationship through a procedure, which is similar to a Register Office wedding.

By going through this process, you and your partner will gain various legal rights, including entitlement to survivor pensions. There could also be an impact on your state pension – for more information contact the Pension Service, or visit their website

How to register a civil partnership

Much of the procedure is like the registration procedure for a civil marriage – for more information see the General Register Office website: www.gro.bov.uk or the General Register Office for Scotland website: www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

Once you register, legally you become civil partners.

If your civil partnership doesn’t work out there is a legal ‘divorce’ procedure called dissolution. If your civil partnership is dissolved, your pension will be taken into account in any settlement. By registering your partnership through this process, your civil partner automatically become entitled to a LGPS pension if you die first.

There is a death grant nomination form for payment of lump sum life cover – this is something you should think about whether or not you register your civil partnership.

Pensions for your civil partner

Once you have registered your partnership, your civil partner becomes entitled to LGPS pension benefits if you die. You can find out more information about these on: www.lgps.org.uk or from the scheme guide.

If you die after you retire	If you die before you retire

Short Term Pension	Short Term Pension
• Paid at the same rate as your pay – but if you are part time, it is your actual part time pay • Paid to your civil partner for 3 months – can be for 6 months if you have children who are eligible for a pension and they are in your partners care.	• Equal to that part of your pension which you built up from membership in the scheme after 5 April 1988 • Paid to your partner for 3 months – can be for 6 months if you have children who are eligible for a pension and they are in you partner’s care

When the short term pension ends – ongoing civil partner’s pension*	When the short term pension ends – ongoing civil partner’s pension*
• Normally half the pension you would have received from the scheme if you had retired on ill health grounds, but only based on your membership from 6 April 1988 • Increases every year in line with the cost of living • Payable for the rest of their life	• Normally half your pension before any reductions, but only based on your membership from 6 April 1988 • Increases every year in line with the cost of living • Payable for the rest of their life

*An ongoing pension is only payable if you have at least 3 months membership in the LGPS (2 years in Scotland) or if you transferred benefits into the LGPS

Remember – a pension for your partner is only payable if you register you partnership

If you leave dependent children, they will also receive a pension for as long as they are classed eligible – this is the case whether or not you register your partnership.

But what if you leave the LGPS before you retire and you leave your benefits in the scheme as deferred benefits? In this case there will be no short term pension, but a long term pension for your civil partner will begin straight away. This will normally be half of the current value of that part of your deferred pension which you built up from membership in the scheme after 5 April 1988.

Lump sum life cover

Before retirement

If you die before you retire, a lump sum equal to two years’ pay is payable. You have this cover from the moment you join. If you are part time, the payment is two years’ actual part time pay or your retirement lump sum if this would be more.

After you retire

If you die before you have drawn a full five years’ pension, the balance of 5 years pension may be payable as a lump sum. This will be based on your pension before any reductions.

If you leave with deferred benefits

If you leave the LGPS and leave deferred benefits in the scheme, the current value of your retirement lump sum is payable.

Who will the lump sum be paid to?

If you leave the LGPS and leave deferred benefits in the scheme, the current value of your retirement lump sum is payable.

The Avon Pension Fund will decide who receives any lump sum death grant, but it is helpful if you let them know your wishes by completing a Death Grant Nomination Form.

You have the lump sum life cover shown above whether or not you register your partnership. If you do register, this doesn’t mean your civil partner will automatically get the lump sum – you should still think about filling in a Death Grant Nomination Form.

Contact the Avon Pension Fund to complete a Death Grant Nomination Form if you have not already done so. Remember to complete a new form if your wishes change.

More Information

More detailed information about the scheme is available on www.lgps.org.uk or you can contact the Avon Pension Fund.

This short guide cannot cover every personal circumstance and does not cover rights that apply to a limited number of employees. In the event of any dispute over your pension benefits, the appropriate legislation will prevail. This short guide does not confer any contractual or statutory rights and is provided for information purposes only.

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