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For registered Civil Partners all pension rights are the same as those for married couples, going forward from the date of registration. Private company final salary schemes
may or may not recognise past service - this is at the discretion of the trustees and members should seek clarification from the trustees.
Some schemes will recognise Civil Partners fully, some won't.
Occupational public service schemes (NHS, teachers, Civil Service) are understood to recognise service retrospectively to 1988.
State Pension will recognise Civil Partners' state pension entitlement back to 1988, which also means that all contracted-in company pensions will have to recognise Civil Partners' entitlement back to 1988 for the State Pension element of the overall pension.
It is vital that you seek advice from experts that understand the full implications of the Civil Partnership Act.
Your partner could be left with NO entitlement to your pension benefits on your death either pre or post retirement if you are not registered Civil Partners.
Even if you have completed an Expression of Wishes form (sometimes called Nomination of Beneficiary form), and stated that on your death your pension benefits should go to your partner, the pension provider may IGNORE your wishes, if your circumstances are unusual.
Read a real case of this discrimination in action .
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