§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the pension rights of unmarried co-habitating individuals whose partners have died, with particular reference to occupational pensions. [8181]
§ Mr. HealdThere is no legal obstacle to the payment of survivors' pensions to unmarried partners who are financially dependent on ex-members.
Under Inland Revenue rules, payments on a member's death may be made by a scheme to a surviving spouse or someone who was financially dependent on the member. Any question as to whether or not a person is financially dependent and/or entitled to a survivor's benefit is a matter for schemes to decide for themselves and will depend on the provisions made by the rules of the scheme.