Fact sheet - Partner Benefits

Related leaflets and forms for download

Will my partner receive a pension after I die?

• Yes, provided you have made a valid nomination and certain conditions are met at the time of your death.

What are the conditions?

They include:

• You must have lived with your partner in a permanent exclusive relationship for a minimum of two years.
• You must be legally free to marry or to enter into a civil partnership.
• You and your partner must be financially interdependent.

What is meant by financial interdependency?

Some examples of financial interdependency are given below, but these are not exhaustive and not all need to be met. Typically interdependency means:

• You share a household and its related spending.
• You have a joint bank account or mortgage.
• You have made wills naming each other as beneficiaries.
• You have mutual power of attorney.
• You do not need to demonstrate financial interdependency at thetime you nominate your partner. This will be checked after you die.

What service will count towards my partner’s pension?

• Only service from 1 January 2007 will count automatically towards a pension for your partner.
• If you were a member before that date you may be able to cover previous service by paying extra contributions.
• Further information is available in the leaflet, ‘Survivor and death benefits’.

How do I tell you who my partner is?

• You need to complete an application form.

What do I do if my partner and I decide not to live together?

• You should inform us that your nomination no longer applies.

Where there is any difference between the legislation governing the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and the information in this fact sheet the legislation will apply.