Partners Pensions nomination form

NOV2012

IntroductionMany people think that after they’ve been living with a partner for a while, they become ‘common law partners’, giving them the same rights as married couples or civil partners.

In fact there is no such thing as common law partners, and couples who live together do not have the same rights as married couples or civil partners.

In the Local Government Pension Scheme, we will not be able to pay a pension to your partner if you die first, unless you have officially declared them to us, so they become your nominated cohabiting partner.

Doing this is quick and easy - it just involves filling in one simple form. What’s more, it won’t cost you anything (other than the cost of a stamp), so it really is well worth taking the next step, to give you and your partner a little extra peace of mind.

Please note: If you retired or left before 1 April 2008, you cannot nominate a cohabiting partner.

Please DO NOT

use this form if you are married, or in a civil partnership, as you are covered automatically.

www.gmpf.org.uk

Who can I nominate?You can nominate your partner - whether same sex or opposite sex - as long as you are living together as a couple, in the same way as a married couple or civil partners would. Your partner must be someone you could legally marry or form a civil partnership with, but you have simply chosen not to.

Terms & conditionsYou can nominate your partner as long as...

l You and your partner have lived together as a couple continuously for the last two years, in the same way as a married couple or civil partners would live together

l Your partner has depended on you financially, or you have depended on each other financially continuously for the last two years. We will not normally ask for proof of this, as long as you are living together.

l Neither you or your partner have been married, in a civil partnership, or living with someone else during the last two years.

So for example, you might have lived with your partner for three years, but you only got divorced a year ago. In this case, you could not nominate your partner yet.

Please note: This form does not cover any lump sum which would be paid out if you die. Whilst we could use our discretion to pay the lump sum to a partner you nominate for a pension, the most surefire way is to fill in the separate lump sum nomination form. Please ask if you need one, or download one from our website:

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What benefits will my partner get if I die?As long as your nomination was accepted by us when you made it - and it is still valid when you die - your nominated cohabiting partner will get a pension for the rest of their life as explained below.

If you die in serviceYour partner will get a pension based on the amount of membership you have built up so far*, plus all the membership you would have built up by age 65. We will use this membership, together with your final pay, to work out your partner’s pension as follows:

PARTNER’S PENSION = TOTAL MEMBERSHIP x FINAL PAY ÷ 160

Bill lives with his long term partner Jane, and has nominated her using this form. Suppose Bill died before leaving or retiring, at the age of 40, having built up 10 years so far, and with a final pay of £16,000 ... this is how it would work out:

Membership Bill had built up: 10 years

Membership he would have 25 years built up by age 65:

Total: 35 years

We would then use this pay and membership to work out Jane’s yearly pension:

35 years x £16,000 ÷ 160 = £3,500

Example

* Please note we can only base your partner’s pension on membership before 6 April 1988 if you have paid extra to make it count. Please see opposite for more...

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Making all your membership countIf you joined the scheme from 6 April 1988, then the pension for your nominated cohabiting partner is provided at no extra cost.

But if you have some membership before this date, this won’t count towards a pension for your nominated cohabiting partner unless you pay extra. You can pay for:

l All this membership, or

l One or more full year’s membership

...and you can spread the cost right up to your 65th birthday.

If you want to pay this extra amount, you must elect to do so within one year of filling in this form.

Warning

If you pay extra for any of your pre 6 April 1988 membership, that will only count towards your current nominated cohabiting partner. It will not count if you die leaving a different nominated cohabiting partner.

To find out more and to get an estimate of the cost, please see our website, email us, or phone us. All the contact details are on the back page.

If you die after leaving the LGPSYour partner’s pension will be worked out as shown opposite, but only using the actual membership you had built up when you left (and once again ignoring any pre 6 April 1988 membership unless you pay for it).

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What should my partner do if I die?Your partner should get in touch with us as soon as possible, using the contact details on the back of this booklet, and we will guide them through the procedure. But briefly we will need the following:

Proof of identityWe will need to check that the person making a claim is actually the person you nominated. So we will ask them to provide two suitable documents as proof of identity. Please don’t send these now - we will ask your partner for them at the time!

Proof nomination still validWe will also need to check that your nomination was still valid for at least two years before the time of your death. So we will need proof you were still living together, such as utility bills or council tax bills in your joint names, or sent individually to the same address. Again, we will help your partner with the procedure at the time.

And of course if there is other evidence that your nomination has become invalid, for example because you have since got married, we will reject your partner’s claim.

Cancelling your nominationIf you make a new nomination choosing somebody different, this will automatically cancel your previous nomination. And either you or your nominated cohabiting partner can simply cancel the nomination outright by writing to us.

Your nomination will no longer be valid if:l Either you or your partner get married, form a civil partnership, or live

with someone else, or

l The partner you have nominated dies, or

l You and your partner marry or form a civil partnership with each other. In this case they will automatically have the cover of spouse’s/civil partner’s benefits instead.

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What to do nextIf you want to go ahead with a nomination, simply fill in the cohabiting partner’s pension nomination form, make sure both you and your partner sign it, and send it to us. Once we have accepted your form, we will add the details to your computerised pension records, and we will write to both you and your partner, so you know it has been set up.

Remember, you can only fill in a nomination if you can answer yes to each of the following questions:

Have you and your partner lived together as a couple for the last two years or more?

Would you be allowed to marry or form a civil partnership with your partner? (For example, he or she isn’t your brother, sister, etc).

Have you and your partner been free to marry or form a civil partnership for the last two years or more? (For example, if you are divorced, was it at least two years ago?)

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Tips for filling in your formMake sure your nomination is accepted as soon as possible by following these tips...

CHECKLIST*Please use black ink and BLOCK CAPITALS so it is clear* If you make a mistake, don’t cross

it out or alter it - get a new form instead* Make sure you both sign the

form* Check it all before sending it to us

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Click here to link to the form in PDF format, which you can download/print.

Once you have done this, please fill in your form by hand and return to:

Greater Manchester Pension FundConcord SuiteManchester RoadDroylsdenTamesideM43 6SF

Produced by Tameside MBC, Administering Authority for Greater Manchester Pension Fund. It may be possible to produce this booklet in other formats -

please contact us for more information.

Version 2, November 2012

www.gmpf.org.uk

0161 301 7000

Happy to help...

To find out more or to email us, please visit our website at:

Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Concord Suite, Manchester Road, Droylsden, Tameside M43 6SF

Remember to let us know your new address if you move house.