Same sex couples will gain pension benefits in contracted-out schemes, while civil partners will have the right to pass on survivor pensions as married people do, under new changes announced by the Government.
Amendments at Report Stage have been announced by Jacqui Smith, Minister of State at the DTI during Committee stage of the Bill. First introduced to the House of Lords in March, tThe Civil Partnership Bill will be modified to enable contracted-out pension schemes to provide survivor pensions for civil partners, from rights built up dating back from 1988 - the year these benefits were extended to widows. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State says: “The Civil Partnership Bill is all about equality so I am delighted that with these changes civil partners will be able to pass on survivor pens...
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