Pension

[Daij]

I had a letter from DWP today inviting me to fill in a form to claim my state pension. Everything is pretty straightforward - my bank details etc, NI number but one item is confusing. In their words,
"The date of your most recent marriage, civil partnership or divorce."
I have never married and as a result never divorced but I do have a partner that I have lived with for over 30 years. Would that class as a civil partnership? And, why would they want to know that?
I'm thinking that my marital status should not have any effect on my pension entitlement, or am I wrong?

[Chinajan]

No, that doesn't count as a civil partnership.

The reason they ask is that a legal spouse or civil partner of someone in receipt of state pension has certain rights.

[brainiac]

No, it wouldn't be classed as a 'civil partnership', unless you have gone through a civil partnership ceremony, which is a registered legal relationship, conferring rights similar to those of a married couple.

[Jackdaw33]

Just write N/A on the form.

[Tyrion44]

Double check that this is not a scam by ringing them direct not using the number on the form.

[TheChair]

The DWP works in a mysterious way. They contacted me and insisted they needed a copy of my wife's death certificate, even though she died before I applied for my pension. It cost me 60 quid to get a certified translation (she died in Greece). They subsequently awarded me a pension increase of 4 quid per year.

[Boto]

I was not entitled to a full state pension in my own right (almost but not quite) but because of my ex-husband’s contributions I do get the full pension. However if I remarry I won’t get the part that is applicable to his contributions. The rules have changed since I first starting claiming the pension.

[Peter Pedant]

they want to know that because in many things, a civil partnership confers rights that would otherwise not be created.

and you are wrong that your marital status confers no further rights. You should think seriously about a civil partnership before taking the pension, as things MAY be different if you marry before drawing the pension compared to less after.

and make a will

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/living-together-marriage-and-civil-partnership/living-together-and-civil-partnership-legal-differences/#:~:text=pensions%2C%20see%20Pensions.-,Civil%20partnerships,partner%20as%20a%20married%20partner.&text=If%20you%20die%2C%20your%20surviving,your%20occupational%20or%20private%20pension.

why get less moolah when just be signing a form you can get more?

[Daij]

Thanks everyone for your help