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Can my cohabiting partner receive pension benefits?

If you and your partner live together but are not married or in a civil partnership you are known as co-habiting partners. When you die, your co-habiting partner may be eligible for a pension if the conditions below are met.

  • You must be able to marry or form a civil partnership with your partner; and
  • You and your partner must be living together as if you are a married couple or as if you are civil partners; and
  • Neither you nor your cohabiting partner have been living with someone else as if you are a married couple or civil partners; and
  • Either your partner is financially dependent on you or you rely on your joint income to support your standard of living – even if you don’t contribute equally.