Police Pension

deanh1

Hi

My partner and I have separated after 19 years. I have been a Police Officer for 14 years.
We were never married. She has been told by friends and family she is entitled to half my pension.

Does anyone know if this is correct? I know ex-husband's and wives are.

Thanks in advance

JoeCrystal

Are you already in a receipt of a pension? Well, as far I am personally concerned, as you are never married, she is not entitled to half of your pension as it is not a divorce (No need to as you never established the legal relationship with her despite staying together for 19 years). I think you managed to dodge a bullet there!

Btw, if you are still in service, it might be worth updating the nomination of lump sum death grant.

Malthusian

Unmarried partners who separate do have some rights.

Your ex's family and friends are however trying it on. Unmarried partners have no claim on the other's pensions.

Do you have any children?

JoeCrystal wrote:

I think you managed to dodge a bullet there!

Or his partner just got one in the throat if they sacrificed their earnings (e.g. for childcare) to support their partner's career in the police force. But they didn't have to make that choice.

JoeCrystal

Malthusian wrote: »

Or his partner just got one in the throat if they sacrificed their earnings (e.g. for childcare) to support their partner's career in the police force. But they didn't have to make that choice.

:undecided Good point, Malthusian!

deanh1

Thanks,

I am still serving so will have to change the beneficiary to my kids.

What you have all said is what I suspected, so thanks a lot.

hollie.weimeraner

deanh1 wrote: »

Thanks,

I am still serving so will have to change the beneficiary to my kids.

What you have all said is what I suspected, so thanks a lot.

If you are a serving officer you would be better asking a Federation Lawyer rather than rely on advice on an open forum

xylophone

will have to change the beneficiary to my kids.

These are not also her kids?

You have an ex spouse or an estranged spouse?

GunJack

xylophone wrote: »

These are not also her kids?

You have an ex spouse or an estranged spouse?

not the one the OP is talking about, at least (post 1, 19 yrs never married). But, depending on dates of an ex-spouse, possible pension-sharing but I thought that wasn't that old??

edit:- older than I thought...

https://www.pruadviser.co.uk/knowledge-literature/knowledge-library/pensions-and-divorce/#

Malthusian

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Folk on here do love jumping to conclusions, usually split down gender lines (not always I concede)

For clarity, I'm not one of those jumping to the conclusion that the OP's partner got screwed, I merely pointed out that the possibility is just as likely as the OP dodging a bullet.

And if the OP had decided to marry his partner then splitting the marital assets wouldn't have been a bullet.

For all we know the OP's partner accumulated millions in cash while the OP did all the childraising and housework in between his shifts on the force, which they will now keep for themselves (subject to child maintenance).

Malthusian

GunJack wrote: »

not the one the OP is talking about, at least (post 1, 19 yrs never married). But, depending on dates of an ex-spouse, possible pension-sharing but I thought that wasn't that old??

edit:- older than I thought...

https://www.pruadviser.co.uk/knowledge-literature/knowledge-library/pensions-and-divorce/#

Not sure where this train of thought came from, but when the OP refers to "beneficiary" they are almost certainly referring to the death benefit nomination (aka expression of wish).

There's no reference to an ex spouse in any of the OP's posts. Calling them "my kids" instead of "our kids" is perfectly normal and not some sort of linguistic slight against the ex. They're separated, they're no longer a "we". They are both his kids and their kids.

MEM62

deanh1 wrote: »

We were never married. She has been told by friends and family she is entitled to half my pension.

This is why we don't listen to friends, family or the bloke down the pub. Much tosh and little fact.