A cohabiting partner is someone you are living with as if you are married or in a civil partnership. On your death your cohabiting partner is automatically entitled to a survivor's pension as long as your relationship meets certain conditions laid down by the LGPS. The conditions are that for a period of at least 2 years at the date of your death you must:
- both have been free to marry or enter into a civil partnership
- both have lived together as a married couple or civil partners
- have been financially interdependent on each other or your partner has been financially dependent on you
- both have not been living with someone else as if you were husband, wife or civil partners.
On your death, your eligible cohabiting partner will be asked to provide proof.