What if I have a partner?
Same-sex couples can undertake a civil ceremony to officially register their relationship as a 'civil partnership'. Civil Partners have similar rights under the pension Scheme as opposite-sex spouses. In the event of a member's death, a civil partner will automatically qualify for an Adult Survivor's pension. The Adult Survivor's pension is 2/3rds of the member's pension for all service for which Adult Survivor's pension cover contributions have been paid (the basic pension package includes cover for Adult Survivor when you die unless you have written to BA Pensions and asked not to pay for the cover or, if you are a woman who joined before December 1987 and didn't elect to pay for Adult Survivor's cover later).
If you have a common-law spouse or have a same-sex partner that you have not registered as your civil partner, your partner will not automatically be entitled to an Adult Survivor's pension. They can however apply for discretionary Surviving Dependant's pension. For more information, look at the 'Surviving Dependant Registration Form'. Your partner would need to demonstrate that they were 'financially interdependent' with you or 'financially dependent' on you in order for the Trustees to consider paying the Adult Survivor's pension to them
It is important to note that if you die leaving a legal spouse or civil partner, any Adult Survivor's pension can only be paid to them (e.g. if you die having separated from your legal spouse or civil partner but had not legally divorced, the Adult Survivor's pension cannot be paid to any person other than your legal spouse or civil partner).
Registering your civil partner on your pension records
If you are currently working for British Airways you should update People Online with your partner's details, using the self-service option on the BA intranet. This will then automatically notify BA Pensions that you have a civil partner. We will request your original civil partnership certificate and your partner's original birth certificate at your retirement.
If you are in receipt of your pension or have a deferred pension entitlement in the APS Scheme, then you should send us your original civil partnership certificate along with your partner's original birth certificate now. We return original certificates immediately by Royal Mail recorded delivery.