Is there anything in the pipeline (benefit-wise) about the unequal treatment of cohabitees on the death of their partner?

Bereavement benefits possibly payable if you were married or a gay couple but not for cohabitees. In Scotland they would be considered married 'by cohabitation with habit and repute' (what a brilliant phrase eh?).

I'm looking at benefits for a male client whose female partner recently died and have got my mithering head on again as in "s'not fair".

Sue

this doesn't help, but gay/lesbian couples are only covered if they have a registered civil partnership.

So two gay people living together in an informal union, would be in exactly the same position as your client, which means there's no unequal treatment; except perhaps in Scotland where (as far as I know - but I no nothing about Scots law!!) gay/lesbian couples can't be ''civil partners' by habit and repute' and so would be treated less favourably than unmarried heterosexual partners.

I meant nothing by it Tony and am mortified if it came across as such. I know it's only relevant to those in civil partnership. I just meant it's unequal for those (gay, hetero, bi...) who choose to live together instead of 'tyin t'knot'.

Oh dear Sue... I'm sorry if I came across as being accusatory - totally unintended.

I did believe you had misunderstood BB's and civil partners - but not in a way that should leave you "mortified" - honestly...

You're right though, it is unfair, especially for hetero couples who can't have a civil partnerships or don't want any religious involvement (marriage of course having a religious background).

Though this won't help your query i thought i'd say something about "habit and repute" in Scotland. A determination that a couple are in an irregular Marriage by "habit and repute" is difficult to obtain and from the beginning of this year, for newly co-habiting couples, impossible, as the Scottish parliament decided to close the right to this determination.

"Habit and repute" needs a couple to demonstrate that they are, but for lack of clergy as it were, actually married. So that couples who could not legally marry for whatever reason, even if they were together for decades could not get such a declaration. Likewise couples who knew they were free to marry but chose not to would have difficulty getting a declaration.

There are a number of commissioners decisions on the subject.

It's like a different country!

They would have had no problem under the Klingon Statutes!

I'm not very au fait with the Statutes but do have the very basics of the language. In fact only this morning after my eighth time listening to "..we can't take your call at the moment..." from Debt Management I inadvertently shouted out "Hab SoS1H Quch" (your mother has a smooth forehead)

The mother of all insults for a Klingon. Does't that warrant a duel to the death or something similar, like forced attendance at the annual Labour Party conference?

Fell off my chair laughing!!! Nice1 Sue...

Now you know how to deal with your pent up frustration when dealing with various depts of DWP, Tony - just mumble a Qu'vathlh (Klingon curse). It works wonders!!

That's a thought...

Do you think Lursa and B'Etor (AKA the Duras sisters) are 'to be' reincarnations of George and Tony?

I've often found the Ferengi rules of acquisition to be quite a useful reference concerning the DWP. For example:

Rule 51: Never admit to a mistake if there's someone else to blame;

Rule 145: A lie is a way to tell the truth to someone who doesn't know;

Rule 179. Learn the customer's weaknesses so you can better take advantage of him;

Rule 283; Rules are always subject to change and/or interpretation.



Star Trek has a lot to answer for...

You mean like, er...dilithium crystals? Gold pressed latinum? Counsellor Troy? I'll get my coat!

I was thinking more like hypo-sprays (in real use now) and PAD's (Personal Access Devices) which we call '3G mobile technology'. There have been loads of Star Trek related inventions, most recently, transparent Aluminium is in developement (The Voyage Home).

If only they could give us social security...

Oh, and don't forget Tasha Yar - never mind your coat!

Lol! I was thinking of her also but didn't know how to spell her name.

I would have said Tasha Yaaaaaaaaaar!!