Gay couples' pension rights

Updated 21.16 Tue Apr 01 2008
Keywords: pension, marriage, gay

Gay couples will get the same rights as married people when it comes to claiming pensions, European judges have ruled.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has made it illegal for pension funds to discriminate against gays after the death of a long-term partner.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has made it illegal for pension funds to discriminate against gays after the death of a long-term partner

The ruling was triggered by the case of a German pension fund who refused to pay Tadao Maruko a widower's pension after his male partner died.

Judges said the decision amounted discrimination outlawed by EU rules because the couple's legal partnership had the same status as a marriage.

The case could have consequences for the whole of Europe but the final say will be up to national courts.

EU member states including the UK, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, acknowledge legal partnerships for gay couples.

But only Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands have recognised full marriages for gay couples.

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