From 5 December 2005, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 will allow same-sex partners to register a civil partnership. Among the rights given to civil partners will be an entitlement to survivor pension benefits from their partner’s occupational pension scheme, including the LGPS.
Under the Civil Partnership Act people can register their intention to enter into a Civil Partnership from 5 December 2005 - but the earliest date anyone can form a Civil Partnership (and so provide an entitlement to a survivor pension) is 21 December 2005.
The surviving civil partner of a deceased LGPS member will be entitled to pension benefits, calculated in the same way as spouse’s benefits, but taking account only of the member’s LGPS membership after 5 April 1988. The new regulations apply in respect of deferred and retired members with membership after 5 April 1988, as well as current members.
For more general information about Civil Partnerships, the Citizens' Advice Bureax have produced the following information for England and Wales:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family/registering_a_civil_partnership.htm