SCHEDULE 1MEANING OF “SUBSTANTIAL AND EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP”
PART 1SUBSTANTIAL RELATIONSHIP
1
In deciding whether a relationship of a deceased member (“the deceased”) and the claimant is a substantial relationship, the Secretary of State is to have regard to—
a
any evidence which the claimant considers demonstrates that the relationship is substantial; and
b
must in particular have regard to the examples of the evidence specified in paragraph 2 which could, either alone or together, indicate that the relationship is substantial.
2
The evidence referred to in paragraph 1(b) is—
a
evidence of regular financial support of the claimant by the deceased;
b
evidence of a valid will or life insurance policy, valid at the time of the deceased’s death, in which—
i
the deceased nominates the claimant as principal beneficiary or co-beneficiary with children; or
ii
the claimant nominates the deceased as the principal beneficiary;
c
evidence indicating that the deceased and the claimant were purchasing accommodation as joint owners or evidence of joint ownership of other valuable property, such as a car or land;
d
evidence of a joint savings plan or joint investments of a substantial nature;
e
evidence that the deceased and the claimant operated a joint account for which they were co-signatories;
f
evidence of joint financial arrangements such as joint repayment of a loan or payment of each other’s debts;
g
evidence that the deceased or the claimant had given the other a power of attorney;
h
evidence that the names of both the deceased and the claimant appeared on a lease or rental agreement, if they lived in rented accommodation;
i
evidence that the deceased and the claimant shared responsibility for children;
j
evidence of the length of the relationship.
PART 2EXCLUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
3
A relationship is not an exclusive relationship if—
a
one or both of the parties to the relationship is married to, or is the civil partner of, someone other than the other party to the relationship; or
b
one or both of the parties is a party to another relationship which is, or could be considered to be, a substantial and exclusive relationship having regard to the provisions of this Schedule.