This was usually justified on the grounds of investor protection (widows and orphans would be ripped off by an Internet broker), or liquidity (best concentrated in one big pool).
"A law is a law -- it might not be like it's working immediately, but it's got staying power, " says White, adding that more needs to be done to raise awareness about the reforms and to inform widows of their rights.
Just a few examples: Divorced and never-married women are three times more likely to be poor in old age than married women, and more than one-third of retired workers andwidows get benefits that fall below the poverty level.
Ms Miller told MPs there were "fundamental policy" issues that needed to be considered with "financial implications", such as pension entitlements for heterosexual civil partners, widowsand widowers.