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Home | Lesbian and Gay Issues | Civil Partnership

Civil Partnership

Civil Partnership and Income Related Benefits

Introduction

When civil partnership is introduced on 5 December 2005, there will be important changes affecting same-sex couples who claim income related benefits regardless of whether the couple decide to form a civil partnership.

How could these changes affect my benefits?

Income Related Benefits

By income related benefits we mean:

Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (income based), Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

From 5 December 2005, the rules about claiming these benefits change:

if you are a civil partner you and your partner must claim as a couple
if you are receiving one of these benefits when you form your civil partnership, you will have to claim as a couple
if you live as a couple with someone even if you are not civil partners, you will have to claim as a couple

If any of these apply to you, you must tell the office that deals with your benefit as soon as you can.

State Pensions

From 5 December 2005, civil partners will have most of the same state pension rights that apply to husbands and widowers. For further information you should contact the office that deals with your pension.

Bereavement Benefits

From 5 December 2005, if you are in receipt of Bereavement Benefit and you form a civil partnership, or are living together as a couple with a same-sex partner, you need to contact the office that is dealing with your benefit.

Widow’s Benefit

From 5 December 2005, if you are in receipt of Widow’s Benefit and you form a civil partnership, or are living together as a couple with a same-sex partner, you need to contact the office that is dealing with your benefit.

Other Benefits

From 5 December 2005, if you receive benefits such as Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and Unemployability Supplement and an adult dependency increase is payable for a spouse, you may be able to get extra for your civil partner. Ask about this at the office that deals with your claim.

Child Support

From 5 December 2005, civil partners will be treated in the same way as married partners for Child Support. Also, parents who are living with a same-sex partner even when they have not formed a civil partnership will be treated in the same way as parents who live together with an opposite-sex partner, but are not married to each other. Depending on your circumstances, this could affect the amount of maintenance paid for your child. For further information you should contact the Child Support Agency.