Civil partnerships: impact upon housing and council tax benefit claims

The Civil Partnership Act came into force on 5 December 2005

Any same sex couples wishing to form a civil partnership will be able to give notice of their intention to register from that date.

For state benefits including housing benefit and council tax benefit this means that same sex couples, who have formed a civil partnership or who are living together as if they were civil partners, will be treated in the same way as opposite sex couples who are married or are living together as husband and wife.

This will mean that some people who previously claimed housing benefit and/or council tax benefit as a single person will be treated as a couple and benefit claims will need to be amended to reflect this change.

What you need to do if this affects you  

This change comes into effect on 5 December 2005 and if it applies to you it is very important that you advise the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Department so that your claim can be amended. If you do not inform them of this you may be overpaid and you may be asked to repay it.

If you would like more information about this matter please either telephone the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Department on 0161 909 6504 or email us at benefitenquiries@salford.gov.uk.

This page was last updated on 22 September 2011