Civil Partnerships Print E-mail
Friday, 25 November 2005 10:59
The Civil Partnership Act finally comes into force on 5th December 2005.  The Act gives same-sex couples the opportunity to make a formal legal commitment to each other, as apposite-sex couples can through marriage.  This means the first civil partnerships can be formed through registration from 21st December after a 15 day waiting period.
There are many accompanying changes to legislation covering social security, pensions, tax credits and employment rights.  For example, civil partners will be treated the same as married couples for tax purposes.  They should receive all the same workplace benefits as married couples.  Civil partnerships bring many other legal rights and protections.


A number of different laws are being changed in preparation for the first civil partnerships in December to make it quite clear that civil partners must be treated the same as spouses.  The sorts of workplace benefits that may be linked to marriage include;


  • accommodation, such as nurses homes
  • relocation agreements
  • dependent care agreements - time off to take care of dependants or pay for dependants
  • health packages
  • travel or leisure passes or concessions paid to family members
  • and very important for many people - pensions.

Civil partners have the right to the surviving partner's pension.  In the public sector scheme, civil partners will be treated the same as widowers, benefits will be calculated on service since 1988.  All schemes must pay benefits on service since December 2005 at the very least.  Many schemes are alot more generous than that.

< Prev   Next >