The Social Security (Civil Partnership) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2005
These Regulations make minor amendments to a number of statutory instruments dealing with social security to reflect the new status of civil partnership. The amendments are consequential upon the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (“the Act”). The Act, the substantive provisions of which come into force on the same date as these Regulations, enables same-sex couples to form a civil partnership by registering as civil partners of each other (and certain overseas relationships registered abroad may be treated as civil partnerships). The Act makes provision for civil partners to be treated in the same or similar way as spouses in relation to certain benefits and obligations.