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