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Welfare Reform Act 2012, Section 39 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 28 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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F1[F2(1)In this Part “couple” means—
(a)two people who are married to, or civil partners of, each other and are members of the same household; or
(b)two people who are not married to, or civil partners of, each other but are living together [F3as if they were a married couple or civil partners].]
F4F5(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)For the purposes of this section regulations may prescribe—
(a)circumstances in which the fact that two persons are F6[F7married] or are civil partners is to be disregarded;
(b)circumstances in which F8[F9two people are to be treated as living together [F10as if they were a married couple or civil partners]];
(c)circumstances in which people are to be treated as being or not being members of the same household.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 39(1) substituted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 20(2)
F2S. 39(1) substituted (E.W.) (13.3.2014) by The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Consequential and Contrary Provisions and Scotland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/560), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(2)
F3Words in s. 39(1)(b) substituted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 35(a)
F4S. 39(2) omitted (E.W.) (13.3.2014) by virtue of The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Consequential and Contrary Provisions and Scotland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/560), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(3)
F5S. 39(2) omitted (S.) (16.12.2014) by virtue of The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 20(3)
F6Word in s. 39(3)(a) substituted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 20(4)(a)
F7Word in s. 39(3)(a) substituted (E.W.) (13.3.2014) by The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Consequential and Contrary Provisions and Scotland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/560), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(4)(a)
F8Words in s. 39(3)(b) substituted (S.) (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 20(4)(b)
F9Words in s. 39(3)(b) substituted (E.W.) (13.3.2014) by The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (Consequential and Contrary Provisions and Scotland) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/560), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 36(4)(b)
F10Words in s. 39(3)(b) substituted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 35(b)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 1 modified by 1995 c. 18, Sch. 1 para. 2(3) (as inserted (29.4.2013) by The Universal Credit (Consequential, Supplementary, Incidental and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/630), regs. 1(2), 10(b))
Commencement Information
I1S. 39(1)(2)(3)(b)(c) in force at 29.4.2013 by S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(1)(a)
I2S. 39(3)(a) in force at 25.2.2013 by S.I. 2013/358, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 para. 18
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