SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 24Social security, child support and tax credits

Part 6Amendments of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8)

109

(1)

Amend section 13A (payment out of benefit of sums in respect of mortgage interest etc.) as follows.

(2)

In subsection (4)—

(a)

in paragraph (a) of the definition of “partner”, for “to whom the borrower is married” substitute “ who is married to, or a civil partner of, the borrower ”, and

(b)

in paragraph (b) of that definition, for “to whom the borrower is not married but who lives together with the borrower as husband and wife” substitute “ who is neither married to, nor a civil partner of, the borrower but who lives together with the borrower as husband and wife or as if they were civil partners ”.

(3)

After subsection (4A) insert—

“(4B)

For the purposes of this section, two people of the same sex are to be regarded as living together as if they were civil partners if, but only if, they would be regarded as living together as husband and wife were they instead two people of the opposite sex.”