This is the second e-bulletin about the Civil Partnership Act, which is intended to give people the latest information about civil partnership in the run up to the Act coming into force on 5 December.

This latest e-bulletin features:

* What employers need to know about civil partnership

* Important information for people claiming Tax Credits

* Civil Partnership and immigration control

* Changing your name after you register

Information for Employers
From 5 December this year employers will be required to offer employees who register a civil partnership the same benefits package given to married employees - this may be health insurance which is available to the employees spouse, or time off just before or after a wedding. There will also be changes to legislation regulating contracted out pension schemes. To find out more information go to:
http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/lgbt/partnership_updates.htm

Tax Credits
From 5 December civil partners and cohabiting same-sex couples who don't register a civil partnership will be treated in the same way as married couples and cohabiting unmarried opposite-sex couples, so the incomes of both partners will be taken into account when calculating entitlement to Tax Credits. From that date (5 December), same-sex couples living together (whether or not they register a civil partnership) will have to notify the Tax Credits Office of their circumstances. For more information go to:
http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/lgbt/partnership_updates.htm.

Immigration control
If you want to register a civil partnership with a person who is subject to immigration control (e.g. if they are not a European Economic Area national and they require permission to enter or remain in the UK) find out more information about the procedures you will have to follow in the Frequently asked Questions section of the WEU website.
http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/lgbt/faq.htm

Changing your name after you register
People who want to change their surname after they register a civil partnership, whether to take their civil partners name, or hyphenate, will be able to use a civil partnership certificate as evidence in the same way as married people can do so using their marriage certificate. The Frequently asked Questions section of the WEU website also has more information about this.
http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/lgbt/faq.htm

Civil Partnership Implementation team
Women and Equality Unit
Department of Trade and Industry
To add your name to the distribution list for future e-mails, or to have your name removed from the list, please e-mail info.civilpartnership@dti.gsi.gov.uk