144(1)Amend section 3 (claims) as follows.E+W
(2)In subsection (3)(a), for “married couple or unmarried couple” substitute “ couple ”.
(3)For subsections (5) and (6) substitute—
“(5A)In this Part “couple” means—
(a)a man and woman who are married to each other and are neither—
(i)separated under a court order, nor
(ii)separated in circumstances in which the separation is likely to be permanent,
(b)a man and woman who are not married to each other but are living together as husband and wife,
(c)two people of the same sex who are civil partners of each other and are neither—
(i)separated under a court order, nor
(ii)separated in circumstances in which the separation is likely to be permanent, or
(d)two people of the same sex who are not civil partners of each other but are living together as if they were civil partners.”
145E+WIn sections 4(1)(g), 11(6)(b) and (c), 17(10)(b), 24(2) and 32(6), for “married couple or an unmarried couple” (in each place) substitute “ couple ”.
146E+WIn sections 4(1)(g) and 17(10)(b), for “the married couple or unmarried couple” substitute “ the couple ”.
147(1)Renumber section 48 (interpretation) as subsection (1) of that section.E+W
(2)In subsection (1), after the definition of “child” insert—
““couple” has the meaning given by section 3(5A),”,
and omit the definitions of “married couple” and “unmarried couple”.
(3)After subsection (1) insert—
“(2)For the purposes of this Part, 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.”