Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 3

Interpretation generally

Section 3 sets out interpretation rules and definitions that apply throughout the Act, covering matters such as age calculations, contribution types, employer identification, adoption, and the meaning of spouse and civil partner.

• A person reaches an age on the anniversary of their birth, and age-related contribution rules can be adjusted by regulation to align with contribution weeks.
• References to "contributions" include employment, self-employment and voluntary contributions; regulations define who counts as an employer for social insurance purposes.
• Adopted children are treated as the children of their adopters for all social welfare purposes, and former orphan status ceases on adoption.
• For certain benefits, "spouse" and "civil partner" include former spouses and civil partners whose marriages or partnerships have been validly dissolved.