Facilitation

The facilitation process helps clients to determine what effect their de facto relationship will have on their benefit. A loss of benefit is not easy and commitment to a long-standing relationship does not happen overnight.

You should give the client as much information as possible about their benefit entitlement and how moving into a de facto relationship would affect their benefit. This allows the client to make an informed decision.

A time frame can be negotiated with the client to allow them to decide whether they will enter into a de facto relationship and therefore surrender entitlement to a single or sole parent rate of benefit. This can be a period of up to 6 weeks. This period will give them time to consider the consequences for them and to discuss the matter with their partner.

They should be advised that if they enter into a de facto relationship before that time, they should cancel their benefit.

If a client decides to move into a stable relationship then the Ministry of Social Development must support this decision.

If you are unable to make a decision regarding the client's relationship you can discuss the case with your Regional Solicitor or local National Fraud Investigation Unit Investigator.