Relationship status interview questions

To help determine whether a client meets the relationship eligibility criteria for Sole Parent Support, a case manager may ask questions including (but not limited to) the following:

• Were you previously in a relationship? How long were you in that relationship?
• What type of relationship were you in?
• Can you tell me anything more about the reason or event in your relationship that resulted in separation? (use the application as a prompt for discussion)
• Can you tell me anything more about your attitude to the relationship, and how you feel about the separation?
• Can you tell me anything more about what you consider the future of the relationship to be? (use the application as a prompt for discussion)
• Is there, or has there been any family violence?
• Do you have any joint financial commitments? Who pays for what?
• Do you support each other financially, if so in what way?
• If your former partner is not the parent of any of the children do they help support the children in any way and act as a parental figure to the children?
• Do you attend any regular social gatherings/activities together? (e.g. clubs, church, or committees, sports played, pubs/bars frequented, holidays you've been on together)
• Do you attend family functions together? (eg weddings, funerals, birthdays, holidays e.g. Christmas)
• Do you attend parent/teacher meetings together or any other school events?
• Do you socialise at home together with friends/family?

Note case managers need to focus on asking questions to determine the client's relationship status based on their financial and emotional commitment to another person.