Relationship Status Verification form received

If you have requested that your client provides a completed Relationship Status Verification form, the client should get this completed and bring it back within 20 working days of the date of their first contact.

When you receive the form, you should consider the form alongside the other information you have about the client to make a decision about whether the client qualifies for Sole Parent Support.

In some cases the form may not clearly support the client's application for Sole Parent Support. This may include (but is not limited to) when the form:

• appears to have been altered
• is inconsistent with the information the client has provided about their relationship status
• is incomplete

If this occurs, you will need to factor this in to making your decision about whether the client has provided enough information to grant Sole Parent Support.

You may need to ask the client more questions about the form's content to determine whether the form indicates that the client meets the relationship status qualification for Sole Parent Support. For more information see:

• Relationship status interview questions

If the client informs you that their nominated person refuses to complete the verification statement, you can ask them to nominate someone else, or you can ask them more questions to determine whether they meet the relationship status qualification for Sole Parent Support. For more information see:

• Relationship status interview questions

If the client refuses or is unable to get the form completed, you should talk to the client about why they have not provided a completed Relationship Status Verification form.

Based on the available information, you can:

• ask for more information to determine whether the client is eligible for Sole Parent Support if it is not clear whether the client is eligible
• grant Sole Parent Support if there is enough information to determine that that the client is eligible for Sole Parent Support or
• decline Sole Parent Support if the information available indicates that the client is not eligible for Sole Parent Support
  If this occurs, you need to discuss this with the client and determine whether they are eligible for other forms of assistance.

For more information see:

• Extending the 20 working day period
• Qualifications
• Nominated person makes contact after completing form