Same-sex de facto couples living off the state will soon have less money in their pockets, reports the Sunday Star-Times. Under a new law starting 1st April, same-sex de facto couples will, for the first time, be treated no differently from heterosexual couples in de facto relationships when seeking financial assistance from the government. At present, all heterosexual couples receive the married rate - $289.84 a week for those on the unemployment benefit - whether legally married or de facto. But people in a same-sex de facto relationship are treated as a single person and are paid the single rate of $173.92 - effectively giving them $58 more a week. Labour MP Tim Barnett, who drove the Civil Union legislation and the companion Relationships (Statutory References) Bill through parliament, said gay and lesbian couples had to accept the "rough with the smooth". Those receiving or applying for income assistance such as payments from Work and Income -including New Zealand Superannuation and the Veteran's Pension - and StudyLink may be affected. "I think most gay and lesbian couples will see the wider picture and understand... the advantages," said Barnett. A Ministry of Social Development spokeswoman said it was difficult to gauge how many people would be affected. "Results from the last Census suggest there are more than 6000 couples in same-sex relationships. At this stage we cannot estimate how many may be in receipt of assistance from the ministry." Ref: Sunday Star-Times (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 12th February 2007 - 12:00pm