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Verification of a claimant/recipient's partner being in gaol is needed to determine the rate of payment received (1.1.P.70).
A person is a member of a couple under the SSAct if they are living with another person as their partner, where both people are over the age of consent (applicable to the state or territory), are living together on a permanent or indefinite basis, are not in a prohibited relationship (subsections 4(12) and 4(13)), and are either:
Act reference: SSAct section 4(12) and section 4(13) Prohibited relationship
If a claimant/recipient's partner is in gaol, the length of the gaol sentence MUST be verified. This is done by contacting the relevant state authority, such as the Department of Corrective Services, either in writing or by phone. Psychiatric institutions may be contacted for information about the nature of confinement.
When the partner is released from gaol, the Prison Discharge Certificate is used to verify the length of time they spent in gaol.
For partner in gaol rates refer to 5.1.8.10 Common Pension Rates and 5.1.8.20 Common Benefit Rates.
Policy reference: SS Guide 2.2.1 Verifying Identity, 3.1.4.10 Situations that Constitute Being in Gaol or Psychiatric Confinement, 3.4.2 WP - Qualification & Payability
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Last reviewed: 1 July 2009
