How Centrelink assesses your relationship status

The status of one’s relationship is usually regarded as private and no one else’s business. However, that’s not so when it comes to the government, which reserves the right to stick its nose into other people’s business when it comes to distributing taxpayer funded payments such as the Age Pension.

Whether you are a single or a couple can affect every aspect of your entitlements, including:

• If you get a payment.

• Which type of payment that might be.

• How much you will receive. 

Centrelink’s view of your relationship will determine whether you are paid a single or couples rate of pension (if you’re eligible). It will also determine which income and asset thresholds you are tested against and therefore the rate you will be paid.

Being a couple is defined as: being married, in a registered relationship, or in a de facto relationship.

Centrelink does not stipulate how long a relationship should be to be classified de facto. However, it does say that a de facto relationship is where you and your partner meet all of these conditions:

• You’re in a relationship similar to a married couple.

• You’re not married or in a registered relationship.

• You’re over the age of consent in the state or territory where you live.

• You're not in a prohibited relationship under section 4(12) and section 4(13) of the Social Security Act 1991 (which specify a limited number of special circumstances).

Being in a de facto relationship can influence what payments you can get and your payment rate.

If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend or are in a non-binary relationship, you may be considered as being in a de facto relationship.

If your relationship is classed as de facto, it means you’re a member of a couple, and you need to tell Centrelink about the other person.

Centrelink says it may need to assess your relationship to decide if you’re a member of a couple and ensure the correct payments are made.  

To determine this, Centrelink considers the following: 

• Financial aspects of the relationship. If there is one person providing financial support for the other. This also covers things such as joint accounts, debts or assets.
• The nature of your household. The physical set-up of the household such as shared quarters, arrangements for domestic tasks, and joint care of children.
• Social aspects of the relationship. How you present yourselves to society and how others in society view your relationship.
• If you have a sexual relationship. However, the presence or absence of a sexual relationship does not by itself determine whether you’re a member of a couple.
• The nature of your commitment to each other. This relates to companionship, emotional support, and length of the relationship. 

Centrelink says you can be a member of a couple even if none of the above apply.

Bear in mind that if you tell Centrelink you are a member of a couple, they don’t usually assess your relationship against these things. But they may look at them if your circumstances change.