Raising of Social Security debts due to linking of same-sex partner 107-04020230

From 1 July 2009, changes to legislation recognise customers in a same-sex de facto or registered relationship are partnered.

From 9 December 2017, same-sex marriages are recognised by the agency. This includes any marriage held overseas before this date. All customers assessed as being a member of a couple will have their rate of payment calculated in the same way.

The start date of a same-sex relationship for the agency's purposes for a relationship that started:

• before 1 July 2009, is the date customers in a same-sex relationship were recognised as partnered due to the legislation change
• on or after 1 July 2009, is the date the same-sex relationship started

To determine if the customer has a debt and its start date depends on:

• the start date of the same-sex relationship
• the due date of the notification letter that the customer received advising to notify of their relationship. General notification provisions apply in this circumstance, and
• the date the agency links the customer to a same sex-partner after the customer has received the letter

Contact the customer before raising a recoverable debt. Assess the customer's circumstances before finalising the debt. Be aware these customers may have sensitive issues to be considered.