A single mother was told having two meals paid for her by a Tinder date constituted a ‘dependent relationship’, making her ineligible to receive financial assistance.
The South Auckland woman was allegedly told by her case worker she would be stripped of welfare payments because the dates proved she relied on a man for money.
She admitted to her Work and Income case manager she had been taken to a movie and dinner, and despite her offering to pay, her date footed the bill, Radionz reported.
The South Auckland woman was allegedly told by her case worker she would be stripped of welfare payments because the dates proved she relied on a man for money (stock photo)
In an effort to be ‘up front’ with her affairs, she was honest about the man paying for their two dates, but was shocked to learn it could actually cost her in the long run.
The case manager informed the mother-of-three the New Zealand Government would classify the dates as her being in a relationship.
The worker allegedly pulled a card from her desk and described what a relationship was, before explaining she could strip the woman of single parent payments.
‘She asked me whether on my dates he had financially paid for me. I said yes, but that I had offered to pay for myself,’ the mother said.
The woman said she was left in a difficult situation when her workplace tried swapping her to night shifts, which was not an option with her three young children.
The case manager informed the mother-of-three the New Zealand Government would classify the dates as her being in a relationship (stock photo)
The Ministry for Social Development has since apologised to the mother on behalf of the case worker, who they said was misinformed to cancel payments for this reason.
The department did however reveal the parent’s payments had stopped because of separate allegations made against her.
‘We did not suspend her benefit because she had told us she had gone on two dates – we would never stop paying someone for that reason,’ the department said.
‘Unfortunately at a subsequent meeting with a case manager, the case manager believed in error this was the reason for the suspension.’
The Ministry for Social Development apologised to the mother on behalf of the case worker, who they said was misinformed to cancel payments for this reason
‘It was actually stopped because of separate allegations, which have since been dropped after it could not substantiate claims against her, the ministry said.
They said the woman’s benefits were suspended because of allegations she was living with a partner, sharing a mortgage and working.
It also claimed she missed two consecutive appointments in April this year.
The mother said she was unaware about any allegations made against her or her appointments, and she felt as though she had been treated like ‘garbage’.
The Ministry said the woman’s benefits were suspended because of allegations she was living with a partner, sharing a mortgage and working (stock photo)