Ugh I hate this. It’s a huge problem and rooted in discriminatory attitudes.
One thing though, that’s quite useful that it can at least be framed as a marriage equality issue over there.
Here in New Zealand, legislatively there is equality for people who don’t even get married (common law/de facto couples automatically have the same legal status and rights as married couples, across the board).
The downside of that is that we have a similar situation only you just have to be seen as a couple for 2 years. Like this:
If you marry someone who is making even $40,000, that’s enough money for the government to say you married someone who can take care of you completely.
but without the marrying part. Social welfare just has to decide you’re together (sometimes through horrifying ways like getting hold of your nudes). And, if you try to hide your relationship then your partner is legally jointly liable for fraud if you’re caught.
It’s like they don’t want disabled people to be in relationships at all.
I also see it as a feminist issue since I have completely separate finances yet my SO is somehow supposed to be paying for me like I’m a pet or a child.
Ugh I hate this. It’s a huge problem and rooted in discriminatory attitudes.
One thing though, that’s quite useful that it can at least be framed as a marriage equality issue over there.
Here in New Zealand, legislatively there is equality for people who don’t even get married (common law/de facto couples automatically have the same legal status and rights as married couples, across the board).
The downside of that is that we have a similar situation only you just have to be seen as a couple for 2 years. Like this:
but without the marrying part. Social welfare just has to decide you’re together (sometimes through horrifying ways like getting hold of your nudes). And, if you try to hide your relationship then your partner is legally jointly liable for fraud if you’re caught.
It’s like they don’t want disabled people to be in relationships at all.
I also see it as a feminist issue since I have completely separate finances yet my SO is somehow supposed to be paying for me like I’m a pet or a child.
100% this. It fosters dependency and robs people with disabilities of their own decisions of what to do with their money.