Single mother of three in New Zealand told her benefits were cut because she went on Tinder dates
Case worker reportedly told woman that dinner and a movie was considered a dependent relationship
A single New Zealand mother of three whose benefit was cut was told it was because she had been on two Tinder dates.
The unnamed woman said she told her case worker about the dates in order to be up front, Radio New Zealand reported.
The man had paid for dinner and a movie, the woman said. Her case worker reportedly responded that it was considered a dependent relationship by Work and Income.
The Ministry of Social Development has since apologised, saying the case manager had made a mistake about why the woman’s benefit was cut.
It said her benefit had been stopped over separate allegations that she had been living with a partner and both were working. Those allegations were never proven.
“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,” MSD told RNZ.