000			02132nab a2200313Ia 4500
651	2	4	_aNEW ZEALAND _92588
999			_c2245 _d2245
001			112767
005			20250625151158.0
008			110331s1999 eng
022			_a1172-9597
040			_aWSS _dAFV
100			_aHughes, John _91395
245			_aBattered woman's syndrome and 'interdependence' as factors in establishing conjugal status in social security law _cHughes, John
260			_aHamilton _bUniversity of Waikato _c1999
365			_a00 _b0
500			_aWaikato Law Review 7 1999 : 104-146
520			_aThis article examines the concept of the conjugal status principle in determining whether benefit fraud had been committed in an 18-year relationship where domestic violence had been a regular occurrence. A Court of Appeal decision in "Ruka v. Department of Social Welfare" (1997), made a radical departure when it redefined the concept 'de facto' marriage for social security purposes. Financial interdependence, emotional commitment and issues raised by battered woman's syndrome (the three key ingredients in the Appeal decision), are discussed in detail. The Department of Social Welfare's response to the Ruka case, and the resultant legislative aftermath, which involved a proposed bill, are traversed. Although battered woman's syndrome was not central to the decision in the Ruka case, it featured significantly in the proposed bill. This bill sought to allow the Department of Social Welfare to ignore domestic violence when establishing a marriage-type relationship, and to remove social security support for battered women after a six-month period as an incentive to leave the relationship.
650	2	7	_2FVC _aDOMESTIC VIOLENCE _9203
650	2	7	_2FVC _aJUSTICE _9333
650	2	7	_2FVC _aLEGISLATION _9346
650	2	7	_2FVC _aPOLICY _9447
650	2	4	_aSOCIAL SERVICES _9555
650	2	7	_2FVC _aWOMEN _9645
650	2	7	_9431 _aINTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE _2FVC
773	0		_tWaikato Law Review 7 1999 : 104-146
830			_aWaikato Law Review _95161
856			_uhttp://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/WkoLRev/1999/5.html#Heading4
942			_2ddc _cARTICLE