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Definitions

Refer to the definitions of spouse and maintaining a dependant or maintaining another person.

Last updated 27 June 2018

Spouse

Your spouse includes another person (of any sex) who:

  • you were in a relationship with that was registered under a prescribed state or territory law
  • although not legally married to you, lived with you on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.

Maintaining a dependant or maintaining another person

You maintained a dependant or maintained another person if any of the following applied:

  • you both lived in the same house
  • you gave them food, clothing and lodging
  • you helped them to pay for their living, medical and educational costs.

If you had a spouse for the whole of 2017–18 and your spouse worked at any time during the year, we still consider you to have maintained your spouse as a dependant for the whole income year.

We consider you to have maintained a dependant or maintained another person even if the two of you were temporarily separated, for example, due to holidays or overseas travel.

If you maintained a dependant or maintained another person for only part of the year, you may need to adjust your claim accordingly.

QC55617