A coalition of NGOs is demanding the Government make urgent changes to the way relationships are treated in the welfare system.
It comes as at least one beneficiary claims she was forced to lie to WINZ about her living arrangements to get more money to make ends meet.
Child Poverty Action Group, Auckland Action Against Poverty and Action Station have spearheaded an open letter to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying the current rules are unfair and unclear.
And the beneficiaries themselves say it's their children who are missing out.
RNZ social issues reporter Sarah Robson explains.
