Forcing single parents to be verified is 'intrusive and demeaning'

Recipients of the welfare payment will need to have a referee sign a legal form confirming they meet the eligibility criteria

A plan to force the friends and family of single parents to sign legally-binding Centrelink forms vouching for their relationship status has been labelled "intrusive, offensive and demeaning".

In a little more than two months, recipients of the single-parent payment and a similar Newstart payment will need to have a "referee" sign a legal form verifying that the welfare recipient is, in fact, single.