12B. Conciliation for destitute person
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023.
This section applies when a destitute person is brought to the attention of the Commissioner, but a claim for the maintenance of the destitute person is not referred to the Commissioner under section 3(3).
Commissioner
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents appointed under section 12(1) and includes a Deputy Commissioner and an Assistant Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents;
The Commissioner may invite a child of the destitute person, the destitute person and any other relevant person for conciliation, and make the necessary arrangements for, or facilitate, the conciliation, for the purpose of an agreement being reached with the child as regards the maintenance of the destitute person if —
the Commissioner reasonably believes that the child is able to provide maintenance for the destitute person;
the Commissioner ascertains that the destitute person does not have any record or purported record of abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child; and
the destitute person —
meets the criteria mentioned in section 3(1); or
is below 60 years of age but meets the other criteria mentioned in section 3(1) and the Commissioner is satisfied that —
the destitute person is suffering from infirmity of mind or body which prevents the destitute person from maintaining, or makes it difficult for the destitute person to maintain, himself or herself; or
there exists any other special reason for the conciliation.
If a person does not attend any session of conciliation mentioned in subsection (2) in respect of a destitute person, the Tribunal may (when determining an application made under section 3 in respect of the destitute person) take that into account in deciding whether to —
Tribunal
“Tribunal” means the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents established under section 13.
give a direction under section 6(5); or
order costs under section 20(1)(a).