Departure from New Zealand

A client should advise the Ministry of Social Development of any change of circumstances that may affect the payment of their New Zealand Superannuation, for example, if they are going to be absent from New Zealand.

When a client or their partner contacts you to advise that they intend travelling overseas you need to obtain the following information:

• date of departure (flight numbers if possible)
• date of return (flight numbers if possible)

You need to make sure that you have told the client about their portability options and their need to return to New Zealand within 26 weeks, and if they do not return within 30 weeks they may be overpaid from the day after they left New Zealand.

Note couples getting the grandparented non-qualified partner rate of New Zealand Superannuation will lose their grandparenting if the qualified client is not entitled to payment during their absence, or any of the period of their absence.