Client meets qualifications while overseas

When a client qualifies for Veteran's Pension while they are absent from New Zealand, the commencement date is:

• the date of entitlement or
• the date of application

whichever is the later.

A client can be paid for up to the first 26 weeks of their absence if they return to New Zealand within 30 weeks of the Veteran's Pension commencement date.

If the client is absent from New Zealand and is absent for more than 30 weeks from the date they qualified to get Veteran's Pension, and they were not delayed from returning to New Zealand by circumstances outside their control that were reasonably unforeseeable before they left, they cannot get Veteran's Pension while they are absent.

Veteran's Pension can resume from the date the client returns to New Zealand.