Qualifications

From 5 January 2010 the legislation changed to allow people going overseas to receive up to 100% of the gross New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension. The new rate of payment is based on the amount of residence a person has in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65. As with the previous payment rate, grandparented non-qualified partners cannot be paid overseas.

Clients who applied for payment overseas and were receiving payment overseas under General Portability before 5 January 2010 are entitled to the higher of the new rate of payment or the old 50% of the gross rate of New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension.

A client is entitled to payment overseas of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension if they:

• are entitled or will be entitled to receive New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension before leaving New Zealand
• are ordinarily resident and present in New Zealand on the date they apply for payment overseas and
• make an application stating the country or countries in which they intend to reside and the period for which they intend to reside in each country or countries or
• make an application stating the country or countries in which they intend to travel

Clients must complete an application form for payment overseas before they leave New Zealand. All applications for payment overseas and ongoing payments are processed by International Services.

Note where a client has qualified for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension using one of the social security agreements check the appropriate Agreement to see whether the client is eligible for portable payment of their New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension if they intend to be absent for more than 26 weeks.