Entitlement to Veteran's Pension

Only clients who qualify for Veteran's Pension in their own right can get this payment overseas under Special Portability rules. Grandparented non-qualified partners have no entitlement and their Veteran's Pension stops once they leave New Zealand.

If a client is not already getting Veteran's Pension they should make an application for Veteran's Pension and Special Portability before they leave New Zealand, unless they intend to live in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau.

Special consideration should be given when deciding if a client is ordinarily resident when they make their application.

Note generally New Zealanders who usually live overseas are not regarded as ordinarily resident in New Zealand if they have recently returned to apply for Veteran's Pension. Information held on the Special Portability application may assist when considering whether a client is ordinarily resident in New Zealand.

Clients applying from the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau must apply for Veteran's Pension and Special Portability at the same time.

The application for Veteran's Pension is to determine the client:

• has qualifying operational service and
• has attained the qualifying age for New Zealand Superannuation and
• meets the residential qualifications for New Zealand Superannuation

The client is not required to be ordinarily resident in New Zealand.

If needed contact Veterans Pension Centre