Payment

Special Portability payments to New Zealand bank accounts are paid on the same day as all New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension payments.

Clients wanting their payments made to an overseas bank account are paid differently.

In general, payment must be made directly to the client. However, where there is good cause, the client's benefit can be paid to another person.

For more information see:

• Core policy Agents

Note for payment to clients living in Tokelau see:

• New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension changes for Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau [no link find out why]

Grandparented non-qualified partner's payments are cancelled from the payday after the qualified partner leaves New Zealand.

The maximum rate payable is the single sharing accommodation rate or the married, civil union or de facto relationship rate depending on the client's circumstances.

If the client is receiving the single living alone rate, they will need to be transferred to the single sharing rate from the payday after their departure from New Zealand.

Payments are not taxed in New Zealand but may be subject to tax in a specified Pacific country.

Extra help is not payable to a client receiving Special Portability and these payments are cancelled from the payday after departure from New Zealand.

Clients applying from the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are not entitled to Extra help assistance.

The rate of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension paid under Special Portability including clients who have applied from the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau depends on the client's number of year's residence in New Zealand since age 20.

20 years or more New Zealand residence since age 20

• the maximum gross half married, civil union or de facto rate or single sharing accommodation rate (less any overseas pension)

Between 10 and 20 years New Zealand residence since age 20

The rate payable is based on the following formula:

• base rate multiplied by whole number of years of New Zealand residence (since 20) divided by 20

The base rate is either the gross single sharing accommodation or half married, civil union or de facto rate, depending on the client's relationship status. See the following example.

Example - A single client has 10 years New Zealand residence since age 20

Any overseas pension is deducted from the maximum gross rate paid before the formula is applied.