Return to New Zealand

If a client returns to live in New Zealand permanently, Special Portability payments are stopped by International Services from the payday after the return date.

The client must produce evidence of their date of return to New Zealand and complete a statement advising their intentions regarding their residence in New Zealand.

If the client is ordinarily resident in New Zealand, their New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension can be increased to the full rate from the payday after the client's date of return, once Special Portability has been cancelled.

Clients getting New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension paid under Special Portability who have temporarily left their country of residence must still respond to the Mandatory Review before their review date.

Temporary absence from the overseas country they live in (e.g. personal travel) does not pause or defer the Mandatory Review.

Clients must contact MSD before their review date to talk about their situation if they are unable to respond to their review or if they need more time to do it.

There is no Mandatory Review for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension paid under Special Portability when a client is temporarily in New Zealand and they:

• have been hospitalised for more than 13 weeks in New Zealand or
• are in residential disability care or rest home care in New Zealand

The clients must let MSD know before their review date to discuss their circumstances.

If the client notifies MSD they are in one of these situations, the client is not required to respond to the Mandatory Review, and the review date is reset to 52 weeks in the future from their current review date. However, MSD may still review a New Zealand benefit or pension paid under Special Portability at any time to check if the client still meets the qualifications and is getting the correct rate of payment.