Reciprocal Australia : Contents
Australian pensions paid in New Zealand
The agreement with Australia allows clients who have resided in Australia to receive the following pensions when they are living in New Zealand:
- Age Pension
- Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled)
- Carers payment (for partners of severely disabled Disability Support Pensioners)
Note
- Australian pensions can be paid directly to the client by the Direct Payment Method or to a Special Banking Option account
- Australian pensions that meet the overseas pension criteria set out in section 187 of the Social Security Act 2018 are directly deducted from the clients New Zealand benefit or pension under section 189 of the Act if they are paid by the Direct Payment Method
- third country (means a country other than New Zealand or Australia) pensions for clients who have less than 10 years New Zealand residence will be treated as income as part of the Australian income and asset test when assessing the rate of Australian pension to be paid. In this instance, third country pensions will not be directly deducted from the New Zealand benefit or pension
- the system will compare the total amount of third country pensions to the Australian Notional Pension rate and will deduct the higher amount from the New Zealand benefit or pension.
- third country pensions will be directly deducted from the rate of New Zealand payment if the client has 10 years or more New Zealand residence
- when an Australian pension exceeds the main benefit rate, the amount that exceeds the main benefit rate will be directly deducted from the partner's New Zealand benefit or pension if they receive one or from any Accommodation Supplement the client may receive as a non-beneficiary
- the Australian authorities can ask that a client be medically examined periodically to check they are still entitled to Disability Support Pension (severely disabled)
- any medical examinations are arranged by International Services and the account is paid by International Services.
For more information
Legislation
- Legislative scope Article 2 Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Australia) Order 2002
- General obligations: obligations in relation to overseas pensions sections 177-180 Social Security Act 2018
- MSD must assist in relation to obtaining overseas pension, etc ;section 108 Social Security Act 2018
- Factors reducing benefits: entitlement to overseas pensions section 187-191 Social Security Act 2018
- Factors affecting benefits regulations 118-136 Social Security Regulations 2018
