Methods of payment in Australia
When a client receives a New Zealand benefit or pension in Australia they can:
- choose to have payments made by direct credit into a New Zealand bank account or
- to a bank account they hold in Australia
New Zealand bank account
Payments made to a New Zealand bank account are credited fortnightly. If a client chooses to have payments made to a New Zealand bank account and then transferred to an overseas bank account, the client must pay the cost of the transfer of the funds.
Australian bank account
Payments made to an Australian bank account are credited every 4 weeks. If a client chooses to have money paid directly to an Australian bank account, Work and Income meets the cost of the initial transfer of funds.
If a client applies to have their New Zealand benefit or pension paid in Australia before they leave New Zealand, there are three options for the first payment being made into an Australian bank account:
- payment can be made to an overseas bank account if the client has provided proof of their bank account
- the first payment(s) may be made to a New Zealand account until the Australian bank account details are supplied or
- payment is suspended until details of the Australian bank account are given to International Services. Once account details are advised, any accumulated arrears will be paid to the Australian account with the first payment.
Contact International Services
