Move to another country

When a client intends to live in a country other than New Zealand or Australia for 26 weeks or more, this can affect their entitlement to a New Zealand benefit or pension.

If a client living in Australia is getting a New Zealand pension or benefit and leaves Australia for more than 26 weeks at one time, their New Zealand payment will stop from the date they left Australia.

The client may still be entitled to get a New Zealand benefit or pension if:

• they qualify for the New Zealand benefit or pension due to their previous residence in New Zealand and
• they are moving to a country which has an agreement with New Zealand

Payment of the New Zealand benefit or pension must stop 26 weeks from the day the client leaves Australia. The client can check whether they qualify to get a New Zealand benefit or pension in the country they have moved to.

New Zealand Superannuation, Veterans Pension and Supported Living Payment cannot continue being paid to a client, who leaves Australia to live in a country that does not have an agreement with New Zealand.

If the client is in New Zealand and is getting the New Zealand benefit or pension by using their Australian residence to meet the New Zealand residence qualification, they may not be entitled to have the New Zealand benefit or pension paid in another country. The client will need to check whether they will keep getting their benefit or pension in another country.

New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension clients need to be ordinarily resident in and present in New Zealand at the date they apply for payment overseas of a New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension.

Unless they move to and apply from the Cooks Islands, Niue or Tokelau under the Special Portability arrangement with Pacific countries.