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Reciprocal Australia : Contents

Rate payable in Australia

When a New Zealand benefit or pension is paid to a client in Australia, the rate of payment is calculated by a specific formula set out in the agreement with Australia.

The calculation is based on the client's working age (between the ages of 20 and 65) residence in New Zealand. The formula for calculating New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension is different to the calculation for New Zealand Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled).

Specific circumstances

  • periods of working age residence in a third country can be regarded as periods of working age residence in New Zealand for the purposes of calculating the New Zealand rate payable if that person is not a permanent resident of Australia and they are applying for New Zealand Superannuation, Veterans Pension or Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) to be paid in Australia
  • the rate of Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) payable in Australia is calculated on the proportions of New Zealand and Australian residence. For example, if a person who lived in New Zealand for 10 years since the age of 20 and then moved to Australia and became severely disabled at age 35, New Zealand would be responsible for 10 of the 15 years, and would pay two thirds of the Supported Living Payment rate to that person
  • there is no provision to include payment for a grandparented non-qualified partner in a New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension. The partner can only be paid in Australia if they meet the qualifications in their own right
  • when Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) is paid in Australia the client's partner can be included
  • when a client enters or is in a relationship they can be paid the married, civil union or de facto rate in Australia regardless of the sex or gender of either partner
  • no payment is made to a client who has lived in New Zealand for less than 12 continuous months since the age of 20
  • Supported Living Payment clients who are under the age of 21 will not be entitled to payment in Australia as they will not meet the 12 continuous months of New Zealand residence requirement
  • the New Zealand benefit or pension is paid without regard to any Australian pension. The Australian pension is not directly deducted from the New Zealand benefit or pension before payment is made in Australia
  • if the client is a permanent resident in Australia (i.e. an Australian citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent residents visa), any pensions from third countries are not directly deducted from the New Zealand benefit or pension

For more information see:

Or contact:

Legislation

  • Rate of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions in Australia Article 9 Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Australia) Order 2017
  • Rate of New Zealand Supported Living Payment in Australia Article 10 Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Australia) Order 2017
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The contact details for International Services are:

From New Zealand 0800 777 227 (free calling within New Zealand only)

From Australia 1800 150 479

From other countries +64 4 978 1180

Email international_services@msd.govt.nz

Postal

International Services
Ministry of Social Development
PO Box 27178
Wellington 6141
New Zealand

Fax 04 918 0159

Note when calling from overseas replace the '+' with the international direct dial prefix for the country you are in.

A grandparented non-qualified partner is any person who was included in a New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension as a non-qualified partner before 9 November 2020 and is still included after 9 November 2020.

Non-qualified partner - before 9 November 2020

A non-qualified partner is the partner of a New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension client who did not qualify for New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension in their own right before ...