Supported Living Payment client moving to Australia

Under the agreement with Australia a client can be paid the New Zealand Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) when they are living in Australia if they meet the severely disabled medical criteria.

When a Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury, disability or totally blind) client advises that they intend to move to Australia, the benefit can continue for up 4 weeks from the date the client leaves New Zealand if the client:

• is leaving New Zealand with the intention of becoming ordinarily resident in Australia and
• applies for the Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) under the agreement within 4 weeks of their departure from New Zealand by contacting Services Australia - International Services

In some circumstances, a client's Australian Disability Support Pension application date can be used as the client's Supported Living Payment application date. This can only happen when the client applies for the:

• Australian Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled) within 4 weeks of leaving New Zealand, and
• Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) under the agreement within 12 months of that Australian Disability Support Pension application

Note a client who is getting Australian Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled) when they leave New Zealand must apply for Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) under the agreement within 4 weeks from the date the client leaves New Zealand.

If the client has not applied for the Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) within 4 weeks of their departure from New Zealand, they will have no entitlement to the benefit for any of the first 4 weeks of their absence from New Zealand.

The Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) may continue for less than 4 weeks depending on when and what decision Services Australia - International Services makes about the client's Australian Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled) application.

Where MSD and Services Australia - International Services make a different decision about whether the client is severely disabled, they may dispute the different decision with each other.

The client must apply to Services Australia - International Services within 4 weeks of their departure from New Zealand to continue to get their New Zealand payment at their current rate for up to 4 weeks.

The client will need to meet the following qualifications:

• be present in Australia at the time they apply and
• have the intention of remaining resident in Australia for at least one year and
• have at least 12 months continuous residence in New Zealand since age 20 and
• have a total of 2 years continuous residence in New Zealand and or Australia and
• meet the severely disabled medical criteria for an Australian Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled)

If the client is not yet getting the Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury, disability or totally blind) an application should be taken and entitlement established in accordance with the New Zealand qualifications.

International Services should be contacted before any current benefit is cancelled or suspended.

If a client applies from Australia for New Zealand Supported Living Payment (for the severely disabled) and they are not already receiving Supported Living Payment, they must have been living in Australia for at least 26 weeks prior to the date of application or have an intention to reside in Australia for at least one year.

Note if the client does not notify MSD of their intended absence prior to their departure, their Supported Living Payment will stop from the day following their departure.

Contact International Services or see:

• Commencement of payment in Australia
• Absence from New Zealand in relevant Main Benefit
• Supported Living Payment from 15 July 2013