Veteran's Pension

When a client from Australia meets all the qualifications for New Zealand Veterans Pension except residence they may qualify under the agreement with Australia.

For information on the qualifications required for Veterans Pensions contact the Veterans Pension Centre

The agreement with Australia allows Australian residence between the ages of 20 years and the qualifying age for the Australian Age Pension (up to a maximum of 45) to be regarded as residence in New Zealand to help a client meet the residence qualifications for New Zealand Veterans Pension.

Australian residence that can be counted includes residence in Australia on a temporary residence visa or non-permanent visa

However, these clients must also meet the following additional criteria:

• be resident and present in New Zealand and intends to remain for at least one year or have been present in New Zealand for at least six months prior to application and
• have a total of 10 years residence in Australia and/or New Zealand since the age of 20, 5 years of which must have been since the age of 50 and
• have been an Australian resident for 12 months since the age of 20, of which at least 6 months must be continuous

The client must also:

• meet the New Zealand service and disability qualifications
• have reached age 65 and
• qualify for an Australian pension under the agreement

This includes clients who qualify for an Australian pension at a zero rate of payment. Australian pensions that fall within the criteria of sections 187-191 of the Social Security Act 2018 and sections 118-136 of the Social Security Regulations 2018 will be directly deducted from New Zealand Superannuation.

When New Zealand Veterans Pension is granted using the agreement with Australia you will need to enter entitlement code (13) in the NDTA screen.

If a client is aged 65 or over and has been granted Veteran’s Pension payments into Australia before 1 July 2017, they can continue to receive Veteran’s Pension in Australia. If their entitlement to Veteran’s Pension stops after this date (eg. due to absence from Australia), then they will need to reapply under the 2017 Agreement.

If a client turns 65 on or after 1 July 2017 and they are living in Australia, or intend to move there from New Zealand on or after that date, they will need to meet the qualifying age for the Australia Age Pension to qualify for Veteran’s Pension payable under the 2017 Agreement.

The qualifying age for clients is explained in the table below:

* 6 months means at the end of a 6-month period. For example:

Calculating months when combining periods of residence

A client's residence is used to calculate their entitlement to a New Zealand pension or benefit as well as the rate payable.

Any incomplete months are rounded up for residence calculation purposes. For example, 45 months and 1 day becomes 46 months.

For more information contact International Services or see:

• Clients from Australia
• New Zealand benefits and pensions in Australia
• Veterans living in Australia