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Reciprocal Canada : Contents

Veterans living in Canada

Under the agreement with Canada clients can be paid New Zealand Veteran's Pension when they are living in Canada.

When a former New Zealand resident is already living in Canada they can get Veteran's Pension if they:

  • they are ordinarily resident in Canada and present either in Canada or New Zealand at the time they apply
  • they have the intention of remaining ordinarily resident in Canada for at least 26 weeks
  • they have had at least 12 months continuous residence in New Zealand since the age of 20 and
  • they meet the qualifications for New Zealand Veterans Pension

Partners

If the client has a partner, the partner must complete an application form and establish entitlement to Veteran's Pension in their own right. If one partner is ineligible there is no provision to pay for a grandparented non-qualified partner overseas.

Change in circumstances

Clients have an obligation to advise MSD of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to Veteran's Pension in Canada or the rate payable (e.g. if they intend to leave Canada to live in another country).

Mandatory Reviews

Clients getting Veteran's Pension in Canada will need to complete a Mandatory Review 52 weeks from when the benefit commenced, and 52 weeks from when the client's last Mandatory Review was completed.

For more information contact International Services.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Residence in Canada article V Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Canada) Order 1996
  • Entitlement to veteran's pension section 70 War Pensions Act 1954
  • Effect of absences from Canada article V(3) Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Canada) Order 1996
  • Medical examination of applicant for veteran's pension section 72 War Pensions Act 1954
  • MSD must review specified benefit section 310A Social Security Act 2018
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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 ...