New Zealand Superannuation clients residing in Denmark
Under the agreement with Denmark clients can be paid New Zealand Superannuation while they are living in Denmark.
Clients can apply for New Zealand Superannuation to be paid in Denmark before their departure from New Zealand, or from Denmark. Payment cannot be backdated so clients should be encouraged to apply before they leave New Zealand.
To get New Zealand Superannuation paid in Denmark, a client must:
- be entitled to or getting New Zealand Superannuation
- be ordinarily resident in Denmark or New Zealand and present in Denmark or New Zealand at the time they apply for payment from overseas
- have the intention of remaining ordinarily resident in Denmark for at least 26 weeks and
- have resided continuously in New Zealand for at least 12 months since age 20
The client can use their periods of residence in Denmark since the age of 20 to meet the residence qualification for New Zealand Superannuation.
Intending to live in Denmark
If a client leaves New Zealand intending to live in Denmark for 26 weeks or more, they have up to 26 weeks to take up residence in Denmark. Clients may go to other countries before they get to Denmark, but they must arrive in Denmark within 26 weeks from the date they left New Zealand to be considered as ordinarily resident in Denmark on the date they left New Zealand.
Example
A client may want to have a three-month holiday in the United Kingdom before taking up residence in Denmark.
In this example, the client would be considered ordinarily resident in Denmark for the purposes of deciding their application for payment of New Zealand Superannuation in Denmark.
Partners
If the client has a partner, the partner must complete an application form and establish entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation in their own right.
Change in circumstances
Clients have an obligation to advise MSD of any changes in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation in Denmark or the rate payable (e.g., if they intend to leave Denmark to live in another country).
Mandatory Reviews
Clients getting New Zealand Superannuation in Denmark will need to complete a Mandatory Review 52 weeks from when the payment 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
- Effect of absence of New Zealand Superannuation client section 21 New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001
- Residence in Denmark Article 16 Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Denmark) Order 1997
- Totalisation in Relation to New Zealand Benefits Article 17 Social Welfare (Reciprocity with Denmark) Order 1997
- MSD must review specified benefit section 310A Social Security Act 2018
