Contents
Reciprocal Ireland : Contents

Rate payable in Ireland

When a New Zealand benefit or pension is paid to a client in the Republic of Ireland the rate of payment is determined by the number of months that the client has resided in New Zealand since the age of 20.

There is no calculation for Orphans Benefit, it is paid at the rate appropriate to the age of the child.

The New Zealand benefit or pension is paid without regard to any Irish benefit or pension being paid. Generally other overseas pensions are a direct deduction.

New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension

The calculation for New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension is different to the calculation for other New Zealand benefits.

There is no provision in New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension to include payment for a grandparented non-qualified partner. The partner can only be paid New Zealand Superannuation or Veterans Pension in Ireland if they meet the qualifications in their own right.

The maximum rate payable is the single sharing accommodation rate or the married, civil union, de facto relationship rate depending on the client's circumstances.

Supported Living Payment

When Supported Living Payment (health condition, injury, disability or totally blind) is paid to a married or civil union client in Ireland their partner can be included.

Residence in New Zealand

No payment is made to a client who has lived in New Zealand for less than 12 continuous months.

Only periods of actual New Zealand residence are counted. Periods of residence in a country other than New Zealand are disregarded even if the country has a reciprocal agreement with New Zealand.

Period of absence

Any period of absence from New Zealand for up to 26 weeks is regarded as New Zealand residence, as long as the client was considered to be ordinarily resident in New Zealand during the period of absence.

Extra help

Extra help such as family tax credit, Best Start tax credit, Temporary Additional Support, Special Benefit or Disability Allowance cannot be paid in Ireland.

For more information contact International Services.

Legislation

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 ...

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.

The 'Republic of Ireland' means that territory governed by the Government of Ireland.