Residing in Australia
You can continue to get your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension payments for up to 26 weeks (inclusive) after you leave New Zealand.
Who can get it?
To get an Australian Age Pension, you must be an Australian resident. In general, this means that you must have been in Australia for more than 26 weeks or intend to stay there for more than 12 months.
How much can you get?
The amount you’ll be paid is based on your living arrangements and the amount of time you spent in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65. Depending on your Australian residency status, the time you’ve spent in other countries may also count. If we have to change your New Zealand Superannuation or the Veteran’s Pension payment rate, this will happen from the date you apply for the Australian Age Pension. To continue getting the Veteran’s Pension you must be aged 65 years or over when you apply from Australia.
Because the amount we pay you in Australia may be less than what you were getting in New Zealand, you may have an overpayment from the date we change your rate.
The total amount you get from both countries is the same as if you had lived in Australia all your working life. Australian Age Pensions are income and asset tested. This means that if the rate of Australian Age Pension is nil because of your income and assets, then you’re unable to get New Zealand Superannuation or the Veteran’s Pension in Australia. If the amount of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension you’re entitled to is less than the amount of Australian Age Pension you’re entitled to, you’ll be paid the difference by Australia.
If you get the Living Alone Payment, Disability Allowance or an Accommodation Supplement, these payments will stop from the day after you leave New Zealand.
How to apply
If you plan to reside in Australia for more than 26 weeks and want your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension payments to continue, you must first apply at Centrelink, Australia for an Australian Age Pension. You need to do this within 26 weeks (inclusive) of arriving in Australia (if you’re 65 or over).
If Centrelink grant you an Australian Age Pension, they will send you a New Zealand Superannuation application form to complete so our International Services team can work out how much you’ll be paid while you’re living in Australia.
The date you applied for Australian Age Pension will be used as the date of application for New Zealand Superannuation (paid in Australia). Please note that your partner will be excluded from your payments from the same date. If you don’t apply within 26 weeks (inclusive), you may not qualify for payment of New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension from the date you leave New Zealand and you might end up with a debt to repay.
Centrelink contact details
Centrelink
International Services
PO Box 7809
Canberra BC ACT 2610
AUSTRALIA
Calling from Australia 13 1673
Calling from New Zealand 0800 441 248
+61 3 6222 2799
international.services@centrelink.gov.au
www.centrelink.gov.au
For more information
Our International Services team specialise in paying New Zealand benefits and pensions overseas. They are the best people to contact for questions about getting your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension while travelling or residing overseas. They can explain the rules so you’ll know what to expect.
