Social Security Agreement with the United Kingdom - living in New Zealand

Who can get NZ Super

You may be able to get NZ Super while you're living in NZ if:

• you've lived in the UK, and
• you meet the NZ criteria for New Zealand Superannuation.

You need to have lived in New Zealand for a certain amount of time to get NZ Super. If you haven't, you can meet this criteria by using the amount of time you've spent either:

• living in the UK, or
• living outside of the UK from age 20 and paying contributions to the UK National Insurance scheme.

Using SSA countries to meet residence criteria for NZ Super

Who can get Supported Living Payment

You may be able to get Supported Living Payment for a health condition, injury or disability while you're living in NZ if:

• you've lived in the UK, and
• you meet the NZ criteria for Supported Living Payment

You need to have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years to get Supported Living Payment. If you haven't, you can use the amount of time you've spent living in the UK to meet this criteria.

Who can get Sole Parent Support for widows

You may be able to get Sole Parent Support as a widow or widower while you're living in NZ if:

• you've lived in the UK, and
• you meet the NZ criteria for Sole Parent Support

You need to have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years to get Sole Parent Support for widows. If you haven't, you can use the amount of time you've spent living in the UK to meet this criteria. You can also use the amount of time your late partner spent living in the UK to meet this criteria.

Who can get Jobseeker Support

You may be able to get Jobseeker Support while you're living in NZ if:

• you've lived in the UK, and
• you meet the NZ criteria for Jobseeker Support.

You need to have lived in New Zealand for at least 2 years to get Jobseeker Support. If you haven't, you can use the amount of time you've spent living in the UK to meet this criteria.

Who can get Orphan's Benefit

You may be able to get Orphan's Benefit while you're living in NZ if:

• you've lived in the UK, and
• you meet the NZ criteria for Orphan's Benefit.

If you're living in NZ, you may be able to get UK payments if you:

• have made contributions to the United Kingdom National Insurance Scheme, and
• meet the general criteria for United Kingdom payments.

The Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance have criteria around:

• permanent departures, and
• ordinary residence in the UK.

The International Pension Centre in the United Kingdom decides who can get UK payments.

You need to discuss your situation with the International Pension Centre before you leave the UK.

How to apply for NZ payments

Use our Check What You Might Get tool to find out what NZ payments you can get and how to apply.

You also need to apply for:

• any UK payment that you may qualify for and
• any other overseas payments that you may be able to get.

How to apply for UK payments

You should apply through the UK International Pension Centre before you leave the United Kingdom.

If you already live in New Zealand, contact our International Services team.

NZ payments

We'll decide how much you will be paid based on certain criteria. If you get an overseas pension, it's usually deducted from your New Zealand payment.

Generally, the amount you're paid is about equal to what you would be paid if you had lived all your life in New Zealand.

Getting your full NZ Super and UK payment

In certain circumstances you may receive your:

• full NZ Superannuation, and
• United Kingdom benefit or pension.

This only happens if:

• you get NZ Superannuation without using the Social Security Agreement. This means you must have lived in NZ for the required number of years from age 20. This must include 5 years from age 50, and
• you usually lived in New Zealand on 1 January 1970 and,
• while living in New Zealand on or before 1 January 1970, you made contributions to the United Kingdom National Insurance Scheme.

UK payments

The International Pension Centre in the United Kingdom decides how much will be paid.

NZ payments

NZ payments are paid into your nominated NZ bank account.

NZ Super is paid fortnightly. All other NZ payments are paid weekly.

UK payments

You can choose to have your UK payment paid by either the:

• Direct Payment Method, or
• Special Banking Option.

Taxes

You may have to pay tax on your UK payment. It depends what NZ payment you get.

We recommend you discuss your tax liabilities with Inland Revenue (New Zealand).

If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension

If you get a UK payment and it's:

• paid by Direct Payment Method, you will have to pay tax on your UK payment.
• paid by Special Banking Option (SBO), you will not have to pay tax on your UK payment.

If any of your UK payment is paid out of the SBO account to you, then you may have to pay tax on it. This will only happen in specific circumstances.

If you get a main benefit

If you get a main benefit and a UK payment, you will not have to pay tax on your UK payment.

If your UK payment is more than your main benefit, you won't get your main benefit and you will only get the UK payment. In this case, if your UK payment is paid by:

• Direct Payment Method, you will have to pay tax on it
• Special Banking Option, you won't have to pay tax on it. 

If any of your UK payment is paid out of the SBO account to you, then you may have to pay tax on it. This will only happen in specific circumstances.

Keep copies of your banking records

Make sure you keep copies of all your banking records. These will show your gross UK payments required for tax purposes.