Travelling overseas for 26 weeks or less
If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and plan to go overseas for 26 weeks or less, your payments may continue while you're away. If you're delayed and return to NZ after 26 weeks, we may still be able to help.
If you're only getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, you don't need to tell us about your travel plans.
If you're getting any other payments from us, you must tell us before you leave New Zealand.
There are different rules if you're planning to:
- travel overseas for more than 26 weeks, or
- live overseas
Travelling overseas for more than 26 weeks
Living overseas if you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
If you're only getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension
If you're only getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, you don't need to tell us about your travel plans.
Your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments will continue if you:
- intend to travel overseas for less than 26 weeks
- intend to live primarily in New Zealand, and
- consider New Zealand to be your home.
You may not meet these criteria if you spend more time overseas than in New Zealand over the course of a year. If you're not sure, call us to discuss your situation.
If you're getting other payments as well
Examples of other payments from us are:
- Winter Energy Payment (paid from 1 May to 1 October every year)
- Accommodation Supplement
- Disability Allowance
- Temporary Additional Support.
We need to know your travel dates and reason for travel.
If you're only getting Winter Energy Payment (from 1 May to 1 October), you only need to tell us if you're going overseas for more than 28 days.
Going overseas for more than 28 days
You can:
- fill out our Overseas travel dates for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension form, or
- call us, or
- visit a service centre.
Overseas travel dates for NZ Super or Veteran's Pensionexternal
Going overseas for less than 28 days
You can either:
- call us, or
- visit a service centre.
There is no online form for this situation.
If you're only getting Winter Energy Payment (from 1 May to 1 October), you don't need to tell us if you're going overseas for less than 28 days.
What happens to your payments while you're overseas
NZ Super or Veteran's Pension will continue for up to 26 weeks if you meet the criteria above.
Other payments may continue for up to 28 days if you still meet the criteria while you're overseas. This means your costs, e.g. accommodation or disability costs, must continue while you're overseas. If not, your other payments will stop when you leave New Zealand.
How travel delays could affect your payments
If you're delayed and return to New Zealand after 26 weeks, your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments will stop after the 26th week.
If your delay is:
- unexpected, you can apply to keep these payments going. There are certain criteria you'll need to meet. If you don't apply, or don't meet the criteria, you may have to pay back the 26 weeks of payment you received.
- expected, you won't be able to keep these payments going. You may also have to pay back the 26 weeks of payments you received.
Have a partner included in your payments
If you have a partner who's included in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, their payments will also stop after the 26th week. When you return to New Zealand, you will not be able to include your partner in your payments again. They will need to apply for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension themselves, once they qualify (e.g. they turn 65).
Unexpected delays
If your delay is unexpected, you can apply to keep your payment going while you're overseas. This is to help you when your payment stops after 26 weeks.
You should apply before the 26 week period finishes. If you apply after the 26 weeks, you may miss out on some payments.
Criteria you have to meet
You must have been intending to return within 26 weeks but had a delay which was unexpected and beyond your control.
Unexpected delays could include:
- aircraft breakdowns
- bereavement
- sudden illness/injury to you, your partner or relatives.
How to apply to keep your payments going
Email us as soon as you can. You should do this before the 26 week period finishes. If you apply after the 26 weeks, you may miss out on some payments.
international_services@msd.govt.nz
We'll email you an application form. Complete the form and email it back to us. You may also need to provide proof of what caused your unexpected delay.
If your application's approved, we'll email you to let you know:
- how much you'll get (the amount could change, it depends on your situation), and
- when you'll be paid.
When you arrive back in New Zealand
You need to email us or call us and tell us:
- the date you arrived back
- your living situation, e.g. whether you're living alone or with someone else
- if you're returning to New Zealand permanently or not
- your bank account number (if it's changed since you've been away).
You'll also need to provide proof of the date you arrived back in New Zealand, e.g. your boarding pass (you can scan and email this to us).
Once you've made contact with us, we'll cancel your overseas payment and start your normal NZ Super or Veteran's Pensions payment again.
international_services@msd.govt.nz
Don't apply to keep payments going/don't meet criteria
If you don't apply to keep your payments going, or don't meet the criteria, you may have to pay back the 26 weeks of payments you received. It depends when you return to New Zealand.
If you return to New Zealand:
- within 27-30 weeks, you don't need to pay it back
- after 30 weeks, you may need to pay it back.
You need to email us or call us as soon as you can to let us know that you'll be overseas for more than 26 weeks.
Expected delays
If your delay is expected, eg you choose to stay for longer than 26 weeks, you may need to pay back the full 26 weeks of payment you received. It depends when you return to New Zealand.
If you return to New Zealand:
- within 27-30 weeks, you don't need to pay it back
- after 30 weeks, you may need to pay it back.
You need to email us or call us as soon as you can to let us know that you'll be overseas for more than 26 weeks.