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Non-Australian Income:

How is non-Australian income assessed?

Non-Australian income (for example, pension from another country) must be converted to Australian dollars for the income test. The rate used is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's airmail buying rate, obtained on the 5th working day before the first business day of any month. That rate is used for all days in that month.

Please Note: Italian pensions from Istituto Nazionale della Providenza Sociale (INPS), use the actual exchange rate provided by Italy.

If you are unhappy with the exchange rate applied, you can ask for a review if the rate of exchange you get varies by more than five per cent from the rate Centrelink used. Centrelink tells you every three months about exchange rates used.

If you receive a foreign pension, the way this income is assessed may be modified if the country paying your pension has an international social security agreement with Australia.

How do I find out more information?

The Income and Assets Tests Table provides information regarding the income or assets tests for the payments provided by Centrelink.

For more information on claiming non-Australian pension, phone Centrelink on 13 1673 or contact your nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre. If you are receiving non-Australian income you can call the Overseas Income Exchange Line on Freecall™1800 050 041. To get this information in languages other than English, please call 13 1202.