New Zealand (NZ) citizens claiming payments in Australia

Residence requirements for Centrelink payments

People who arrive in Australia on a New Zealand passport are generally issued a SCV on arrival. SCV holders who were in Australia on 26 February 2001 are generally considered to be Protected SCV holders. Those who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001 are generally considered to be Non-Protected.

Protected SCV holders qualify as Australian residents and can generally access the full range of Centrelink payments provided they are currently residing in Australia and satisfy certain rules such as qualification criteria and relevant waiting periods.

From 26 February 2011, non-protected SCV holders who have lived in Australia for at least ten continuous years since 26 February 2001 may be eligible to receive Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance or Sickness Allowance for up to 6 months.

You may only claim one of these payments for a continuous period of up to 6 months. You cannot change between payments, or stop and start the payment.

Note: You will still have to meet all other requirements, such as waiting periods, to get a payment.

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Payments that can be claimed if you are a NZ citizen

No matter what date you arrive in Australia, you will still be able to claim these payments or cards:

• Family Tax Benefit
• Baby Bonus
• Maternity Immunisation Allowance
• Child Care Benefit
• Double Orphan Pension
• Health Care Card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• Parental Leave Pay

Note: You will have to meet all other requirements to receive these payments or cards. This includes waiting periods for concession cards for newly arrived migrants.

You will also have access to employment services provided through Job Services Australia which includes reasonable access to computers, newspapers and other facilities to help you look for work.

If you arrived in Australia on a New Zealand passport and have lived here for at least 10 continuous years since 26 February 2001 you may be able to access a once only payment of Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance or Youth Allowance. If you are eligible, payment can be made for a maximum continuous period of up to 6 months.

You may be able to claim Age Pension, Disability Support Pension (if you are severely disabled) and Carer Payment (for partners of Disability Support Pensioners) under the New Zealand Agreement. If you are getting a payment under the previous (1995) New Zealand agreement, you will continue to do so provided you remain qualified.

Note: Under the current New Zealand Agreement, you may need to satisfy special conditions. If you want to claim one of these payments, call us to find out whether you have to satisfy any other requirements.

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More information

• Read the Access to Centrelink payments for New Zealand citizens arriving in Australia factsheet
• Read the Access to Centrelink payments for New Zealand citizens arriving in Australia multilingual factsheets available in Chinese, Samoan and Tongan, in the We speak your language section.
• Read the International Social Security between Australia & New Zealand factsheet
• Visit your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre
• call us on the following numbers:
  • Newstart Allowance 13 2850
  • Youth Allowance 13 2490
  • Sickness Allowance 13 2717