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  • Leaving Australia Permanently
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Payments While You Are Living Outside Australia Permanently

To find out if you can get your payment if you leave Australia permanently, see the list below.

Note: The following information is a guide only. There may be other circumstances which affect payments outside Australia, for example, if you recently returned to live in Australia and claim a payment, it may not be payable if you leave Australia again. There are also special rules if you plan to move permanently to New Zealand. The amount you can get paid may also be different from the amount you were entitled to while you were living in Australia.

Because of all the different rules which may affect your payment, it is important to contact Centrelink to have your particular circumstances assessed.

Payment Name Payment outside Australia
ABSTUDY No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Age Pension Generally able to be paid indefinitely, proportional after 26 weeks.

Some different rules apply if you were receiving a payment outside Australia on 20/9/2000 and remained on a payment, and have not returned to Australia at any time for 26 weeks or more.
Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Austudy No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Baby Bonus No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Bereavement Allowance Payable for any absence, but payment is limited.
Carer Allowance (adult) No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Carer Allowance (child) No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Carer Payment (adult) No payment if you leave Australia permanently [unless to a country with which Australia has an Agreement covering this payment (partner-carers only)].
Carer Payment (child) No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Child Care Benefit No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Disability Support Pension Payable for temporary or permanent absences, but payment only continues for 13 weeks unless the person is terminally ill.

If terminally ill then payment can continue indefinitely. Payment may be proportional in some cases. If not terminally ill payment may continue after 13 weeks in certain Agreement countries only.

Some different rules may apply if you left Australia before 1 July 2004 and have not returned to Australia permanently since that time.
Double Orphan Pension No payment if you leave Australia permanently except if you move to a country with which Australia has an International agreement that covers this payment.
Education Entry Payment Payable if the main payment (e.g. Disability Support Pension) is payable.
Family Tax Benefit Part A No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Family Tax Benefit Part B No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Large Family Allowance
(paid with Family Tax Benefit A)
No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Mobility Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Multiple Birth Allowance
(paid with Family Tax Benefit A)
No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Newstart Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Parenting Payment No payment if you leave Australia permanently except if you move to a country with which Australia has an international agreement that covers this payment (widowed Parenting Payment customers only).
Partner Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Pensioner Education Supplement No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Pharmaceutical Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Remote Area Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Rent Assistance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Sickness Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Special Benefit No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Telephone Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Widow Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.
Widow 'B' Pension Payable for temporary or permanent absences, but payment only continues for 13 weeks except in certain cases (e.g. women whose legally-married husband died, or women who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more).

If payable for more than 13 weeks (e.g. women whose legally-married husband died, or women who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more) then payment will be proportional in some cases.

If not normally payable for more than 13 weeks payment may continue after 13 weeks in certain Agreement countries.
Wife Pension Payable for temporary or permanent absences, but payment only continues for 13 weeks except in certain cases (e.g. women who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more).

If payable for more than 13 weeks (e.g. women who have lived in Australia for 10 years or more) then payment will be proportional.

If not normally payable for more than 13 weeks payment may continue after 13 weeks in certain Agreement countries.
Youth Allowance No payment if you leave Australia permanently.

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Online services

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  • claiming a payment
  • FAQs
  • how to logon
  • online demonstrations
  • register
  • report employment income

Individuals

  • caring
  • crisis and special help
  • help after someone has died
  • illness or disability
  • looking for work
  • moved to Australia
  • parent or guardian
  • payments
  • retirement
  • self employed or farmer
  • services
  • studying or training

Businesses

  • centrepay
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  • Centrelink confirmation eServices
  • employer FAQs
  • employer info

Community groups

Indigenous Australians

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We speak your language

International

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  • Centrelink ABN: 29 468 422 437
  • Page last updated: 13 July 2010