How Long Can My Pension Be Paid While I Am Absent From Australia?

Note: The information below is only a general guide. There are other rules which might affect you. It is very important that you contact Centrelink before you go to find out how your payment will be affected.

In certain circumstances, you can continue to get your payment if you leave Australia. If you:

• continue to meet qualifications (this means, for example, if you are on a Disability Support Pension, you remain incapacitated for work or if you get Parenting Payment Single or Carer Payment, you remain an Australian resident, i.e. you do not leave permanently)
• are not being paid the pension under a social security agreement for which there are special rules, for example the United Kingdom agreement
• are not affected by 'former residence' provisions.

You can be paid the payments below:

Age Pension

You can get Age Pension for the total period of absence, however, after 26 weeks your rate may change. If you are going to New Zealand, your rate may be affected by the Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

Disability Support Pension

You can get Disability Support Pension for a maximum of 13 weeks unless:

• you are terminally ill and are leaving Australia permanently
• special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply (this normally only applies if you are 'severely disabled'), or
• you left Australia prior to 1 July 2004, and at the time of leaving you were told you could be paid indefinitely, and you have not returned to Australia to live since that time.

In these cases, Disability Support Pension can be paid for the total period of absence, however, your rate may change. If you are going to New Zealand, your rate may be affected by the Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

Widow B Pension

You can get Widow B Pension for a limited period unless:

• your legal husband died
• you have 10 years' Australian residence
• you were affected by a recommendation of an 'allegation authority', or
• special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

In these cases, Widow B pension can be paid for the total period of absence, however, after 26 weeks your rate may change.

Wife Pension

You can get Wife Pension for a limited period of an absence unless:

• you have 10 years' Australian residence
• you were affected by a recommendation of an 'allegation authority', or
• special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

In these cases, Wife Pension can be paid for the total period of absence, however, after 26 weeks your rate may change.

Parenting Payment Single

You can be paid Parenting Payment Single for the first 13 weeks of 'temporary' absence unless special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

Carer Payment

You can be paid Carer Payment for the first 13 weeks of 'temporary' absence unless special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply. The person being cared for must be travelling with you, otherwise you may only be paid for 63 days (the period available under respite rules).

Bereavement Allowance

You can be paid Bereavement Allowance during the entire period of qualification if you leave Australia.

What is an 'Allegation authority'?

'Allegation authority' refers to events in the 1970s when certain people getting Invalid Pension were investigated for possible fraudulent grants and were subsequently cleared and paid compensation.

What does a 'Limited Period' mean?

Limited Period generally means 13 weeks, except in some special circumstances.