How long can I receive Centrelink payments and services while outside of Australia?

The information below is a guide only. There are other rules which might affect you. You should contact Centrelink before you go to find out how your payment will be affected.

Most Centrelink payments and services can only be paid for temporary absences of up to 13 weeks outside Australia and you must remain qualified for your payment while you are absent from Australia (you continue to meet the normal qualification rules for the payment, your permanent home is still in Australia, and you are only absent from Australia temporarily, e.g. for a holiday or a visit).

Some payments can only be paid in very limited circumstances.

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

• continue to meet qualifications (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, or
• have to serve minimum periods of return.

You must contact Centrelink if you are planning to leave Australia to have your particular circumstances assessed.

• Age Pension
• ABSTUDY
• Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme
• Austudy
• Baby Bonus, Maternity Immunisation Allowance and Child Care Benefit
• Bereavement Allowance
• Carer Allowance
• Carer Payment
• Concession Cards
• Disability Support Pension
• Double Orphan Pension
• Family Tax Benefit Part A and Family Tax Benefit Part B
• Mobility Allowance
• Newstart Allowance
• Parenting Payment Single
• Parenting Payment Partnered
• Partner Allowance
• Pension Supplement
• Pensioner Education Supplement
• Pharmaceutical Allowance
• Remote Area Allowance
• Rent Assistance
• Sickness Allowance
• Special Benefit
• Telephone Allowance
• Utilities Allowance
• Widow Allowance
• Widow B Pension
• Wife Pension
• Youth Allowance
• What is an 'Allegation authority'?
• What does ‘Minimum Period of Return’ mean?

Age Pension

You can generally get Age Pension for the total period of absence however, after 13 weeks your rate may change. It may change again if you remain outside Australia for more than 26 weeks. If you are travelling to New Zealand your rate may be affected by the Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

ABSTUDY

If you leave Australia permanently your ABSTUDY payment will stop on departure. If you are a full-time student ABSTUDY can generally be paid for any temporary absence from Australia for up to 13 weeks if you satisfy the general ABSTUDY eligibility criteria.

If you are a secondary student studying outside Australia you can generally continue to be paid ABSTUDY where:

• the education institution at which you are studying is equivalent to an approved education institution in Australia; and
• the course you are studying is at secondary level and meets the study-load provisions set down for secondary school students.

If you are	Then assistance is approved for
participating in an international educational exchange programme recognised by the relevant State or Territory education authority.	the period of the study at an education institution outside Australia.
accompanying parent(s)/ guardian(s) who are employed by the Australian Government (e.g. members of the Australian Defence Force).	the period of the posting outside Australia.
studying outside Australia for any other reason.	A period of 12 months from the first date of attendance at the education institution outside Australia, i.e. where you do not return to Australia, ABSTUDY assistance ceases from the end of the payment period that includes the anniversary of the first date of attendance.

If you are a secondary non-school, tertiary, and Masters & Doctorate Level student, you can generally continue to be paid ABSTUDY where:

• you are enrolled on a full-time or concessional study-load basis in an approved course at a Australian higher education institution which approves the study outside Australia and is prepared to credit the results of the study at an education institution outside Australia toward the approved course; and
• you meet the normal study-load requirements in respect of the approved Australian course.

There is usually no time limit provided other eligibility and reasonable time conditions are met.

If you are an Australian Apprentice:

• you can usually keep getting ABSTUDY for a temporary absence as long as your Commonwealth Registration Number remains current.

You may also receive ABSTUDY outside Australia if you are attending a Defence Force Reserve Service training camp.

[ return to top ]

Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme

If you and/or your child leave Australia permanently your AIC payment will stop on departure. You may be paid Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme allowances:

• during a temporary departure from Australia for a student who is participating in an international student exchange and remains enrolled at an Australian education institution and the study outside Australia is credited to their Australian studies
• if the student is continuing to incur the costs in Australia for which the allowance is paid, and
• if you leave Australia temporarily for less than 2 years as long as your principal home remains in Australia (for work, or holidays).

Austudy

If you leave Australia permanently Austudy will stop on departure.

If you are a full time student you can be paid Austudy:

• for up to 13 weeks of a temporary absence (during holidays or semester breaks)
• for more than 13 weeks until the end of your study if you undertake study as part of a full time Australian course, or
• for the purpose of attending a Defence Force Reserve Training Camp.

Baby Bonus, Maternity Immunisation Allowance and Child Care Benefit

If you and/or your child(ren) leave Australia permanently you cannot be paid Baby Bonus, Maternity Immunisation Allowance or Child Care Benefit.

If you and/or your child(ren) leave Australia temporarily, you may get paid Baby Bonus, Maternity Immunisation Allowance and Child Care Benefit.

You should contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 before you leave to find out how your payments will be affected.

[ return to top ]

Bereavement Allowance

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

Carer Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Carer Allowance payments will stop on departure.

If the person being cared for is travelling with you, you can be paid Carer Allowance for the first 13 weeks of a temporary absence only.

If the person being cared for is not travelling with you, you may generally only be paid Carer Allowance for the number of unused respite days remaining for the calendar year. The maximum number of respite days allowed each calendar year is 63 days. If the child being cared for is under 16 years of age and remains in Australia with your partner, Carer Allowance (but not Carer Payment) may be paid while you are outside Australia for up to 13 weeks without the use of respite days.

Carer Payment

If you leave permanently your payment will stop on departure unless special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

If the person being cared for is travelling with you, you can be paid Carer Payment for the first 13 weeks of temporary absence only unless you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia, or special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply (generally partner carers of Age or Disability Support Pensioners only).

If the person being cared for is not travelling with you, you may generally only be paid Carer Payment for the number of unused respite days remaining for the calendar year. The maximum number of respite days allowed each calendar year is 63 days.

Concession Cards

If you leave Australia permanently and you are holder of a Health Care Card, a low income Health Care Card, a pensioner concession card, or a Commonwealth Seniors Health card, the card will be cancelled on your departure.

If you leave Australia temporarily, your card will remain current for up to 13 weeks provided you continue to be entitled to the card.

[ return to top ]

Disability Support Pension

You can get Disability Support Pension for the first 13 weeks of an absence only unless:

• you are terminally ill and are leaving Australia permanently
• you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia
• 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 travelling to New Zealand, your rate may be affected by the Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand.

Double Orphan Pension

You can be paid Double Orphan Pension for a temporary absence from Australia of up to 3 years only. If you leave permanently your payment will stop on departure unless special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

If you have left Australia for more than 13 weeks and have returned for less than 13 weeks, Double Orphan Pension will not be payable immediately on your departure.

Holders of certain temporary visas can be paid Double Orphan Pension only in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died), or
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings).

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

Holders of temporary protection visas cannot be paid Double Orphan Pension outside Australia.

You should contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 before you leave to find out how your payments will be affected.

[ return to top ]

Family Tax Benefit Part A and Family Tax Benefit Part B

If you and/or your children leave Australia permanently your Family Tax Benefit payments will stop on departure.

If you and/or your children leave Australia temporarily, you may get paid:

• Family Tax Benefit Part A base rate for up to 3 years
• Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement for up to 13 weeks, and
• Family Tax Benefit Part B and Family Tax Benefit Part B Supplement for up to 13 weeks

If you and/or your children have left Australia for more than 13 weeks and have returned for less than 13 weeks, your FTB Part A and B will not be payable immediately on your and/or your children’s departure. If you and/or your children leave Australia permanently, you cannot get Family Tax Benefit Part A or Family Tax Benefit Part B including supplements.

Holders of certain temporary visas can be paid Family Tax Benefit only in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died), or
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings).

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

Holders of temporary protection visas cannot be paid Family Tax Benefit outside Australia at all.

You should contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 before you leave to find out how your payments will be affected.

Mobility Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Mobility Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can continue to be paid Mobility Allowance for a temporary absence of up to 13 weeks provided you remain qualified, e.g. during holidays from work/training.

Newstart Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Newstart Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can be paid Newstart Allowance in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died)
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings), or
• to attend a training camp with the Armed Forces Reserves.

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

[ return to top ]

Parenting Payment Single

If you leave permanently your payment will stop on departure unless special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

You can be paid Parenting Payment Single for the first 13 weeks of temporary absence only unless you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia, or special arrangements under an international social security agreement apply.

Parenting Payment Partnered

If you leave permanently your payment will stop on departure.

You can be paid Parenting Payment Partnered for the first 13 weeks of temporary absence only unless you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia.

Partner Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Partner Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can be paid Partner Allowance for the first 13 weeks of a temporary absence only unless you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia.

Pension Supplement

can be paid the Pension Supplement Basic Amount for the total period of absence provided your main payment remains payable.

You can be paid the Pension Supplement Minimum and Remaining Amounts for the first 13 weeks of a temporary absence.

Pensioner Education Supplement

If you leave Australia permanently your Pensioner Education Supplement payments will stop on departure.

You can continue to be paid Pensioner Education Supplement for a temporary absence of up to 13 weeks provided you remain qualified, for example during holidays from work/training.

If you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia, you may be able to receive Pensioner Education Supplement for the duration of that period outside Australia. The period for which you may be paid may be affected if you return to Australia and leave again within 13 weeks of that return.

[ return to top ]

Pharmaceutical Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Pharmaceutical Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can continue to be paid Pharmaceutical Allowance for a temporary absence of either up to 13 weeks, or up to 26 weeks depending on how long your main payment continues to be payable.

Remote Area Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Remote Area Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can continue to be paid Remote Area Allowance for a temporary absence of up to 8 weeks.

Rent Assistance

If you leave Australia permanently your Rent Assistance payments will stop on departure.

You can continue to be paid Rent Assistance for a temporary absence of either up to 13 weeks, or up to 26 weeks depending on how long your main payment continues to be payable.

Sickness Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Sickness Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can be paid Sickness Allowance in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died), or
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings).

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

Special Benefit

If you leave Australia permanently your Special Benefit payments will stop on departure. You can be paid Special Benefit in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died), or
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings).

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

Note: If you are holder of a temporary protection visa and paid Special Benefit you cannot be paid during an absence from Australia.

Telephone Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently you will lose eligibility for Telephone Allowance on departure.

You can be paid Telephone Allowance during a temporary departure if the TAL payday is within the first 13 weeks of your absence, and you continue to be qualified for TAL (you continue to be a subscriber).

Utilities Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently you will lose eligibility for Utilities Allowance on departure.

You can be paid Utilities Allowance during a temporary departure if the Utilities Allowance test day is within the first 13 weeks of your absence, and you continue to be qualified for your main payment.

Widow Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Widow Allowance payments will stop on departure.

You can be paid Widow Allowance for the first 13 weeks of a temporary absence only unless you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia.

[ return to top ]

Widow B Pension

You can get Widow B Pension for the first 13 weeks of an absence only unless:

• you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia
• 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 13 weeks your rate may change. It may change again if you remain outside Australia for more than 26 weeks.

Wife Pension

You can get Wife Pension for the first 13 weeks of an absence only unless:

• you are studying an approved unit of a full time course outside Australia
• 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 13 weeks your rate may change. It may change again if you remain outside Australia for more than 26 weeks.

[ return to top ]

Youth Allowance

If you leave Australia permanently your Youth Allowance payments will stop on departure.

If you are a full time student you can be paid Youth Allowance:

• for up to 13 weeks of a temporary absence as long as you remain enrolled as a student (e.g. during holidays or semester breaks)
• for more than 13 weeks until the end of your study if you undertake study as part of a full time Australian course.

If you are an Australian Apprentice you can be paid Youth Allowance during a temporary absence as long as your Commonwealth Registration remains current.

If you are not a full time student or Australian Apprentice you can be paid Youth Allowance in very limited circumstances during a temporary absence for as long as is needed but not for more than 13 weeks and only if the absence is:

• to seek eligible medical treatment (i.e. recognised medical treatment of a kind not available in Australia)
• to attend to an acute family crisis (e.g. visiting a family member who is hospitalised with a serious illness or is critically ill, or if a family member has died)
• for a humanitarian purpose (i.e. international adoption, custody or legal proceedings),

If you are attending a training camp with the Armed Forces Reserves you can be paid for the duration of the training.

You will be required to provide sufficient evidence of your reason to travel.

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 ‘Minimum Period of Return’ mean?

Parenting Payment customers generally have a minimum amount of time which must be spent in Australia after an absence before the payment can be paid again outside Australia. If you only have recently returned to Australia, how long you can be paid (if at all) for any later departures may depend on whether you have been back in Australia for at least 13 weeks.

[ return to top ]