Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand - Frequently Asked Questions

Note: The following information is provided as a guide only. People should contact Services Australia - International Services on 131 673 for specific information relating to their circumstances.

General arrangements for New Zealanders’ access to Australian income support payments

Access to most Australian social security payments changed from 26 February 2001. After that date, only New Zealanders moving to Australia who hold a permanent resident visa or have Australian citizenship, and reside in Australia are able to apply for the full range of social security payments. New Zealanders who were in Australia on 26 February 2001 were not affected by the changed arrangements and there were some other limited exceptions. Services Australia - International Services is able to provide information on these exceptions.

New Zealander's who travel to Australia without obtaining a permanent resident visa, ie on a Special Category Visa, can access certain social security payments covered by the Social Security Agreement between Australia and New Zealand. More information on the Agreement is below.

When did the Agreement start?

Australia has a long history of Social Security Agreements with New Zealand starting in 1944. Revised Agreements have been implemented in 1949, 1987, 1989, 1995 and 2002.

The current Social Security Agreement with New Zealand began operating on 1 July 2017. This Agreement replaced the 2002 Agreement.

[ top ]

What does the Agreement do?

The Agreement allows people who enter Australia on a Special Category Visa (SCV) using a New Zealand passport to access certain social security income support payments.

Under the Agreement, Australia and New Zealand share responsibility for paying certain benefits, broadly according to the period people have lived in Australia and New Zealand (from 20 until pension age).

[ top ]

What payments does the Agreement cover?

For Australia, the Agreement covers:

  • Age Pension;
  • Disability Support Pension (for the severely disabled); and
  • Carer Payment (for partners of recipients of Disability Support Pension).

For New Zealand, the Agreement covers:

  • New Zealand Superannuation;
  • Veterans Pension; and
  • Supported Living Payment.

Note: The Agreement does not cover workforce age payments such as Parenting Payment (single or partnered), Newstart Allowance, Sickness Allowance or Special Benefit. People moving from New Zealand to Australia who wish to obtain these payments must be:

  • an Australian citizen;
  • the holder of a permanent visa; or
  • a protected SCV holder (generally this applies to SCV holders who were in Australia on 26 February 2001. Some other exceptions also apply).

A Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period (NARWP) also applies to most social security payments. For more information, refer to Residence Criteria

New Zealanders living in Australia who do not fall into any of the above categories and are not covered by the Agreement may however qualify for some other payments, such as family payments. Further information is available on the Services Australia website.

[ top ]

What are the main features of the Agreement?

The Agreement helps people living in Australia and New Zealand, who have spent part of their working life in the other country, to claim a (part) pension from both countries.

Australian legislation generally requires a person to have a minimum of 10 years Australian residence before they can claim an age pension or disability support pension (this rule changes if the person becomes disabled after they take up permanent residence in Australia). It also requires the person to be an Australian resident and in Australia on the day the claim for pension is lodged.

The Agreement helps people access the Australian payments specified above by:

  • allowing Special Category Visa (SCV) holders to claim an Australian pension;
  • counting periods of working age residence in Australia (from 20 until pension age) towards New Zealand's residency requirements for New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans pension and counting any residence in Australia for Supported Living Payment;
  • allowing continued payment (subject to ongoing qualification) of these benefits in New Zealand; and
  • allowing former Australian residents now living in New Zealand to claim an Australian pension.

Note: To use the Agreement to claim an Australian pension while residing in New Zealand, a person must have actually resided in Australia from the age of 20 until pension age for a minimum of 12 months. Services Australia website has information on residence requirements for payments covered by the Agreement.

New Zealand legislation currently requires a person to have a minimum of 10 years residence in New Zealand, (5 of which must be after the age of 50), to be eligible for New Zealand Superannuation. If, for example, a person has only 3 years of residence in New Zealand he/she would be able to count any periods of working age residence in Australia as periods of residence in New Zealand to meet the minimum qualifying period.

The Agreement helps people access the New Zealand payments specified above by:

  • allowing Australians who move to New Zealand to claim a New Zealand pension;
  • counting periods of working age residence in Australia (from 20 until 65) towards New Zealand's residency requirements for New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans pension and counting any residence in Australia for Invalids benefit residency requirements;
  • allowing continued payment (subject to ongoing qualification) of New Zealand benefits in Australia; and
  • allowing former residents of New Zealand living in Australia to claim a New Zealand pension.

Note: To use the Agreement to claim a New Zealand pension while residing in Australia, a person must have actually been a New Zealand resident for a continuous period of at least one year since attaining the age of 20.

The amount of pension a person can receive will be calculated under the terms of the Agreement. Under the Agreement a person will generally be entitled to two pensions - one from New Zealand and one from Australia. Generally the two pensions, when added together, would equal the amount of pension you would have received had you lived all your life in one country.

[ top ]

What are the most important things to know about the Australian social security system?

All claimants for Australian pension, including those under the New Zealand Agreement, need to meet other requirements, for example, an income and assets test. Australian pensions are means tested, that is, an income test is applied and then an asset test is applied, and whichever produces the lower rate is used. Services Australia website has information about the income and assets tests.

[ top ]

Where and how do I claim a pension?

People living in Australia can obtain:

People living in New Zealand can obtain:

[ top ]

What age will I need to be to qualify for an Australian Age Pension or New Zealand Superannuation/Veterans Benefit.

To claim an Australian Age Pension or New Zealand Superannuation/Veteran’s Benefit, a person must have reached whichever country’s pension age is the higher at the time they claim. This applies to both men and women.

Note, Australian Age Pension age began increasing from 65.5 in July 2017 and will continue to increase by six months every two years until it reaches 67 in July 2023.

[ top ]

When can I claim a pension?

You can lodge a claim for Australian Age Pension under the Agreement up to 13 weeks before you reach pension age. Normally you can only be paid from the date you lodge your claim or the date you become eligible, whichever is later.

Generally, claims for New Zealand Superannuation should be lodged 2 weeks before the person qualifies for payment. Claims under the Agreement, however, can be lodged up to 13 weeks in advance. More information on lodging claims for New Zealand benefits is available from Work and Income.

[ top ]

What documents do I need to make a claim?

When you claim an Australian pension you will need to complete a claim form and provide documents to prove your identity and periods of residence in Australia.

Proof of Identity

Some of the acceptable documents to prove your identity are:

  • birth certificate or extract
  • current Australian passport
  • certificate of Australian citizenship

Proof of Australian Residence

Helpful documents that can assist you to do this include:

  • Australian or overseas passport that shows your date of arrival in Australia
  • Entry visa
  • Australian citizenship papers
  • employment and/or tax records, including group certificates issued by Australian employers.

Note: The above are only a few of the documents that can be used to prove your identity and your Australian residence. Services Australia is able to provide more information on other acceptable documents to prove your identity and Australian residence.

Note: Claimants for Australian pension who receive a New Zealand pension generally have had their identity verified by Work and Income New Zealand. Australian residence will still have to be verified.

[ top ]

How much pension will I receive under the Agreement?

Under the Agreement a person will generally be entitled to two pensions - one from New Zealand and one from Australia. Generally the two pensions, when added together, will equal the amount of pension you would have received had you lived all your life in one country.

If you live in Australia, the proportion of your New Zealand pension will normally be based on your periods of residence in New Zealand from age 20 until pension age. It may then be 'topped up' by Australia to the amount of Australian pension you would be entitled to had you only ever lived in Australia. However, the amount of New Zealand pension payable in Australia is also limited to no more than the amount of Australian pension which would otherwise be payable under the income or assets tests. This can mean that only a reduced New Zealand pension is payable or, if no Australian pension is payable under the income or assets tests, then no New Zealand pension is paid.

If you live in New Zealand, the proportion of your Australian pension will normally be based on your periods of residence in Australia from age 20 until pension age, and your income and assets. It may then be 'topped up' by New Zealand to the amount of New Zealand pension you would be entitled to had you only ever lived in New Zealand.

[ top ]

How are pensions paid?

If you are residing in Australia, your Australian pension will be paid into your nominated bank account every 2 weeks. You will need to advise Services Australia of the details. Any New Zealand pension you receive will be paid into your nominated bank account monthly.

If you are residing in New Zealand, any New Zealand pension will be paid into your nominated bank account every 2 weeks. You will need to advise Work and Income of the details. If you receive an Australian pension while residing in New Zealand, you should notify Services Australia of which bank account you wish to have your pension paid into. Your Australian pension will be paid into this account every 4 weeks in New Zealand Dollars.

[ top ]

How does moving between Australia and New Zealand affect my pension?

If you receive an Australian pension and you move to New Zealand, you must notify Services Australia. However, you will not need to lodge another claim for Australian pension. Services Australia will advise you how moving to New Zealand will affect your pension.

If you receive a New Zealand pension you must reclaim that pension when you move permanently between Australia and New Zealand.

If you live permanently in New Zealand your New Zealand payment may be affected if you travel to Australia.

You should contact Work and Income for more information about this.

New Zealand residents in receipt of Supported Living Payment who move to Australia will not automatically receive Australian DSP when they arrive in Australia. These people will have to undergo assessment under Australia's legislation to determine whether they qualify for Australian DSP. Services Australia has more information on this process.

Australian Carer Payment will only be granted to former New Zealand residents whose partner receives Australian DSP. Former New Zealand residents who wish to claim Carer Payment will have to undergo assessment under Australia's domestic legislation to determine whether they qualify for this payment. In addition, under the Agreement DSP is limited to those who are ‘severely disabled’ (as defined in the Agreement). Services Australia has more information on this process.

[ top ]

How do I find out more?

For more information on claim procedures and payments:

For policy information, contact the Department of Social Services (complaints@dss.gov.au).

For more information on how the Agreement will assist seconded workers, contact the Australian Taxation Office.

Last updated: