Age Pensioners going overseas

Hello everyone.

I’m often asked to explain how international travel can affect Age Pension payments.

Before I start, it’s important to point out that the rules about going overseas differs between payments. If you’re getting another type of payment from us, like the Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment, then you need to check our website to find out their rules for travelling.

For most people, Age Pension can be paid indefinitely while you’re travelling overseas. That can still be the case even if you plan on moving to another country to live. This isn’t the case, though, for customers who get Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country or had their Age Pension granted under Former Resident provisions.

For those temporarily going overseas, for the first six weeks you’re away, nothing happens. You don’t need to tell us you’ve gone, and your pension rate won’t change.

After six weeks, your pension rate will automatically go down as the Energy Supplement stops and the Pension Supplement reduces to the basic rate. They stay at the reduced rate until you return to Australia.

After six weeks, your Pension Concession Card will be cancelled. A new card will be issued when you return to Australia.

After 26 weeks, your rate of Age Pension may reduce depending on how long you’ve lived in Australia between the ages of 16 and Age Pension age. This is called your Australian Working Life Residence. If you’ve been an Australian resident for 35 years or more between the age of 16 and Age Pension age, then there’ll be no change to your pension rate. If you’ve been a resident for less than 35 years, then the rate of pension you get will be based on how long you were a resident during that 35 year period.

For example, if you’ve been an Australian resident for 10 years between 16 and Age Pension age, then you’ll be eligible for 10/35ths of your present rate of Age Pension.

Remember – this only applies to your fortnightly Age Pension. The supplements, which are added to your fortnightly pension, are already reduced because of the 6 week rule I spoke about earlier.

If you are leaving to live overseas, then the supplements reduce as soon as you leave.

Finally, there are the factors that can affect your pension under the income and assets tests. If you own your own home and are travelling, you need to check our website or speak to a Financial Information Service Officer to see how Services Australia could look at the principal home while you’re away.

See you next time.

Hank Jongen