If you’re an Australian resident planning to travel or live overseas, you may be wondering how your Centrelink Age Pension will be affected. The good news is that in certain circumstances, you can still receive your Age Pension while abroad. This detailed guide will explain the rules for continuing your Age Pension payments while outside Australia in 2024.
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Can You Receive the Age Pension Overseas?
Yes, you can receive Age Pension payments while you are outside Australia, but how long you can receive them and the amount you are eligible for depends on several factors, such as how long you’ve lived in Australia and the length of your stay abroad.
Age Pension While Temporarily Overseas
If you are leaving Australia temporarily, your Age Pension payments will generally continue as usual for the first 6 weeks. This means you will receive the full amount of your pension, including any Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement, for the first 6 weeks while you’re overseas.
After 6 weeks, your Pension Supplement will be reduced to the basic amount, and you may lose your Energy Supplement entirely. However, you can continue to receive your Age Pension payments as long as your absence from Australia is temporary.
Pension Payments for Long-Term Absence
If you plan to be away from Australia for more than 6 weeks but less than 26 weeks (roughly 6 months), your Age Pension payments will continue at the standard rate, minus the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement adjustments.
After 26 weeks, your Age Pension will be adjusted based on your Australian Working Life Residence (AWLR), which measures the number of years you lived in Australia between the ages of 16 and pension age. The rate of your payment will depend on how long you lived in Australia during this period.
- If you have at least 35 years of AWLR, you will continue to receive the full Age Pension.
- If you have fewer than 35 years, your pension will be pro rata based on the number of years you have lived in Australia.
Moving Overseas Permanently
If you are planning to move overseas permanently, your Age Pension payments will depend on your AWLR and whether Australia has an international social security agreement with the country you’re moving to.
- You will continue to receive your full-age pension if you have 35 years or more of AWLR.
- If you have fewer than 35 years, your payments will be reduced according to the number of years you lived in Australia as a resident.
Once you leave Australia permanently, after 26 weeks of absence, your pension amount will be determined by your AWLR. Payments will also be affected if you are moving to a country without a social security agreement with Australia.
Countries with Social Security Agreements
Australia has social security agreements with several countries to help pensioners maintain their Age Pension payments while living abroad. These agreements allow Australians to continue receiving their pension even if they reside in one of these countries.
Some of the countries with agreements include:
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Canada
- Germany
- Italy
If you are moving to a country with a social security agreement, you can usually continue to receive Age Pension payments, although the amount may still be subject to the same AWLR test.
Residency Requirement and Impact on Payments
To be eligible to receive your Age Pension while overseas, you must have lived in Australia for at least 10 years as a permanent resident, with at least 5 consecutive years of residency. Exceptions may apply to certain people who have lived abroad for extended periods due to employment.
If you meet these criteria, you can continue to receive Age Pension payments while living or traveling abroad, subject to the rules outlined above.
How to Notify Centrelink About Travel Plans
Before leaving Australia, it’s essential to inform Centrelink about your travel plans, especially if you intend to be away for more than 6 weeks. You can do this through your myGov account or by contacting Centrelink directly.
Centrelink will assess your situation and provide advice on how your payments will be affected based on the length of your absence and your AWLR.
Key Points to Remember
- First 6 weeks: Full Age Pension payments continue, including supplements.
- After 6 weeks: Reduced Pension Supplement and loss of Energy Supplement.
- After 26 weeks: Payments depend on your AWLR.
- Permanent move overseas: Payments depend on residency in Australia and whether the destination country has a social security agreement with Australia.
Additional Payments and Benefits
Some additional payments and benefits like the Pensioner Concession Card or Rent Assistance may not be available while you are overseas, so it’s important to check the details of any additional supports you rely on.
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The rules for receiving the Centrelink Age Pension while outside Australia are complex but manageable if you plan your travel or permanent relocation carefully. Understanding your Australian Working Life Residence, the impact on your supplements, and whether the country you’re moving to has a social security agreement with Australia are all key factors to consider. Be sure to inform Centrelink of your travel plans and stay up-to-date with the latest regulations to ensure uninterrupted payments.
By being well-prepared, you can enjoy your time abroad without worrying about losing your Age Pension benefits.