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Retirement – income streams, investing & market updates, estate planning & aged care, your benefits from, retirement planning, personal finance, your question answered, age pension and travel overseas.

Age Pension and Travel Overseas

Now that Covid is no longer such a thread, international borders have opened, all airlines are just waiting for you to jump on the plane and cruises boats are awaiting new passengers, many retirees start thinking, how long can I actually be overseas and still continue receiving my Age Pension.

As anything to do with the Centrelink office, there are strict rules how travelling overseas may affect your payment, of Age Pension or Service Pension received from the DVA office (Department of Veteran’s Affairs), so it only makes sense to understand those rules before you jump on the plane or the cruise liner to enjoy your long-overdue overseas holiday.

So today, we are NOT talking about leaving Australia for good in order to live overseas, You can read about living overseas: “ Retirement and Living Overseas ” and “ Retirement overseas and Age Pension “

Today, we are talking about the situation when you are leaving Australia to go overseas maybe for trip of a lifetime, travel from one country to another, from one continent to another, to fly, to sail, to hike, to bike, whatever takes your fancy, this would be my dream overseas holiday travel.

But maybe you have a family overseas, for example your kids left Australia to pursue an incredible professional career in another country, of maybe you were born overseas, and you’ve always wanted to re-visit the country of your heritage, get to know its people and the culture.

Whatever the reason for your long overseas travel is, it pays to understand the rules if you are a recipient of any government retirement income, whether it is Age Pension or Service Pension or any other government benefit.

“You don’t choose the day you enter the world and you don’t choose the day you leave.   It’s what you do in between that makes all the difference.”   Anita Septimus

I love this quote and you can apply it to anything you do in your life.

So now, let’s jump into our today’s topic: “How long can I travel overseas before it affects my Age Pension?”

1. Travel overseas for less than 6 weeks

If your plan is to be away from Australia for less than 6 weeks at the time, your Age Pension will not be changed and you will enjoy the full payment you are eligible for, as if you were in Australia all the time.

2. Travel overseas for more than 6 weeks but less than 12 months

If you stay outside of Australia longer than 6 weeks, the government will remove your payment of Pension Supplement and you will be receiving the basic rate. Also, the Energy Supplement will stop. Both of those payments will be reinstated on your return to Australia.

So as you can see, unlike the common believe, you can be overseas for quite some time and still enjoy your government pension payments going to your bank account every fortnight.

Things change however, if you are outside of Australia for a period longer than 12 months

3. Travel overseas for longer than 12 months (26 fortnights) 

If you wish to stay overseas for longer than 26 fortnights, your eligibility to continue your Age Pension payments will depend on how long you were an Australian resident between the age of 16 and Age Pension age. If you are unsure what Age Pension age means, read “ Age Pension explained “ where you will understand all the basic requirement of Age Pension eligibility.

So let’s discuss the Australian residency rules.

As mentioned above, your residency is based on your length of your “Australian Working Life Residency” and it is set at 35 years. Despite its name, it is not a requirement for you to be working all those 35 years.

If your Australian Working Life Residency is 35 years or longer, you can spend overseas longer than 26 weeks and your basic Age Pension rate will continue with no disruption. The only change could be that your payments might be made to the bank account every 4 weeks, rather than a fortnight, and you might be receiving payments in the local currency or US dollar, depending on the country you are in and the agreement between Australia and that country.

If you’ve lived in Australia for less than 35 years, then your Age Pension payment rate will be proportional, based on number of years of your residency in Australia.

So to make it clear, let’s look at some examples of pensioners receiving full Age Pension payments:

  • John is a single pensioner and has been living in Australia for 50 years. He is now 72 years old and wants to visit his daughter who moved to UK, married there and has the family and a successful career. Because John’s Australian Working Life Residency is longer than 35 years, after 26 weeks of stay in UK, his Age Pension will continue at the full basic Age Pension rate of $22,937pa.
  • Stefano is also single and in a similar situation having all his children in Italy, but he’s only been an Australia resident for 20 years. Therefore after 26 weeks in Italy, Stefano’s Age Pension will be reduced proportionally, down to $13,107pa.

Those calculations are correct based on the full basic Age Pension payment of $22,937 in April 2022

4. What happens to my Pensioner Concession card while I am overseas? 

If you leave Australia to live overseas, then your Pensioner concession card will be cancelled immediately upon your departure from Australia.

If however you leave Australia for a prolonged holiday, your Pensioner Concession Card will stay valid up to 6 weeks, after which time will be cancelled. However, it will be reissued to you once back in Australia.

If you don’t know the benefits of that card, see: “ Pensioner Concession Card “

5. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

This card will also be cancelled if you are outside of Australia for longer than 19 weeks. When you return, just contact Centrelink, advise of your income level and as long as you continue to be within the income limit, your card will be reinstated. If you don’t know income limits and benefits of Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, check: “ Centrelink concession Cards for your Retirement “

6. What to do before you leave Australia?

It is recommended that you either:

  • register for a Centrelink online account via myGov or
  • provide a nomination to a third party to act on your behalf, this could be a member of your family or your financial planner. Keep in mind that not all financial planning offices provide such support, my practice does, but due to many changes that our government introduced to financial planning, and some of them are dreadfully unfair and virtually killing this profession, many older and very experienced financial planners left the industry, leaving many retirees with no support and advice, as younger generation is not equipped with knowledge or experience to deal with issues retirees face.
  • Also, don’t forget to update Centrelink of your income and assets before you leave to ensure that your payment is not delayed.

7. What to do on your return to Australia?

Generally you don’t need to contact Centrelink on your return to Australia, unless:

  • your payment was stopped while you were overseas and it hasn’t restored automatically
  • you were required to provide reason for the travel and you have not provided those details

Travel overseas can be a great fun, but my sincere recommendation is:

  • make sure that you have provided all details Centrelink requested of you to ensure you Age Pension payments will not stop.
  • ensure that you have sufficient cash backup in your bank account.
  • never, ever travel overseas without the Travel Insurance. In most cases people think about covering your luggage, or your camera and other personal items,. As important and dear to your heart those items could be, it is the medical cover and assistance that should be the most important, as well as cover of your cards and all your travel documents.

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Retirement Essentials

Age Pension tips and traps for overseas travellers

by James Coyle | Dec 8, 2021 | Centrelink Age Pension | 52 comments

Tell Centrelink about your travel plans

Tell Centrelink about your travel plans

Some things you can’t ‘untell’ Centrelink – Tips and traps for overseas travellers

With international borders finally reopening many older Australians are keen to head overseas. But leaving Australia – particularly where you go and for how long – can have a major impact upon your Age Pension entitlements.

It’s critical that you know what your obligations are, including:

  • which information you need to share, and
  • the timelines of when you need to reveal this information.

If you are in any doubt, you can book an appointment with our customer service team to double check the detail you need to reveal, as you cannot ‘untell’ incorrect or inaccurate information. When you get it wrong, there is often a long process, sometimes including a rejection of your current or expected entitlements.

Mary got caught out when she went on a holiday. She did not need to inform Centrelink, but thought she did.

She  told Centrelink she was moving overseas for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond Mary’s control she was forced to return to Australia 8 months later.

Whilst Mary did not do anything wrong, committing to a permanent move overseas from the outset meant that Mary immediately lost her pension and energy supplements as well as a portion of her pension due to Mary not being an Australian resident for 35 years prior to her departure date.

Had Mary initially treated the move as a holiday and then updated Centrelink on her intent to live there permanently later on, she could have kept her supplements longer (they would eventually have been removed though) and her pension would have stayed as it was for longer before being reduced.

Travelling outside Australia does not necessarily mean losing your Age Pension entitlements, even when you take up residence in another country. But the amount you get is connected with the time you are away – and the country in which you resettle.

If you are undertaking holiday travel, you do not need to advise Centrelink.

If, however, you:

  • are going to live in another country
  • will be away for longer than 6 weeks
  • will receive a welfare payment from another country
  • returned to live in Australia within the past two years and received an Age Pension in this time
  • then you need to advise Centrelink through your online or myGov account.

There are three main categories of Centrelink interest when you travel:

  • If you leave for between 6 and 26 weeks
  • if you leave for more than 26 weeks
  • if you leave to live in another country

If you leave Australia for between 6 and 26 weeks

Your pension supplement drops to the basic rate and your energy supplement stops.

If you leave for more than 26 weeks

There is a sliding scale of the rate by which your pension is affected, depending upon the length of your Australian residency. Those who are residents for 35 years or longer will see no change, but under 35 years the pension is paid at a pro-rata amount, according to your length of residency.

If you leave to live in another country

You will be paid what is termed an ‘outside Australia rate’. Your pension supplement will be reduced to the basic rate and your energy supplement will be removed.

If your travel plans change due to circumstances outside your control, including Covid-19, you may need to contact Centrelink to explain your situation.

Tips and traps

  • Timing when you reveal your plans has a direct impact upon your pension payments as happened with Mary.
  • Choosing to relocate to another country is a big decision. You will need to do your research on availability of medical care, aged care and whether Australia has a social services agreement with that country. It’s not just about entitlements – it’s worth checking out the country’s human rights record and whether Australia has a strong consular presence there. Cost of living will also be of vital interest.
  • Payments for overseas pensions are approximately $2,000 per annum lower than payments to Australian residents
  • Pension are paid every four weeks, not every fortnight – you need to plan for the gap in income if you change from an Australian to an international payment

[Services Australia – these figures are a guide only and are effective from 20 September 2021.]

In summary, short-term travel has little effect on your pension income. Heading overseas for a longer time will need to be more carefully considered. So make sure you thoroughly understand the rules well before you leave.

And if in doubt, or need further information, our expert team are happy to explain all the rules. Book a consultation .

Have you headed away for a long period? If so, did you find it easy to manage your pension payments and concession card access? We’d love to hear your story.

52 Comments

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Does Australia have agreement with thePhilIppines ?

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Hi Keith, thanks for reaching out for further clarity regarding residency eligibility. Australia does not currently have a Social Security Agreement with The Philippines.

If you or anyone else reading would like to talk about the residency eligibility criteria in more detail we do offer 30min consultations at a cost of $75. We can clarify how Centrelink will assess you specifically and help guide you on any related matters that might impact your Age Pension. If you wish to proceed please CLICK HERE to book the best suitable time available.

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I do not believe I qualify for any pension due to assets unless I am considered a non home owner. I share a home with my family and I legally own 40% of the property. Am I considered a home owner or is there a proportion applied due to my reduced ownership.

Hi Chris, if your name is on the title then you will be assessed as a home owner (even if the ownership is split with others and not 100%). Regarding your overall eligibility we do offer 30min consultations at a cost of $75. We can clarify how Centrelink will assess you specifically and help guide you on any related matters like if the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is an option for you. If you wish to proceed please CLICK HERE to book the best suitable time available.

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I want to know why we’re paying a pension for people to live overseas, dual citizen or not It’s not fair on our tax payers

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Julie: Rather unkind comment. Some people when they get old want to return to their country of birth. Why should they not be allowed to receive their pensions to which they are entitled? As well, plenty of people receive an overseas pension although they have not lived or worked in their home countries since way back when. Should they refuse these so they can get a full Oz pension?

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I lived in Australia 34 years. I spent 3 years in My Home Country when I wasn’t a Pensioner due to the instability of Housing and work. I recently advised Centrelink of moving for 6 to 8 months and see if I lived with more resources in My Country of Birth since in the last 8 I moved 18 times with no grounds and unlawful renting on behalf of Landlords. I get the basic Pension but I have a more stable Home and life with family and Friends. I miss My children and grand children but loneliness and struggling was too much to handle. Centrelink said I can only stay 6 months and if I don’t go back to Australia they Will reduce the Pension in half due to my traveling while I was an Australia citizen? Does that mean You can’t have holidays? because I haven’t been anywhere since I’m a Pensioner. I don’t get it and don’t understand why all these since there is a Housing Crisis in Australia and Nice people homeless in they street because they can’t rent anything under 350 a week. So how long do they require we stay in Australia before we depart again where we can live with the Pension we get.

Hi Anabel, thank you for sharing your situation with us! There are 2 rules that come into play when looking at the impact of having lived/living overseas. The first is referred to as the ‘Returning Resident’ rule and based on your comments it does not apply to you specifically but I am posting it HERE for the benefit of other readers in similar situations whom it may impact. The second, which is what you are referring to in your comment, is the rules around how your pension is impacted by overseas travel even if you have not recently returned to Australia to live and you can read about the timeframes and impacts HERE .

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I guess Julie, its because most of these people have been paying taxes all their working lives in Australia. When they retire they should be able to receive and spend their pension anywhere they like. I would much prefer people getting a pension that have earned it (in Australia) rather than pay pensions to immigrants the minute they lob on our shores. No offense to the immigrants its not their fault.

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I agree wholeheartedly! I cant even get $1, I worked f o r 54 years in Oz…paid taxes raised 3 kids…and I kn oiw people who haver NEVER worked in Oz get an overseas pension AS WELL as an Oz pension! Its BS!

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You mean they get less of an Australian pension as the income from the overseas pension kicks in. So its better that way as it saves the Oz taxpayer more money and they are less of a burden on Medicare right?

Its not fair to pay politicians and all the infrastructure around them. All they do is sign papers. Absolutely useless just like councils. Unfair is negative gearing and other taxpayer funded incentives that drive up house prices ti even more unaffordable levels. Unfair to the taxpayer is the billions subsidizing the industries of the politicians friends in big industry. At least those who have worked all their lives are entitled to live anywhere they like because they cannot afford to live in Australia as everything here is ridiculously expensive and why is that? They are less of a burden on the resources of Australia especially Medicare. So it makes more economic sense and humane to allow them to live out the rest of their lives elsewhere. They earned it unlike the politicians you vote for.

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I guess that because I worked for nearly 60 years , paid taxes . Obeyed the law and tried to be a good citizen raised 7 children , putting 4 of them through University, I am more than annoyed that at 75 yo my old age pension will be affected if I do go overseas for a time.

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Think economics Julie, it’s cheaper for Aust to pay pension than to pay their aged care in nursing homes or pay their medical needs while aging.

It cost approximately $136 a day (in early 2000) for a level 4 resident in the nursing home, aside from paying them full pension. Lower level of needs can be $90 a day. That’s something to learn Julie, aside being nicer to others. We are all migrants not unless you are an Aboriginal.

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Thank you for the article. In the chart it states “maximum basic rate” and “basic pension supplement rate”. Can you clarify what these mean please? Give an example if possible?

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So if you having been living overseas for a few years and return for a holiday for example six weeks does your pension increase? Do you need to inform Centrelink of your return and then your departure back overseas?

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The point is where is the fairness to long term Australians , my Grandfather was a Pioneer in Australia Farming, my father was born in Australia and also a Pioneer in the Farming Industry , i was born here and also a Farmer . I applied and was approved for Pension here ,but then had it immediatly cancelled because i went overseas .. It is cheaper for the Govt if eligible penshioners live overseas and not claiming medical etc ..

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Why was it cancelled? You should be eligible for a full pension reduced only for rent, power etc assistance. Depending on where you move to and their agreements with Australia.

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As a New Zealand citizen living in Australia I’m on a SCV which is issued at the border. I’ve worked and lived half my life in NZ and half in Australia, I’m entitled to the age pension paid half by Australia and half by NZ. But unlike everyone else on age pension mine will stop if I chose to live out my retirement outside Australia. This is because of legislation which says the SCV ends the moment you leave Australia and begins again the moment we enter so in effect while overseas we have no visa. What this does is removes my opportunities to experience retirement overseas something I’d planned for years. This has been taken away from us. It’s discriminatory and wrong in an all inclusive society as other than how the visa works there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be able to spend our age pension the same as everyone else

Hi Brenton, thank you for articulating your struggle so well! It sounds like you have done some homework but I must say that the scenario you have explained is not how we believe the Australian Age Pension to work when you wish to live overseas. You may wish to call Centrelink’s International Services Team on 131 673 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm AEDT) because if you CLICK HERE and scroll down to the heading “If you leave Australia for more than 26 weeks” you will see that your pension may be reduced depending on how many years you have been an Australian Citizen prior to leaving but it does not instantly cancel.

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I don’t understand the 2-year residency rule. If I have been residing overseas for several years, should I return to Australia 2 years prior to my eligibility for the aged pension? For example, if I reach pension age at 67 years of age should I return when I reach the age of 65 years or do I return when I reach the age of 67?

James Coyle

Hi Graeme. As a rule of thumb you need to be living in Australia when you apply for the Age Pension; be a permanent resident,; have lived in Australia for at least 10 years; five of which were continuous. The two year residency rule impacts you if you are currently living overseas, return to Australia, and then apply, you will have to remain in the country for two years else your Age Pension will be cancelled

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I would like some clear and accurate clarification on this rule that you must be living in Australia when applying for the pension, and then must remain in Australia for another 2yrs after first receiving the pension or risk having it Cancelled. I believe there are exceptions to the rule.

My understanding is that if the Australian Govt has an agreement with a country to share social responsibilities for social security coverage, ( for example Japan) then I believe you are able to apply for and receive your aged pension accordingly.

After reading the information available on the Australian Govt Services Agreement with Other Countries documents it clearly states that if you live in one of the countries listed you are able to receive Centrelink Payments and does not say you must be in Australia and living in Australia when applying and in fact says you can apply online or at the Japanese Social Insurance Agency.

I could be wrong, as Govt information is hardly ever clear and is always full of gobbledygook however this is an important issue for many retiring Aussies that needs clarifying.

Some Services Australia links are here for ref.

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/international-social-security-agreements-between-australia-and-countries-asia?context=22476

extension://bfdogplmndidlpjfhoijckpakkdjkkil/pdf/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.servicesaustralia.gov.au%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-07%2Fint033-2205en.pdf

Hi Edward, it can be tricky knowing what rules apply and when! How Centrelink will assess each person specifically can vary so it is difficult for us to give the level of specificity you are seeking in a forum such as this. You would need to book a consultation with us ( HERE ) so that we can discuss your individual scenario and clarify how Centrelink will assess you.

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I have been overseas this year four times with no trip being longer than three weeks. Does the 6 week rule apply to the total of several shorter holidays overseas or just when a trip consists of more than 6 weeks of consecutive days.

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have lived and worked in Australia for 34 years ,moved overseas at age 63 can i get age pension when i am 67 if i come back to apply for it ,then go back overseas or will i have to stay here 2 years first. not living in an agreement country

Hi Kevin, thanks for your query! If you have been living overseas within the last 2 years before lodging your claim, Centrelink will ask you to remain in Australia for 2 years from the day you first moved back (not when you applied/got approved for Age Pension). Therefore you could move back here at age 67, lodge the claim and then remain here until you are 69 or you could move here at age 65, live here until 67, then apply/get approved and move back overseas.

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I understand that I can travel overseas for 24 weeks and stay in Australia fir 28 weeks in a year my pension is not affected . My confusion is how is the year calculated- calendar year or financial year ?

Hi Ranjana, thanks for your comment! You are right that if the total amount of time you have spent outside of Australia in the past 12 months is only 24 weeks then you will not be considered to be living in another country however, any holiday abroad that goes for more than 6 weeks will result in your pension being reduced as the pension and energy supplements are removed at this time. Therefore it is incorrect to believe that you could go on a 24 week holiday and not have any impact to your pension, you would have to go on six holidays, for 4 weeks each, to avoid any impact.

In regards to the timing, it is based on whenever your first trip overseas starts. If you leave for your trip in February then the 12 month period taken into account is from the February you first leave up to the following February next year.

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On this point do these rules apply to both partners if only one is of pension age?

Hi Eddie, thanks for asking a great question! If your partner is under Age Pension age then their travels overseas will not impact your Age Pension.

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How would my pension be affected if I returned to the UK. I am 93 years of age and have been on a UK pension frozen since I was 65 because I have lived in Australia since 1994.. I have been receiving a part Australian pension from Australia for more than ten years. A response email would be appreciated.

Hi Colin, glad to hear you loved Australia so much you couldn’t leave! Regarding the potential impacts that moving to another country can have, there are a couple of factors to be considered. To understand the potential impact to you specifically we would need to have a confidential discussion to then provide you with your options and the pros/cons of each. Please CLICK HERE to book a day/time that suits you.

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I’m an Australian citizen 58 years old. Married to a British Citizen husband who has permanent residency in Australia, and is currently receiving an Australian aged part pension We are planning on moving to the UK to live permanently within the next 12 months or so and are aware that we need to return to Australia at a later date , for two years if I decide to apply and begin claiming the aged pension. We are then returning back to the UK after the 2 years has expired. What I would like to know is – Would I qualify for the pension even though I I would have been living in the UK for approximately 9 years prior with the intention to return back to the UK to live indefinitely or would Centrelink require me to return to Australia to reside and show proof of this before they grant me the pension?

Hi Michelle, thank you for sharing your situation with us! It sounds like you’ve already done your homework as not many people are aware of the need to reside here for 2 years so well done! Thankfully the residency requirement is simply that you have spent at least 10 years living in Australia ad a citizen/permanent resident (with 5 of them having been consecutive). It does NOT have to be the last 10 years prior to applying. Therefore you have likely already ticked this box and are free to do as you plan to, so long as you spend the 2 years living here when the time comes for you to apply for the Age Pension yourself. Lastly Michelle, if you haven’t already, READ HERE about how you and your husbands Age Pension amounts may reduce when you do move overseas.

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I have been living in AU for over 35 yrs however my age pension has been reduced to the basic rate on the grounds that I’m now living overseas for over 26 weeks and that I have been australian resident for only 22 years according to centrelink’s weird calculations. When I spoke to customer service representative I was informed that the counting of numbers of years in Australia stopped in 2009 (I arrived in AU in 1987). I could not find any information on centrelink website or anywhere else about this calculation method, no legislation, no documents proving it.+ So the information provided on centrelink website that you need to be a resident for minimum 35 years to get full rate of pension when living overseas is misleading.

Hi Andrew, thank you for sharing your experience with us! There are reasons why some years spent living in Australia may not be counted in the 35 year rule. For example any years you spend living here after you hit Age Pension age are not counted. If you turned 65 in 2009 (as that was the Age Pension age back then) this would mean that consequent years spent living here were not taken into account. CLICK HERE to learn more.

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Thank you for all the information! I have a separate query. As an age pensioner, what if I leave Australia for around 26 weeks but then visit New Zealand for 2 weeks. But what happens to my pension payments if I again take a trip outside of Australia for less than 6 weeks. How will may payments be effected? This is all within 12 months after my less-than-26 week initial trip. A bit confusing for me!

Thank you again, Warren

Hi Warren, don’t feel bad, this is a subject that many people are unsure about! Thankfully Centrelink do have a good web page that explains what happens to your payments when you travel HERE .

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I have claimed for my age pension, I lived for more than ten years in Australia. My family decided to return to Italy in 1980. My application for age pension, through the Italian INPS, was submited in february and received in march 2023.My question is: how long will it take before payments are competed? Your information will be appreciated…..

Hi Giuseppe, thank you for reaching out! If your claim was approved in March then you definitely should have started receiving payments by now, You should contact Centrelink to query what is happening.

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I am 63 years old and have a Thai wife who has a property in Thailand. I would like to know if I can permanently move there once I can claim the pension at 67

Hi Dirk, thank you for seeking our assistance! Yes you can move overseas and still receive the Age Pension however as per the content in this article the amount of Age Pension you receive will be reduced.

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Hi, i own my home in NSW and i want to buy a holiday home in Italy but i want to keep both homes so in a few years will lose my age pension cause of the second home in Italy

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I’m 60 and was born in Australia, living here all my life apart from some 3 month holidays overseas. I’m ill health retired with a defined benefit pension. In the next couple of years I would like to relocate overseas (to a non-social services partner country). Do I have to then return to Australia for 2 years to be eligible for the pension after spending my entire working life here? Does the 2 year rule mean I cannot even leave temporarily during that time? Thanks for a great article – so hard to find quality information about this online.

Hi Vincent, thank you for the compliment and glad to hear you found the article helpful! In order to avoid complications you would need to return to Australia at age 65 and live here for 2 years prior to applying for the Age Pension. If you do this then once the pension is approved you can then leave again and live overseas with no need to return again.

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What about if he spends 24 weeks overseas during that 2-year period?

Hi Ray, thanks for getting into the nitty gritty! In that scenario the 24 weeks would likely be classed as an overseas holiday but still living in Australia during that time and so it would not impact the 2 years rule.

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Hello! My dream is to retire to Scotland after turning 67 in 4 years time. I have lived most of my life in Australia and will qualify with a AWLR of 50 plus years. I understand that I will need to be a full time resident for 2 years before applying for the pension but my query is do I need to serve the 2 years after claiming the pension before I can move permanently overseas? All the info I have seen online seems to apply to people that have returned to Australia to claim the pension. Fingers crossed!

Hi Paul, thank you for sharing your scenario with us and well done on your research! The good news is you are right, the 2 year residency rule only applies to people who recently returned to live in Australia and apply for the pension. If you have been living here for +2 years prior to applying then there is no need to remain here once approved.

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Thanks Steve and the crew at RE for your generous answers. I found clarity around that 2 year stay in Oz rule. It don’t apply to me as i’ve been a resident for way over 35 years. I did take an 18 month holiday in 1990-1991 though.

Hi Bri, thank you for the recognition, we don’t always know if our efforts are hitting the mark or not so much appreciated.

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Go55s

Travelling overseas on the age pension: what you need to know

Travelling overseas and the Age Pension. What you need to know.

You’re revelling in having earned your retirement. You’ve found a great financial adviser that has structured your income and assets so that you can maximise age pension benefits. Travelling overseas regularly is on your wish list. Perhaps you’ve dreamed of renting an idyllic cottage in the South of France or Tuscany or an apartment in New York? At long last, you can realise that dream.  Or can you?

Depending on how long you leave our sunny shores, your government funded payments and concession and health cards may be affected. The outcome depends on how long you intend to travel outside of Australia for, and how long you’ve been an Australian resident.

If you are not paid under an international social security agreement , keep reading.

Here is what you need to know about your age pension benefits and travelling overseas to enjoy an extended holiday.

What you need to know about travelling overseas on an age pension if:

You’re travelling overseas for less than six weeks.

If you’ve been an Australian resident for more than two years and you plan to be back in less than six weeks, simply enjoy planning your holiday.

You don’t even need to let Centrelink know and you’ll continue to be paid your Age Pension.

You’re travelling overseas for more than six weeks

You’ll need to let Centrelink know. Your Age Pension rate will reduce after six weeks. The Pension Supplement will be paid at the basic rate and your Energy Supplement will stop being paid to you. You can find details of the reduced pension rates while you’re away from Australia via the link below.

Department of Human Services website > Customer > Enablers > Pension rates payable outside of Australia .

You’re travelling overseas for more than 26 weeks

If you’re aspiring to rent somewhere in a village somewhere outside of Australia to pen that first novel, this one is for you.

Rates of payment are a little more complicated when you’re outside of Australia more than 26 weeks.

The pivot point is based on the number of years you have lived in Australia as an Australian resident from back when you were sweet 16 to qualifying for an age pension. If your calculation is 35 years or more, you may still be entitled to a full means tested rate of Age Pension after 26 weeks outside of Australia. Otherwise the rate reduces and is calculated proportionally.

You’ve returned to live in Australia in the last two years and want to travel overseas

If you’re being paid an Age Pension and have recently returned to live in Australia, you’ll need to talk to Centrelink. You may not be entitled to payments while you’re travelling overseas. Centrelink may rule that you have to wait out two years of receiving the Age Pension while you’re living in Australia, first.

You’re an Australian Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Holder

If you’re off to live elsewhere, your cards will be cancelled when you leave Australia. When your plan is to holiday overseas for less than six weeks, your Concession Card stays intact. If you’re overseas for more than six weeks, your Concession Card will be valid for up to six weeks and then reactivated once you’re back in Australia.

After 19 weeks outside of Australia, your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will be cancelled. You can reactivate your card once you return to Australia.

Enjoy your adventure

If you haven’t already, make sure you sign up to my.gov.au before you go travelling overseas so you can access all your Age Pension information online.

And if all this has dampened those novel writing dreams, then perhaps a cottage in Hobart would do the trick?

Other helpful resources about travelling overseas on an age pension

Australian Department of Human Services > Customer > Australians Overseas

Smart Traveller > Senior Travellers

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Thank you for this article Julie. Most informative indeed!

“Rates of payment are a little more complicated when you’re outside of Australia more than 26 weeks.”

Are you aware if the 26 week period is for one continuous period? Or is it the accumulation over trips made over a 12 month ?

I would like to travel an number of times between Australia and Thailand each year … perhaps spending 3 months there and 1 month back home in AUS each time. I am finding it difficult to get a ruling on this situation.

I understand there may also be ramifications with Medicare as well??

Are you able to add any further?

Thanks again

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Hello John. Thank you for your feedback and for following Go55s.com.au! As a writer, I have researched the information from various sources – mostly from the Department of Human Services. The safest way to ensure you’re getting the right information when you have specific travel plans, without risking your Age Pension payments would be to call the Age Pension number on 132 300 directly with your questions in hand. That way you can ensure you have a time and date that you called, in case any payment issues arose further down the track. Sounds like you have wonderful plans ahead. Enjoy.

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Hi Julie, I will reach pension age in February 2022 and hoping to spend as much time as possible with family in the Philippines afterwards, by then I will have lived in Australia for approximately 25 pension qualifying years so my pension would be reduced by two sevenths after six weeks, I am trying to work out if it would be economically viable to return to Australia after every six week period or just stay there permanently but cannot find anywhere how you are considered to still be a permanent resident i.e. would I need to keep a permanent address here in Australia during my absence, obviously paying rent while overseas would make this prohibitive, any advice you could give would be gratefully received.

Hello David. Thank you for reading the article and reaching out. As I writer, I know a little about all the topics I get to indulge writing about, but cannot claim to be an expert and am not qualified to offer you sound advice on your particular situation. You really need the advice here of an accountant or financial adviser that is experienced in the ins and outs of the Aged Pension. I recommend some expert counsel. Good luck. It sounds like you have wonderful plans ahead! Enjoy.

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Hi Julie. Thanks for the very concise and uncomplicated review. In it you state “When your plan is to holiday overseas for less than six weeks, your Concession Card stays intact. If you’re overseas for more than six weeks, your Concession Card will be valid for up to six weeks and then reactivated once you’re back in Australia”. I will be overseas for more than 6 weeks and have notified Centrelink of my travel plans. Do I actually have to take any action to reactivate my Concession Card or will this happen automatically? Thanks in anticipation of your reply.

Hello Peter. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback, and reach out with a questions. My understanding from what information is available online is that if you’ve advised Centrelink of the date you’re planning to return, your concession card will be automatically reactivated. Enjoy your travel!

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Hi, Im confused with the time allowed overseas we are a couple on age pension my wife only is going overseas fo 5 weeks does this mean we are only allowed 1 more of overseas travel or is it 6 weeks per person allowed also is it per calendar year or finacial ? Thanks AL.

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I have a simple question. Does Centrelink monitors overseas travel by pensioners?

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hello thanks for the useful information and posts 🙂

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I arrived as a migrant in Australia 1975 i travelled to Germany in 1981 and returned to live in Australia in 1983 I took a 6 months holiday overseas

will I stil lget myage pension I travel again for six months after my return from my curren tholiday?

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See this article was written in 2016, mindful that rules change frequently, wondering if this is still the case.

You’re travelling overseas for less than six weeks If you’ve been an Australian resident for more than two years and you plan to be back in less than six weeks, simply enjoy planning your holiday.

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age pension travel rules

  • Retirement Planning

Age Pension while travelling outside Australia

Nearly one-fifth of age pensioners travelled abroad last year and the numbers are increasing.

As we move into colder temperatures and experience the increased desire to escape to warmer locations, it’s a good time to know whether and how your trip affects your Age Pension benefits.

Generally speaking, if your overseas holiday is less than six weeks, your pension rates remain unchanged. However, if you prolong to more than six weeks, meaning that you’re away for almost two months, the government will reduce your Pension Supplement to the basic rate and your Energy Supplement will stop.

In all cases, you’ll want to speak to your JVA Financial Advisor or the Department of Human Services before you leave, so that you’ll know what you’re up against.

If you travel abroad for more than 26 weeks (i.e. more than six months), your pension depends on how long you’ve lived in Australia from age 16 to your pension age. More specifically, if you’ve lived in Australia for at least 35 years, you get a full Age Pension . If you’ve lived here for less than 35 years, you get a proportional rate. For example, if you’ve lived here 10 years between the age of 16 and pension age , you will generally receive 10/35ths of the full means tested rate.

Countries with international social security agreements.

Australia has an international social security agreement with 30 countries, and each of these have their own rules.

So, if your payment has stopped while visiting one of these countries, it may be possible to have your supplements resumed as long as you’re given at least one of the following payments:

  • Disability Support Pension
  • Bereavement Allowance
  • Parenting Payment single, and you are widowed
  • Carer Payment, and you are caring for a pensioner partner

The situation becomes more complex if you have been living elsewhere and have recently returned to Australia.  If you have been back in Australia for less than two years and have commenced receiving the pension, a two-year waiting period applies before you can receive payments outside Australia.

What happens to your stopped pension payments if your vacation was unplanned?

Say you intend to vacation for a week, but while at your destination a natural disaster grounds planes and transport and your stay is extended for over six months.

If an unforeseen event, such as sickness or a disaster, forces you to delay your “vacation”, contact International Services as soon as possible to ask if they can resume your payment. In most cases, the Government accedes your request. (Our Financial Advisors are there, too, to help you).

What happens after you return to Australia?

You only need to contact the authorities in the following situations:

  • Your payment or concession card stopped while you were away and it wasn’t automatically restored when you returned
  • You’re returning to live in Australia after having lived outside Australia – If you’ve been away for more than five years you must supply proof of residency in Australia to re-enrol for Medicare
  • You’re paid under an international social security agreement, or
  • You’ve been asked to provide evidence for your reason for travel

Bottom Line

Are you planning a vacation or some necessary trip?

There’s no need to worry about your pension and concessions if you travel for six weeks or less. Conversely, if you’re considering more than six weeks and certainly more than six months, contact the Department of Human Services and share your plans, particularly if you rely on concessions that are critical to your or your family.

Generally, you’re covered in the countries that Australia has international social security agreement s with. Upon your return, contact International Services to resume your payment.

Should you have any queries regarding your pension and concessions, planning for retirement or planning for your future medical care , as always, you can talk to your JVA Perth Financial Advisor to assist you at every step of the way.

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Clarification of pensions overseas

by Debbie McTaggart 2 February 2017, 12:00 am

age pension travel rules

Suri is confused about the current rules that surround how long you can be outside of Australia before your Age Pension payment is affected. The detail below should help to clarify.

Q. Suri What is the latest Centrelink ruling on how long an age pensioner can be overseas before his, or her, pension is stopped?

A. Your Age Pension can be paid indefinitely if you leave Australia, however, you must advise Centrelink of any travel plans that exceed six weeks in total.

Once you have been out of Australia for six weeks, the rate at which your Age Pension is paid will change to an outside of Australia payment rate ; your pension supplement will reduce to the basic rate and your energy supplement will cease. If you are leaving Australia permanently, the changes to your payments will take effect on the day you leave the country. You need to advise Centrelink of any travel plans outside of Australia that exceed six weeks, or if it is your intention to leave permanently.

If you are leaving Australia permanently, or will be absent from the country for more than 26 weeks, then your Age Pension payment will be subject to the working life residence rule. Under this rule, your Age Pension is paid at a pro rata rate that depends on how many years you have lived in Australia as a resident between the age of 16 and age pension age. If this is 35 years or more, then you will be paid the full rate of Age Pension, subject to the outside of Australia payment rules. If you have been resident for less than 35 years, for example 30 years, then you will be paid 30/35ths of the rate applicable to your circumstances.

There is legislation that has yet to be passed that will reduce this 26-week period to six weeks.

You should confirm your individual circumstances with Centrelink.

Related articles: Overseas pension changes to fail Pension payments overseas

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Articles on Accessible Cruising » Cruising on the Age Pension

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Cruising on the Age Pension

Posted: February 16, 2023

Senior Australians love to travel, but some are worried how it may affect the age pension they receive.

At times it can get tricky to know the rules, and how long you can spend time outside of Australia travelling this great world of ours, so it’s worth considering how the rules affect you.

While travelling interstate is pretty simple, overseas holidays — specifically longer ones — can impact your age pension.

When departing Australia on a cruise you can generally be paid Age Pension for the whole time you are outside Australia, Centrelink will evaluate a person’s state of affairs to elect the amount of Age Pension payment a person is qualified to receive while overseas.

The circumstances that Centrelink will evaluate to regulate the amount of age pension a person is entitled to receive overseas include:

  • How long the person is going overseas for, and
  • How long the person has been a resident within Australia.

The full amount of age pension that a person is entitled to while overseas for 26 weeks.

On the other hand, if you are overseas for longer than 26 weeks, the amount of age pension payable to a person is dependent upon the person’s length of residency in Australia.

You should tell Centrelink you are leaving Australia on a cruise if you:

  • will be away for more than 6 weeks

You do not need to advise Centrelink that you are leaving Australia. Australia’s immigration department will advise Centrelink when you leave Australia and when you return back to Australia.

What If I am Cruising Longer Than 26 Weeks?

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How Long Can Australian Pensioners Stay Overseas

Last modified on October 31st, 2022 at 10:26 am

How Long Can Australian Pensioners Stay Overseas

How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas and still get their Age Pension?

Indefinitely, if they choose to. However, there are certain circumstances when their pension might be adjusted depending on how long they stay abroad. 

Read on to learn all the details about your Age Pension while travelling or moving overseas.

Can I Receive the Age Pension While Travelling Overseas? 

Yes, if you leave Australia either temporarily or move to another country, you can still receive your Age Pension. However, the amount you are eligible for will be assessed by Centrelink based on: 

  • The time away
  • The number of years you were an Australian resident between 16 and the Age Pension age
  • Changes in your income and assets
  • If you get an Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country , such as New Zealand.

How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas?

In general, retirees can stay outside of Australia for up to 6 weeks without any effects on their Age Pension or other pension perks.

Did you know that the Age Pension is the main source of income for almost half of pensioners ?

The following rules apply for pensioners going overseas for longer than two months.

Stay longer than 6 weeks

Those who travel abroad between 6 and 26 weeks, will still receive the full Age Pension.

However, their Pension Supplement , which is used to cover utilities, mobility and telephone bills, will be reduced to the basic rate. Currently, the basic rate is $26.20 for singles and $21.60 for couples (each). 

In addition, the government will stop paying your Energy Supplement and they will cancel your Pensioner Concession Card (although this will be restored after you return to Australia).

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders can travel outside Australia for a maximum of 19 weeks before their card is cancelled. Once they return to the country, they could reapply and once again get access to cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and discounts on certain Medicare services. 

Related reading: What is the Medicare Safety Net and are you eligible ?

Stay longer than 26 weeks

If pensioners stay overseas for more than 26 weeks (i.e. more than 6 months), their pension rate will be determined by their length of residency in the country. 

If you have lived in Australia for less than 35 years from age 16 to your Age Pension age, you will get paid a proportional rate . For instance, pensioners who have been residents of the country for 10 years will get 10/35ths of the normal Age Pension rate. 

Those who have lived in Australia for at least 35 years from 16 to their Age pension age will still get the full Age Pension.  

Note: People who were already living abroad on 1 July 2014 will continue to receive their full Age Pension if they were a resident of Australia for 25 years and were not in the country for more than 26 weeks since 1 July 2014, but were receiving their pension the entire time. 

If you decide to spend your golden years exploring the globe, here are some affordable travel suggestions .

Moving to another country  

Those getting the Age Pension and living overseas will also receive a reduced Pension Supplement , i.e. the basic rate and their pension will be paid according to the outside Australia rate . As of 20 September 2022, the rate stands at $24,356.80 for singles and $36,722.40 for couples (where both partners are eligible).

Note that these numbers are just estimates and you could get a lower payment rate depending on the income and assets you own. 

You will also need to look into the residency requirement in the country you are moving to as some may have rules that will impact your Age Pension payments. 

Note: You might also consider withdrawing your superannuation before you leave the country for good. 

Travelling to a country that has an International Social Security Agreements with Australia

Australia has International Social Security Agreements with 31 countries , covering social security payments for residents of both Australia and the agreement country. 

This means that if you travel or move to Canada, the US, New Zealand, India, Spain, the UK or any of the other countries with whom Australia shares the responsibility of social security coverage, you can: 

  • Visiting an agreement country but live in Australia,
  • Living in an agreement country, or
  • Visiting Australia but living in an agreement country.
  • Are in Australia, or
  • Have lived in Australia but don’t meet the residence or social insurance rules.

Fun fact: New Zealand is the most popular destination for Aussies travelling abroad .

When can pensioners travel overseas? 

Broadly speaking, to be eligible for the Age Pension, a person needs to reside in Australia on the date when they first apply for the pension (or in one of the 31 countries that Australia has an International Social Security Agreement with). 

They also need to be an Australian resident for at least 10 years without a break in residency in the last 5 of those years to be able to get the Age Pension.

You might be interested in: 

  • What is commutation of pension ?
  • How much can I earn before it affects my single-parent pension?

Former residents who return to Australia and start receiving the Age Pension must stay in the country for at least two years before their pension becomes portable. Leaving the country before the two years are up means payments will be cancelled and that person will have to return to Australia and re-apply.

Do I have to notify Centrelink if I go overseas?

Yes, you need to inform Centrelink of your travel arrangements, but only if 

  • You are planning to be away for more than six weeks
  • You are moving to another country
  • You are receiving Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country
  • Your partner gets a salary
  • You are leaving Australia for a second time within two years , and you have started getting Age Pension in the meantime
  • If you are receiving a single pension and are going to visit your spouse or partner who lives abroad.

The easiest way to inform Centrelink is to use your Centrelink online account through myGov . The online account will give you access to payment information, as well as allow you to update travel details, so make sure to set it up before you leave the country. 

Alternatively, you could call Centrelink or visit a service centre near you and inform them of your travel plans. You may also nominate someone from inside or outside Australia to act on your behalf. 

Note: You need to report your income the business day before you leave Australia so your payment isn’t delayed.

After you leave Australia 

You should report any changes to your circumstances (such as employment income, the death of a partner or changes to your marital status) even after you leave the country as your finances and assets overseas impact your Age Pension rate. 

You also need to update your contact information — if Centrelink cannot contact you, they might stop your payment. 

How will you get Centrelink payments while travelling out of Australia? 

If you plan to stay out of the country for less than a year , Centrelink will continue to make regular payments to your Australian bank account every two weeks. 

Pensioners who plan to travel overseas for more than a year , will receive payments every four weeks either in their Australian or overseas bank account. If you choose the latter, you will get the amount in the local currency, and it will take up to six days for the payment to reach your account. 

Paying exchange fees and bank charges will be your responsibility. 

When you return to Australia 

After you return to Australia, you won’t have any responsibilities for your Age Pension payments unless 

  • Your payment was stopped while you were away and was not automatically restored upon your return, 
  • You are moving back to Australia after living overseas (if you have lived away for more than 5 years you have to provide proof of residency to be able to get Medicare health insurance) 
  • You have been required to submit the reason for your travel arrangements , but you have not yet provided the information. 

Find out what is the cheapest time to travel back to Australia here .

1. How long can Australian disability pensioners stay overseas?

People on DSP can travel for up to 28 days in a 12-month period. This applies to single and multiple trips. 

2. How long can I leave Australia on Centrelink?

It depends on the payment, but in general, those who receive Newstart Allowance, Dad and Partner Pay and Parental Leave Pay, Sickness Allowance will not be able to receive payments once they leave Australia. Recipients of Family Tax Benefit, Carer Payment or Carer Allowance can leave the country for up to 6 weeks at a time before they lose their benefits. 

3. How long can pensioners go on holiday?

Leaving the country temporarily will not affect your Age Pension rate, provided you do not stay longer than 6 months. If you are unable to return in that time period due to illness, natural disaster or a public health crisis, you will continue to get the full Age Pension you are eligible for. 

4. Can I live overseas and still get the Australian pension?

Yes, getting an Australian Age Pension and living overseas is possible, although your pension will be paid based on the outside Australia rate, i.e. $24,356 for singles and $36,722 for couples (if both partners are eligible).

5. How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas before it affects their Age Pension?

Aussie retirees can stay abroad for up to 26 weeks (six months) and continue to get their full Age Pension, although they will lose out on other benefits such as the Energy Supplement, the Pensioner Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

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Department of Social Services, Australian Government

Age Pension 

Purpose of payment/benefit.

The Age Pension is designed to support the basic living standards of older Australians. It is paid to people who meet age and residency requirements. It is targeted through the means test to those who need it most. Pension rates are indexed to ensure they keep pace with Australian price and wage increases.

Most Age Pension payments are made by Services Australia (Centrelink). Age pensioners who also receive certain compensation payments from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) can choose to have their Age Pension paid by either DVA or Services Australia.

Eligibility

Age requirements.

The pension age is being gradually increased from 65 to 67 years as set out in the table below.

Residence requirements

To qualify for the Age Pension, a person must be:

  • an Australian resident (that is, living in Australia on a permanent basis) and
  • in Australia on the day the claim is lodged.

They must also satisfy one of the following:

  • be an Australian resident for a total of at least 10 years, with at least 5 of these years in one period
  • have a qualifying residence exemption
  • be a woman who is widowed in Australia when both she and her late partner were Australian residents, and who has 104 weeks residence immediately before the claim
  • be receiving Widow B Pension, Widow Allowance or Partner Allowance immediately before reaching pension age.

Special rules apply to residence in countries with which Australia has an International Social Security Agreement. Residence in these countries may count towards the minimum 10-year residence requirement.

Means testing

The Age Pension is subject to an income test and an assets test. Pensioners are paid under the test that produces the lower rate of payment.

Income test

The pension income test is designed to encourage people to supplement their income support payments with other income, if they are able to. A pensioner can receive an amount of income before their pension starts to be reduced. This amount may comprise income from investments, earnings, or a combination of income from various sources and is known as the income free area.

For each dollar of income over the income free area, the single pension is reduced by 50 cents. For couples, their combined pensions are reduced by 50 cents. This means that for a pensioner couple, their individual pensions are reduced by 25 cents a fortnight for each dollar of income that the couple has over the income free area. To learn more about the pension income test, see the Services Australia website .

Assets test

The pension assets test is designed so that people with substantial assets use their assets (either directly or to produce income) to meet their day-to-day living expenses before calling on the social security system for support.

An asset is any property or possession that a person owns, with the exception of exempt assets. Where a person's rate of pension is worked out under the assets test, the value of their assets above the assets free area reduces their pension by $3 a fortnight for each extra $1,000 in assets.

To learn more about the pension assets test, see the Services Australia website .

The social security system uses deeming to assess income from financial investments. Deeming rules provide a simple and fair way to assess income from financial investments for social security and DVA pension and allowance purposes. On 1 January 2015, the deeming rules were extended to include account-based income streams. To learn more about deeming and these changes see the Services Australia website .

The Work Bonus provides an incentive for pensioners over Age Pension age to work, should they choose to do so, by allowing them to keep more of their pension when they have income from working. Under the Work Bonus, the first $300 of fortnightly income from work is not assessed as income under the pension income test. Any unused amount of the fortnightly $300 Work Bonus will accumulate in a Work Bonus income bank, up to a maximum amount of $7,800.

The amount accumulated in the income bank can be used to offset future income from work that would otherwise be assessable under the pension income test.

The income bank amount is not time limited; if unused it carries forward, even across years.

Note : from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2023, a one-off, temporary credit of $4,000 applies to Work Bonus income bank balances. The maximum income bank balance increases to $11,800 over this period. On 1 January 2024, the maximum income bank balance will automatically reset to $7,800.

For more information go to the Work Bonus factsheet.

For more information about working after pension age, see the Working after pension age .

Pensions are indexed twice a year, on 20 March and 20 September. This reflects changes in pensioners’ costs of living and wage increases.

Base pension rates are indexed to the higher of the increase in the Consumer Price Index and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index. These measure changes in prices on a range of goods and services such as:

  • health care
  • housing costs
  • utilities costs.

Following indexation to price increases, rates are compared to a wages benchmark, and increased to meet the benchmark if necessary. The wages benchmark ensures the couple combined rate of pension is at least 41.76% of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings.

The single rate of pension is 66.33% of the couple combined rate.

For current Age Pension rates, see the Services Australia website .

Further information

For further information about the Age Pension, see the Services Australia website or phone 13 2300.

If you are a veteran, see the Department of Veterans' Affairs website or phone 13 2300.

Last updated: 18 August 2023 - 1:22pm

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If you're 60 or over or you have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions – from discounts on your rail journeys to a free bus pass.

What transport concessions are available?

Can i get a free bus pass, can i get a discount on rail travel, can i get a london freedom pass, what if i have difficulty using public transport, what if i'm unable to use public transport.

There are several national public transport concessions available to older and disabled people. Some entitle you to discounts on your fares, while others allow you to travel for free.

Eligibility for these concessions depends on whether you have a disability or your age. 

Depending on your age and your circumstances, you might be able to get one of the following free bus passes, which allow you to travel free on local buses:

  • an older person's bus pass
  • a disabled person's bus pass

What age do I have to be to get an older person's bus pass?

You can get an older person's bus pass when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men.

Apply for your older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

If you're 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard.

Apply for your 60+ London Oyster photocard on the TFL website

How can I get a disabled person's bus pass?

There's no central provider of the disabled person's bus pass – to find out if you're eligible and how to apply, you need to get in touch with your local council.

Find your local council and apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Are there any other discounts if I'm an older person or I'm disabled?

It's a good idea to contact individual transport operators to see if they offer discounts.

For instance, National Express offers Coachcards. These are discount cards for older or disabled customers. You buy them for a set fee of £12.50 and they get you a third off the cost of your travel across the year.

Find out more and order a Coachcard on the National Express website

Depending on your age and circumstances, you might be entitled to one of the below railcards:

  • a Senior Railcard
  • a Disabled Person's Railcard

Both railcards are discount cards. You buy them for a set fee to last either 1 or 3 years and they get you a third off the cost of your train travel.

Can I get a Senior Railcard?

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone aged 60 or over to buy.

You can apply on the Senior Railcard website using a valid passport or UK driving licence as ID. Alternatively, you can apply in person at most staffed railway stations.

Find out more about the Senior Railcard and apply online

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The Disabled Person's Railcard is available to you if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • you're registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
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  • you have epilepsy
  • you receive a disability-related benefit, such as  Personal Independence Payment
  • you receive War or Service Disablement pension
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  • you receive Severe Disablement Allowance
  • you receive War Pensioner's mobility supplement

Find out more about the Disabled Person's Railcard and apply online

Freedom Passes give London residents free travel in the city – including National Rail services, the Underground, buses, river services and trams – and free local bus journeys nationally.

If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:

  • you've reached State Pension age
  • you have a disability.

Find out more about Freedom Passes and apply on the London Councils website

National Rail has an interactive tool called Stations Made Easy, designed to help people find their way around stations and find more accessible routes, avoiding potential difficulties like stairs. This may be helpful if you have difficulty using public transport because of your health. 

Find out more and use the tool on the National Rail website

If you're disabled, you can't use public transport, or you don't have access to a car, you might also be able to use a community transport scheme – such as a social car, dial-a-ride, or taxicard scheme.

Shopmobility schemes help people shop in town centres by lending out wheelchairs and scooters. Some local councils also offer concessions on local public transport.

To find out what's available in your area, you can contact your local council or your local Age UK.

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Last updated: Apr 14 2023

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WASPI and women’s pensions – the key facts you need to know

The pension system has undergone a lot of changes in recent years, especially for women.

The women’s state pension age has increased rapidly in recent years so it now matches men. It’s been the cause of considerable controversy, triggering the WASPI campaign which claims some women were treated unfairly. 

Rules have also changed regarding different pension rates being paid to women, and a specific “married woman’s rate” that those over a certain age might still be able to access.

Here, Telegraph Money sets out how pensions for women work, and what changes you need to be aware of. 

WASPI women and pensions

You’ll likely have heard of the term “WASPI” in relation to women’s pensions, having been extensively covered in the media over the past few years. 

The issues are related to the changing of women’s state pension age, which has had a financial knock-on effect for a certain group of retirees.

What is WASPI?

WASPI is a campaign group which stands for “Women Against State Pension Inequality” . It was set up as a result of the state pension age for women shifting from 60 to 65, in a bid to match up with men. 

A cohort of women born in the 1950s argue the change was handled unfairly and resulted in some having to wait six extra years until they could retire – as the state pension age then increased to 66.

WASPI agrees with the equalisation of ages, but says the affected women were not given sufficient warning.

As this change was to have a profound impact on their retirement plans, they found themselves with declining incomes. The campaign group has been calling for compensation for many years.

Jason Witcombe, chartered financial planner at Empower Partners, said: “Many people rely heavily on the state pension for their retirement provision. The women who did this were hit hardest, as there was little time to make alternative plans.”

The WASPI group claims the “injustice” potentially affects more than 3 million women, but it’s estimated more than 270,000 have died while it’s been seeking justice .

As lots of those affected did not have the finances to plug the gap, some were forced to work for longer.

Becky O’Connor, director of public affairs at PensionBee, said: “Insufficient time for adequate financial planning disrupted retirement plans and placed financial strain on those unable to continue working due to health issues.” 

When will WASPI get a decision?

The WASPI campaign group has repeatedly lobbied ministers and held protests to ask for compensation. They have also taken their fight through the courts, and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is currently looking into complaints. 

These centre on the issue that women were not told – or were given inadequate notice – of the state pension change, which resulted in individual financial losses.

Ministers have repeatedly ruled out any concessions, and at the time of writing those affected have received no compensation.

However, the Ombudsman is expected to report back on its findings soon (possibly March or April 2024), and there’s optimism for better news.

Ms O’Connor said: “The Ombudsman has emphasised Parliament’s authority in determining the state pension age, but has hinted at the likelihood of a limited compensation proposal.”

When will WASPI get compensation?

While there have been many calls for those affected to get compensation (including Scottish National Party politician Alan Brown, saying the Government should give payouts of £10,000 or more to those affected), this is, by no means, a done deal.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has said it is carefully considering the findings – and that it is cooperating fully with the Ombudsman’s investigation – but it is not bound to follow these recommendations.

As the Government has so far resisted the idea of paying compensation, some fear it may not budge much.

Ms Morrissey said: “We should expect some ‘push back’ from the Government on implementing any kind of compensation scheme.”

Experts also warn the workings of any compensation scheme could be tricky, with issues around things such as working out who would be eligible, and on what basis.

What is the pension age for women?

The state pension age for women is currently 66, the same as it is for men. This is set to gradually rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, in response to increasing life expectancy, better health – and the rising cost to the government of providing the benefit. 

As for private or workplace pensions, both women and men are able to access their savings tax-free from the age of 55. This is set to rise to 57 in 2028.

How has it changed?

The state pension age used to be 60 for women and 65 for men, but between 2010 and 2020 the women’s age increased in stages to match men’s state pension age. The plan is for the state pension age for both genders to remain the same, and increase at the same rate.

While a further increase to 68 was initially planned for between 2044 and 2046, this timetable has been reviewed, with an earlier increase now set for between 2037 and 2039.

There is also speculation that this could get brought forward again to as early as 2033.

How much pension do women get?

How much state pension you get depends on whether you receive a “new” state pension or the old basic state pension, as well as your National Insurance (NI) record and the number of “qualifying years” you’ve accrued.

Basic state pension

The “old” rate applies if you reached state pension age before April 6, 2016. The full basic pension is currently £156.20 a week – or £8,112.40 a year.

The old rules, which include “basic state pension” and “additional state pension” (such as the state earnings-related pension scheme, or SERPS) were complicated. This made it hard to know how much you were going to get until you were close to state pension age.

If you reached state pension age before April 6, 2016, you were required to have 30 years to qualify for the full amount of basic state pension. (That said, the amount you get was made up slightly differently).

New state pension

Those reaching state pension age after April 6, 2016 will mean the new rules apply. This is available to men born after April 6 1951, and women born after April 6 1953 (when state pension ages differed between genders).

Currently, the full level of the state pension is £203.85 per week, giving an annual income of £10,600.

Under the new system, you’ll need at least 35 years of NI contributions to receive the full amount. Contributions can be from working, or receiving NI credits – which bolster your record when you’re out of work for reasons such as bringing up children or providing care. 

Current rules also state that to be eligible to get any state pension at all, you need to have at least 10 years on your NI record.

How will the changes affect me in the future?

As the state pension age increases , it means you might end up having to work longer than you planned, particularly if you’re due to reach state pension age around the time the age increases. If you’re affected, you might need to change your retirement planning.

Lots of people – and many women in particular – rely heavily on state pension income when they reach retirement, and for some it’s their only form of income. But this is not even enough to find a “minimum” standard of living in retirement , and it can be very difficult to get by.

According to Retirement Living Standards, you need £31,300 a year to fund a “moderate” retirement. Even a “minimum” standard of living would require an annual income of £14,400.

You will need to alter your reliance on the state pension and realise that responsibility for securing your financial future will increasingly fall on your own shoulders.

This means thinking more about both workplace pension savings and also private pension savings.

How do I find out if I am affected by the rise in state pension age?

To work out your state pension age, you can use the calculator below.

Note that this is the earliest age at which you can begin receiving your state pension, and it may differ from the age you can get a workplace or personal pension.

If you want to know how much state pension you could get, when you can get it – and potentially how to increase it – you need to check your state pension forecast here .

As it can be tricky trying to navigate the state system, requesting a forecast should be viewed as a really important part of your planning.

Recommended

What your state pension forecast really means – and how to boost your payments

Married women and the state pension

Under the old state pension system, if you are a married woman but haven’t paid sufficient contributions to get a full basic state pension in your own right, you may be able to boost your pension by using your partner’s NI record.

This so-called “married woman’s rate” can only be accessed if your spouse retired before April 2016.

This rate is up to 60pc of your partner’s basic state pension. You can see if your partner’s contributions are relevant to you by answering a few questions on Gov.uk.

Note that if you reach or reached state pension age after April 6, 2016 – and get the “new” state pension – your state pension will be based on your NI record only, so the married woman’s rate won’t apply.

How to fill in gaps in your NI record

Some individuals – and lots of women, in particular – may not have sufficient NI contributions to qualify for the full state pension.

This may be, perhaps, due to taking a career break to raise children, or to care for elderly relatives.

If there are years in which you didn’t pay enough NI to provide a “qualifying” year, you can opt to top up your record instead. You can do this by making what are known as “voluntary contributions” – currently, these cost £17.45 a week.

You can usually make voluntary contributions for gaps in the previous six tax years, but currently for men born after April 5 1951, or a woman born after April 5 1953, it’s possible to pay for gaps between April 2006 and April 2016. You have until April 5 2025 to pay.

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If you leave australia for less than 6 weeks, if you leave australia for more than 6 weeks, if you leave australia for more than 26 weeks, if you travel to new zealand, if you leave to live in another country.

Any of the following circumstances can affect your payment rate:

  • how long you’re away
  • if your income and assets change
  • how long you were an Australian resident between 16 and Age Pension age
  • if you get Age Pension under a social security agreement with another country.

Learn more about payments while outside Australia .

Your Age Pension rate won’t change in most cases.

When you reach 6 weeks after leaving Australia your:

  • Pension Supplement will drop to the basic rate
  • Energy Supplement will stop.

When you reach 26 weeks after leaving Australia your rate will depend on how long you were an Australian resident between 16 and Age Pension age .

If you were an Australian resident for:

  • 35 years or more, your rate won’t change in most cases
  • less than 35 years , you’ll get a lower rate in most cases.

For example, if you were a resident for 10 years, you’ll get 10/35ths of your usual rate.

In most cases your rate won’t change if all of these apply. You were:

  • getting Age Pension or another Australian social security payment while living outside Australia on 1 July 2014.
  • an Australian resident for 25 years or more.
  • not in Australia for more than 26 weeks since 1 July 2014, and getting Age Pension the whole time.

Your payment may not reduce or stop if you can’t return to Australia due to unforeseen circumstances. This includes a serious illness, public health crisis or natural disaster. If you have a Pensioner Concession Card, it will still cancel after you’ve been temporarily overseas for 6 weeks.

The social security agreement we have with New Zealand can affect your payment.

Your payments may change from the date you arrive in New Zealand if you either:

  • go there to live
  • plan to be in New Zealand for more than 12 months.

Otherwise your payments may change after you’ve been in New Zealand for 26 weeks.

You’ll get an outside Australia rate , and from the date you leave your:

When you get Age Pension, you may need to tell us if you’re leaving Australia.

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This information was printed 16 March 2024 from https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-you-leave-australia-if-you-get-age-pension . It may not include all of the relevant information on this topic. Please consider any relevant site notices at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/site-notices when using this material.

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Politics latest: 'Sunak chicken' stunt outside Downing Street after PM rules out 2 May election; 62 Tory MPs now standing down

Listen to the latest Electoral Dysfunction podcast - featuring Sky's Beth Rigby, Labour's Jess Phillips and former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson - as you scroll through our latest politics updates.

Friday 15 March 2024 17:45, UK

  • Labour stages 'chicken' stunt after Sunak rules out 2 May election
  • Party claims PM is 'running scared'
  • Rob Powell:  Tories need to 'change the dynamic'
  • Explained:  Why we don't know when the election is
  • Armed forces minister becomes 62nd Tory MP to confirm they won't stand at next election
  • Electoral Dysfunction: Anderson defection and Abbott race show politics is toxic
  • Tories still in talks over extra £5m donation from donor at centre of racism row
  • What you need to know about Hester and what he's reported to have said about Abbott
  • Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

Political editor Beth Rigby , Labour's Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips and former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, look at some of the big politics stories of the week.

They say it's Tory donor Frank Hester who's had an "electoral dysfunction" this week after he apologised for comments he made about MP Diane Abbott. 

Almost a day after the revelations, the prime minister said they were "racist and wrong" - but hasn't suggested returning the £10m to the businessman. Mr Hester insists he is not a racist.

Reform UK will be the ones feeling "on top" after Lee Anderson left the Tories to join them - but Jess, Beth and Ruth discuss how much momentum that will really give the party in an election.

Plus, Electoral Dysfunction listeners get advice on how to engage young people in politics, and where would you even get started if you fancied a political job?

👉 Listen above then tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Email Beth, Ruth, and Jess at  [email protected] , post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.

Warning: some explicit language.

Conservative MPs have "never worked harder", the chancellor has claimed, following accusations Rishi Sunak is presiding over a "zombie parliament".

The average length of a Commons sitting day has been shorter this parliamentary session than any other in the past 25 years, according to analysis by the Financial Times.

But  Jeremy Hunt  insisted on Friday that constituency work was the most important part of an MP's job, and parliamentarians were working harder than ever in their seats.

You can read more here:

By  Faye Brown , political reporter

Armed forces minister James Heappey has announced he will leave his government post and stand down at the next election.

The MP for the Wells constituency in Somerset decided to leave parliament because of personal reasons, a source close to him told Sky News.

He will continue with his ministerial position until Rishi Sunak wishes him to step back, "likely during the Easter recess", they added.

In a letter to his local Conservative association, posted by Mr Heappey on X, he said: "After much reflection, I am afraid I have taken the painful decision not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming General Election.

"A great deal has changed in my life over the last few years and I have concluded that now is the time to step away from politics, prioritise my family, and pursue a different career."

He added that he will continue to support Mr Sunak in his ministerial position "until such time as he wishes me to step down, and then from the backbenches".

The announcement comes amid growing disquiet among Conservative MPs and military insiders at a failure by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to announce new funding for the armed forces in his spring budget.

However, a source close to Mr Heappey said while "of course he thinks there should be more money - it's not why he's resigning".

Read more here:

Labour has staged a stunt in Westminster, urging Rishi Sunak to set a date for the next general election. 

Activists dressed as chickens held signs reading: "Rishi, name the date now".

The prime minister yesterday ruled out a general election on 2 May, following speculation he could choose to go to the polls early (see post at 6.45am). 

Earlier, Labour's deputy national campaign coordinator Ellie Reeves accused the prime minister of "squatting in Downing Street" (see post at 8.19am).

She told Sky News: "People rightly want a general election" after 14 years of Conservative government. 

"What's he running scared of?"

It's an election year - and that means political donations have ramped up.

And this has been compounded by the comments of Frank Hester, who said Labour MP Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women", after giving £10m to the Conservatives.

But what exactly are the rules on donations? Do they change for elections? Who gets the most money? Why do people donate? And can parties give funds back?

Below, our political reporter Tim Baker explains:

Businessman Frank Hester has been widely condemned after the emergence of racist comments he reportedly made about Diane Abbott.

Hackney MP Ms Abbott has since responded, saying the Tory donor's comments had put her in a "frightening" position.

But who is Mr Hester and and what is he reported to have said about Ms Abbott?

By Alex Rogers , political reporter

Rishi Sunak has been urged to identify and sack a minister who told Sky News they were concerned there might be peace in the Middle East in case it damages the Conservatives' electoral prospects.

The SNP demanded the prime minister launch an investigation off the back of the comments, which the party branded "shameful".

Earlier this week, an unnamed Tory minister told  deputy political editor Sam Coates  they were "worried there might be peace in the Middle East" because the conflict in Gaza is perceived to be damaging the Labour Party's relationship with its voters.

The minister made the comments amid a debate in the Tory Party as to when Mr Sunak should call an election after the budget last week failed to excite his backbenchers.

There will most likely be a general election at some point in 2024, but we don't know exactly when. 

Rishi Sunak has said it will not happen on 2 May - when local elections will take place across England. 

The prime minister's "working assumption" is that it will be in the second half of this year, but beyond that we know very little more about the precise timing.

So why is this the case?

Political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh explains:

By Alexandra Rogers , political reporter

Rishi Sunak has ruled out holding a general election on 2 May following speculation the prime minister could choose to go to the polls early.

Mr Sunak previously said it was his "working assumption" that an election would be held in the second half of this year, but he had not previously ruled out a May date - until now.

Asked by ITV whether there would be an election on 2 May - the same day as the local and mayoral ballots - Mr Sunak replied: "There won't be a general election on that day.

"But when there is a general election, what matters is the choice."

Opposition parties have been clamouring for a May election, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accusing the prime minister of "delaying" the inevitable and "hiding from the public".

Sky News has also reported on the private calls of some Tory MPs for Mr Sunak to call an early election to prevent the political and economic situation from deteriorating.

One year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his pledge to halve inflation by the end of 2023, leaving four pledges outstanding.

However, he is faring less well with his other pledges.

It has been confirmed the UK is now in recession, which means the PM's pledge to grow the economy is not being met.

With the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below.

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Install the Sky News app for free

age pension travel rules

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COMMENTS

  1. Travel outside Australia rules for Age Pension

    Yes Page last updated: 21 June 2023. There are rules about when you can get Age Pension when you travel outside Australia.

  2. When and how to tell us about your travel

    No Yes Page last updated: 24 November 2023. QC 61847 When you get Age Pension, you may need to tell us if you're leaving Australia.

  3. Understanding Overseas Travel Rules for Age Pension

    Understanding Overseas Travel Rules for Age Pension TLDR International retirees need to understand the rules and regulations regarding how traveling overseas may affect their government retirement income, including Age Pension and Service Pension, in order to avoid any reduction or cancellation of payments. Summarize any video by yourself

  4. Age Pension And Travel Overseas

    1. Travel overseas for less than 6 weeks If your plan is to be away from Australia for less than 6 weeks at the time, your Age Pension will not be changed and you will enjoy the full payment you are eligible for, as if you were in Australia all the time. 2. Travel overseas for more than 6 weeks but less than 12 months

  5. Australian pensions: living and travelling overseas

    Once you start receiving the age pension, you normally need to stay in Australia for at least 2 years before you can go overseas — otherwise, your pension payments may stop while you're travelling. It's best to confirm your conditions with Services Australia before you make any plans. How long can Australian pensioners stay overseas?

  6. Age Pension tips and traps for overseas travellers

    Those who are residents for 35 years or longer will see no change, but under 35 years the pension is paid at a pro-rata amount, according to your length of residency. If you leave to live in another country You will be paid what is termed an 'outside Australia rate'.

  7. PDF Age pension & overseas travel

    How long the person is going overseas for, and How long the person has been a resident within Australia. The full amount of age pension that a person is eligible for is payable while overseas for 26 weeks.

  8. How the Age Pension is affected when you go travelling

    The full amount of age pension that a person is eligible for is payable while overseas for 26 weeks. However, once overseas for longer than 26 weeks, the amount of age pension payable to a person is dependent upon the person's length of residency in Australia. Note: The reality is that after 6 weeks overseas the pension is reduce to the ...

  9. Travelling overseas on the age pension: what you need to know

    Centrelink may rule that you have to wait out two years of receiving the Age Pension while you're living in Australia, first. You're an Australian Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Holder If you're off to live elsewhere, your cards will be cancelled when you leave Australia.

  10. Will overseas travel affect Age Pension payments?

    The rates for Australian residents aged 35 years or more won't change - in most cases. If it's less than 35 years, you should expect a lower rate. For example, if you were a resident for 10 years, you will get 10/35ths of your usual rate. you get the Age Pension under an arrangement with another country. you are leaving Australia within ...

  11. Portability requirements (taking your payment overseas)

    Since 1 July 2014 the period of Australian Working Life Residence (AWLR) required to receive a full means-tested pension outside Australia after 26 weeks increased from 25 years to 35 years. A person's working life residence is the period of time they have lived in Australia between the age of 16 and Age Pension age.

  12. Age Pension while travelling outside Australia

    If you travel abroad for more than 26 weeks (i.e. more than six months), your pension depends on how long you've lived in Australia from age 16 to your pension age. More specifically, if you've lived in Australia for at least 35 years, you get a full Age Pension. If you've lived here for less than 35 years, you get a proportional rate.

  13. Clarification of pensions overseas

    Your Age Pension can be paid indefinitely if you leave Australia, however, you must advise Centrelink of any travel plans that exceed six weeks in total.

  14. Cruising on the Age Pension

    For instance, if you lived in Australia for 10 years between the age of 16 and a ge pension age, you will generally receive 10/35ths of the full means tested rate. If you were receiving Age Pension, or another Australian social security pension, outside Australia on 1 July 2022 and you have not returned and stayed in Australia for 26 weeks or ...

  15. How Long Can Australian Pensioners Stay Overseas

    Those who travel abroad between 6 and 26 weeks, will still receive the full Age Pension. However, their Pension Supplement, which is used to cover utilities, mobility and telephone bills, will be reduced to the basic rate. Currently, the basic rate is $26.20 for singles and $21.60 for couples (each).

  16. Age Pension

    Eligibility Age requirements The pension age is being gradually increased from 65 to 67 years as set out in the table below. Residence requirements To qualify for the Age Pension, a person must be: an Australian resident (that is, living in Australia on a permanent basis) and in Australia on the day the claim is lodged.

  17. Payment schedule and rates for people outside Australia

    Reduced rate You may get a reduced rate of pension based on how long you were an Australian resident. Transitional rate Some customers may get a transitional rate of pension based on the pre-20 September 2009 income test rules. If you're eligible, we'll compare the transitional rate to the current rate.

  18. Over 60 travel concessions & free bus pass

    You can get an older person's bus pass when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men. Apply for your older person's bus pass on GOV.UK If you're 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard.

  19. Retirement Topics

    A pension plan may pay benefits to a participant age 62 or older even if the participant has not separated from employment. The rules regarding a plan's youngest permissible normal retirement age have a safe harbor of age 62. 65: Defined benefit plans often calculate retirement benefits based on annuities beginning at age 65.

  20. Age Pension

    Retirement years Top payments Age Pension Age Pension The main income support payment for people who have reached Age Pension age. To get this you must be all of the following: Age Pension age under the income and assets test limits an Australian resident, normally for at least 10 years. Read the full conditions under who can get it. Who can get it

  21. WASPI and women's pensions

    The state pension age used to be 60 for women and 65 for men, but between 2010 and 2020 the women's age increased in stages to match men's state pension age. ... The old rules, which include ...

  22. When you leave Australia if you get Age Pension

    When you reach 26 weeks after leaving Australia your rate will depend on how long you were an Australian resident between 16 and Age Pension age . If you were an Australian resident for: 35 years or more, your rate won't change in most cases less than 35 years, you'll get a lower rate in most cases.

  23. Politics latest: 62 Tory MPs now standing down at next election

    Former Neighbours actress Holly Valance is making headlines in Westminster once again today. This time saying she backs Reform UK and "supports" former Conservative MP Lee Anderson after his ...