Pension Supplement overseas absences 061-01070080

Customers who temporarily depart Australia can continue to receive the full Pension Supplement rate for up to 6 weeks from the date of departure. If the customer is still outside Australia after 6 weeks and their main payment remains payable, the Pension Supplement rate will reduce to the Pension Supplement Basic Amount.

Transitional customers will receive the transitional pension rate outside Australia after 6 weeks.

A customer who is paid using an International Agreement will receive the Pension Supplement if the Agreement dictates this. For example, under many Agreements a person leaving Australia temporarily will continue to receive the inside Australia rate (including the Pension Supplement where qualified) for up to 26 weeks from departure.

Customers who leave Australia to live in another country and whose income support payment remains payable, will continue to receive the Pension Supplement Basic Amount from the date of the departure. The Pension Supplement Remaining Amount and Minimum Amount cease to be payable from the day of the departure.

When a customer lives in another country and returns to Australia temporarily, the Pension Supplement Remaining and Pension Supplement Minimum Amounts do not become payable unless they become payable under an international agreement. These amounts are only payable to customers who reside in Australia or customers payable under an agreement.

Autonomous customers who have been residing outside of Australia who return to reside in Australia will have their entitlement to all components of the Pension Supplement reassessed from the date of their return. It is particularly important to ensure that the person is aware of the possible impact of the return being assessed as resuming Australian residence when it is not.

The Department of Home Affairs generally advises when a customer or child leaves or returns to Australia. The Centrelink system uses the information to assesses the portability of payments and concession cards. The assessment will happen regardless of whether the customer has told Services Australia their travel details. Note: do not cancel Department of Home Affairs datalink activities.

Where the customer gives evidence they travelled on different dates, the agency should consider using those different dates, if both the following apply:

• the new dates are logical
• the results will be a better outcome for the customer

This most often happens if a customer passes through Australian customs on one day but the flight leaves the next day.

In many cases, customers do not have to tell the agency if they are leaving Australia temporarily for less than 6 weeks, or when they have returned from a temporary absence.

When customers do need to tell us about a departure before leaving Australia or when they have returned to Australia they can use the Travelling outside of Australia service. This service is in their Centrelink online account. If the travel or portability assessment is complex the online service will ask them to contact the agency.

Services Australia website lists when customers must tell the agency they are leaving or returning to Australia. The Resources page has a link.

The Pension Supplement continues to be subject to changes in income and assets during any overseas absence.

If the customer's income support payment cancels or suspends during their absence from Australia, the Pension Supplement will cease to be payable.

Portability of Pension Supplement will be automatically assessed as long as the departure details are recorded correctly for the customer. The Portability Script - Departures and Returns must be used to assess portability of Pension Supplement where customers advise the agency they are leaving Australia.

Rate of Pension Supplement Basic Amount will be proportional if their primary payment for example, Age Pension or Disability Support Pension is proportional. The rate payable will be reduced if the customer's own Working Life Residence (WLR) is less than the maximum working life residence (WLR).

A customer who is paid according to the Customers overseas on 20 September 2000 portability savings provisions or the Customers overseas on 1 July 2004 portability rules is always paid as if they are leaving Australia to live in another country and will receive the Pension Supplement Basic Amount only, both during a temporary return to Australia and immediately on departure.

Entitlement to the minimum Pension Supplement amount will cease:

• if the customer is no longer entitled to their income support payment while overseas, that is, payment is suspended or cancelled. Any accrued amounts will be issued with the customer's final income support payment
• once a temporary overseas absence exceeds 6 weeks. Note: some customers paid under an International Agreement may receive the minimum Pension Supplement for up to 26 weeks

If the customer has elected to receive the minimum Pension Supplement amount quarterly, any accrued amounts of the minimum amount will be issued with the customer's regular payment that falls on, or after, the next quarterly payment test day (20 March, 20 June, 20 September, 20 December).

If the customer has not elected to receive the amount quarterly and their income support remains payable, any accrued amounts of the minimum Pension Supplement amount will be paid with the customer's next income support payment.