Switzerland Agreement and foreign pension information 106-04033000

The Agreement with Switzerland (Swiss Confederation) started on 1 January 2008.

The Swiss Agreement allows customers to lodge a claim for payment from either country. It also allows customers to add together periods of residence in Australia and periods of social security coverage in Switzerland, to meet the minimum requirements for payment.

Australian payments covered

• Age Pension
• Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• Carer Payment (CP)
• Parenting Payment Single (PPS)
• Double Orphan Pension (DOP)

Note:

• Only ‘severely disabled’ customers can be granted DSP outside Australia
• CP can only be granted in Australia; cannot be paid outside Australia
• Only ‘widowed persons’ can be granted PPS

Customers can claim Australian payments under the Agreement by contacting Services Australia or the Swiss authorities.

Swiss payments covered:

• Old-Age Pension
• Disability Pension
• Survivors Pension

Customers can claim a foreign pension by contacting Services Australia or the Swiss authorities.

Information on how International Agreements work and general concepts used in agreements is contained in International Social Security Agreements.