Mobility Allowance (MOB) customer going overseas 008-05060000

Mick, a DSP customer, is travelling to England for 3 weeks in March. Mick currently receives MOB to help with vocational training and has not been outside Australia in the last 12 months.

This is an acceptable vacation or holiday period from an educational institution. Mick will continue to qualify for both DSP and MOB provided they are intending to return to study.

Since Mick has general portability of DSP available, they can be paid for a maximum portability period (for DSP generally 4 weeks in a rolling 12 month period). Add-ons can continue to be paid if the customer remains qualified for payment.

Jay receives only MOB and is going to Fiji for 9 months on 3 January to participate in volunteer office work for the Red Cross effort.

This is an acceptable reason as Jay is travelling for voluntary work, however, the MOB payment is portable for 6 weeks after which time it will be suspended.

If Jay returns to Australia within 13 weeks of the suspension, payments may be restored. However, Jay will not be entitled to any arrears between the end of the portability period and the date of returning to Australia.

If Jay returns to Australia more than 13 weeks after the suspension, Jay will need to reclaim upon returning to Australia.

Oliver receives an Age Pension and a MOB payment for volunteer work. Oliver has advised they are going to live in another country.

Although Oliver's Age Pension is payable indefinitely, the MOB payment qualification will cease on departure. The existing period of grace (POG) provision of one further payment will apply.

For details on POG, see Cancellation and Period of Grace for Mobility Allowance (MOB).

Rebecca receives Jobseeker Payment (JSP) and MOB and is going to France because their mother has just died. Rebecca is granted 2 weeks' payment of JSP under Acute Family Crisis approved portability provisions.

Rebecca is paid JSP for 2 weeks from departure and then their payment suspends. They are also entitled to MOB for the approved portability period (2 weeks). When their JSP suspends, their MOB also stops. Rebecca will not be entitled to a POG payment.

If Rebecca returns to Australia within 13 weeks after suspension date, their JSP may be restored. MOB may also be restored if they recommence qualifying activity.