Portability of payments paid under International Agreements 061-01090000

Australia has social security agreements with a number of countries. Agreements generally allow customers to claim and continue to receive certain payments when they move between countries.

International Services (CIS) is responsible for all agreement portability decisions and coding.

The Portability Script - Departures and Returns is to be used to initially assess the customer's entitlement to payment while they are outside Australia. The portability script will guide service centre and Smart Centre staff when it is necessary to refer to CIS.

The Portability Script cannot generally be used for agreement portability and most cases must be assessed and coded manually by CIS. The one exception to this is for departures from Australia for customers paid by virtue of the Social Security Agreement with New Zealand. For these customers the Portability Script - Departures and Returns may be used.

Payments made under an agreement are only payable outside Australia if the agreement allows. Some agreements may deem the partner of a person paid under an agreement to also be considered to be paid under that agreement.

Most agreements have rules that are specific to that agreement only. For detailed information on each individual agreement, including portability rules, refer to the relevant agreement file.

Note: the Agreement with the United Kingdom was terminated with effect from 1 March 2001.

Generally, payments made under an agreement are payable indefinitely in Australia and the agreement country, that is, for temporary or permanent absences. Many agreements may allow portability to a third country for the same period as a person departing Australia on the same payment under normal portability rules.

As with portability, the rate of payment is subject to the rules of the agreement. Generally, a direct deduction rate is paid in Australia and a proportional rate is paid outside Australia. Many agreements also have a clause which allows the rate the person is receiving to continue for the first 26 weeks of their absence from, or return to Australia if the movement is temporary.

The Agreement with New Zealand may affect the rate of Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment where the customer goes to New Zealand regardless of whether they are autonomously qualified or paid under another agreement.

Customers paid under an agreement who return to Australia can only transfer to autonomous if they are an Australian resident. Customers who transfer to autonomous may be affected by former resident provisions if they leave Australia within 2 years of again becoming an Australian resident.