Overseas absences for Australian Defence Force Reserves 061-01110040

Customers in receipt of the following income support payments may continue to receive payment while temporarily overseas for Australian Defence Force Reserve service which is an allowable or approved reason:

• ABSTUDY
• Austudy
• Farm Household Allowance (FHA)
• JobSeeker Payment (JSP)
• Parenting Payment (partnered or single)
• Youth Allowance (YA)

The customer's right to continue to receive their income support payment is not affected for the period of an overseas absence that is for the purpose of undertaking Reserve service. This means attending training camps as a member of the Australian Defence Force Reserves. This does not include active service for example, duty in East Timor.

A customer's payment is portable for as long as is required for the camp, plus travelling time (which would be determined by the Reserves Service concerned as they would provide travel). The length of the absence can theoretically exceed the normal maximum portability period, although in practice it is unlikely to ever be more than a few weeks.

The customer must provide written advice confirming proof of the reason for their absence for assessment. They would normally have papers from the camp Commander or similar advising them where the camp is, how long it will be, and when they are required to travel to and from the camp. These papers need to be provided before departure.

Such camps are normally an acceptable reason for exempting a person from their mutual obligation requirements in Australia.

The Portability Script - Departures and Returns is to be used to initially assess the customer's entitlement to payment while they are outside Australia.

Service centre and Smart Centre staff are responsible for handling the initial portability interview when a customer clearly does not satisfy an approved reason for travel or has an exemption due to a training camp.

The Portability Script will guide service centre and Smart Centre staff when it is necessary to refer to Centrelink International Services (CIS). When a customer has advised their overseas travel is for a training camp with the Australian Defence Force Reserves, the case must be referred to the International Smart Centre to assess entitlement and code the departure.

Only designated CIS staff have the delegation to approve and record payment overseas for an approved reason.