Post by Banjo on Jan 19, 2015 11:16:05 GMT 7
Disability Support Pension while travelling outside Australia
Your Disability Support Pension (DSP) may be affected while you are outside Australia.
Temporary travel overseas
When travelling overseas temporarily, you will generally only be paid DSP for up to 4 weeks in any 12 month period.
You may continue to be paid DSP for longer than 4 weeks if you:
are studying outside Australia as part of a full time Australian course
are severely disabled and dependent on and living with, a family member who has been temporarily posted to work outside Australia
have been assessed in Australia prior to departure as having a permanent, severe impairment and no future work capacity. Assessment involves a review of your DSP qualification and a Job Capacity Assessment, or
are severely disabled and your DSP can be paid under an international social security agreement Australia has with the country in which you are staying in
If you have travelled overseas for 4 weeks in a 12 month period, you may still be able to be paid overseas if your reason for travel is one of the following approved reasons:
an acute family crisis, for example, to visit an immediate family member who is critically ill
humanitarian reasons, for example, to adopt a child or attend custody proceedings, or
eligible medical treatment that is not available in Australia
If you have returned to live in Australia within the last 2 years and you have started receiving DSP during this period then you will not be paid for any departures until the 2 year waiting period has passed.
However, if you travel to a country with which Australia has a social security agreement, you may be able to continue to get your payment under that social security agreement.
Leaving Australia to live in another country
If you leave Australia to live in another country you will not be paid DSP unless you:
are terminally ill
left Australia prior to 1 July 2004, and at the time of leaving you were told that you could be paid indefinitely, and you have not returned to Australia to live since that time
have been assessed in Australia prior to the departure as having a permanent, severe impairment and no future work capacity. Assessment involves a review of your DSP qualification and a Job Capacity Assessment, or
are severely disabled and your DSP can be paid under an international social security agreement Australia has with the country in which you are living in
In these situations, you will continue being paid DSP while you are outside Australia but your rate of payment will change at certain points.
DSP rate while outside Australia
If you can keep being paid your DSP for the entire length of time you are outside Australia, your rate of payment may change at certain points.
If you are paid DSP under a social security agreement, the amount that you are paid while you are outside Australia is decided by that agreement.
Pension Supplement
Your Pension Supplement will be affected if you travel overseas.
DSP rate after 26 weeks
If your continuing inability to work or permanent blindness occurred when you were not an Australian resident, after 26 weeks your rate of payment will be based on the amount of time you lived in Australia as an Australian resident between the age of 16 and age pension age.
You will usually need to have lived in Australia as an Australian resident for 35 years in order to continue receiving your full rate of DSP after 26 weeks. If you have less than 35 years you will receive a smaller rate of DSP after 26 weeks outside Australia.
If you departed Australia before 1 July 2014, you will usually need to have lived in Australia as an Australian resident for 25 years in order to continue receiving your full rate of DSP after 26 weeks. If you have less than 25 years you will receive a smaller rate of DSP after 26 weeks outside Australia.
If you were outside Australia on 1 July 2014, you can continue to receive your payment under the 25 year rule, unless you return and stay in Australia for 26 weeks or more.
Example 1
Maria arrived in Australia in June 2005 with an existing disability. In September 2014, she travels to Malaysia and can be paid for her entire absence. After 26 weeks absence from Australia she will receive a rate of pension based upon her Australian Working Life Residence of 9 years. That is, she will receive 25%, 9/35ths, of the maximum means tested rate of pension.
Example 2
Robert arrived in Australia in June 2005. He became unable to work due to his disability in 2012 while an Australian resident. In September 2014, he travels to Thailand and can be paid for his entire absence. After 26 weeks absence from Australia there will be no change to his pension rate. That is, he will receive the maximum means tested rate of pension.
Travel to New Zealand
If you are travelling to New Zealand, Australia’s social security agreement with New Zealand may affect the rate of DSP you can be paid. If you are leaving temporarily your rate will change after 26 weeks. Your rate will change when you leave Australia if you are moving to New Zealand to live or if you plan on staying there for more than 12 months.
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/disability-support-pension/disability-support-pension-while-travelling-outside-australia
The rate of pension will be based on your working age residence, which is the amount of time you have lived in Australia and New Zealand between the ages of 20 and the date you are assessed under the Agreement.
Advising us of your travel outside Australia
If you are planning on travelling for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period, where possible notify us as soon as you have plans to travel, but at least 6 weeks prior to departure. This will allow time to arrange any medical review that may be required in order for you to be paid overseas for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period.
You should tell us if you are leaving Australia and you:
will be away for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period
are paid under the terms of a social security agreement, or
returned to live in Australia within the last 2 years and you started being paid Disability Support Pension during this period
Otherwise you do not need to tell us if you are leaving Australia. We will be advised automatically by Australia's immigration department when you leave Australia and when you return.
Your Disability Support Pension (DSP) may be affected while you are outside Australia.
Temporary travel overseas
When travelling overseas temporarily, you will generally only be paid DSP for up to 4 weeks in any 12 month period.
You may continue to be paid DSP for longer than 4 weeks if you:
are studying outside Australia as part of a full time Australian course
are severely disabled and dependent on and living with, a family member who has been temporarily posted to work outside Australia
have been assessed in Australia prior to departure as having a permanent, severe impairment and no future work capacity. Assessment involves a review of your DSP qualification and a Job Capacity Assessment, or
are severely disabled and your DSP can be paid under an international social security agreement Australia has with the country in which you are staying in
If you have travelled overseas for 4 weeks in a 12 month period, you may still be able to be paid overseas if your reason for travel is one of the following approved reasons:
an acute family crisis, for example, to visit an immediate family member who is critically ill
humanitarian reasons, for example, to adopt a child or attend custody proceedings, or
eligible medical treatment that is not available in Australia
If you have returned to live in Australia within the last 2 years and you have started receiving DSP during this period then you will not be paid for any departures until the 2 year waiting period has passed.
However, if you travel to a country with which Australia has a social security agreement, you may be able to continue to get your payment under that social security agreement.
Leaving Australia to live in another country
If you leave Australia to live in another country you will not be paid DSP unless you:
are terminally ill
left Australia prior to 1 July 2004, and at the time of leaving you were told that you could be paid indefinitely, and you have not returned to Australia to live since that time
have been assessed in Australia prior to the departure as having a permanent, severe impairment and no future work capacity. Assessment involves a review of your DSP qualification and a Job Capacity Assessment, or
are severely disabled and your DSP can be paid under an international social security agreement Australia has with the country in which you are living in
In these situations, you will continue being paid DSP while you are outside Australia but your rate of payment will change at certain points.
DSP rate while outside Australia
If you can keep being paid your DSP for the entire length of time you are outside Australia, your rate of payment may change at certain points.
If you are paid DSP under a social security agreement, the amount that you are paid while you are outside Australia is decided by that agreement.
Pension Supplement
Your Pension Supplement will be affected if you travel overseas.
DSP rate after 26 weeks
If your continuing inability to work or permanent blindness occurred when you were not an Australian resident, after 26 weeks your rate of payment will be based on the amount of time you lived in Australia as an Australian resident between the age of 16 and age pension age.
You will usually need to have lived in Australia as an Australian resident for 35 years in order to continue receiving your full rate of DSP after 26 weeks. If you have less than 35 years you will receive a smaller rate of DSP after 26 weeks outside Australia.
If you departed Australia before 1 July 2014, you will usually need to have lived in Australia as an Australian resident for 25 years in order to continue receiving your full rate of DSP after 26 weeks. If you have less than 25 years you will receive a smaller rate of DSP after 26 weeks outside Australia.
If you were outside Australia on 1 July 2014, you can continue to receive your payment under the 25 year rule, unless you return and stay in Australia for 26 weeks or more.
Example 1
Maria arrived in Australia in June 2005 with an existing disability. In September 2014, she travels to Malaysia and can be paid for her entire absence. After 26 weeks absence from Australia she will receive a rate of pension based upon her Australian Working Life Residence of 9 years. That is, she will receive 25%, 9/35ths, of the maximum means tested rate of pension.
Example 2
Robert arrived in Australia in June 2005. He became unable to work due to his disability in 2012 while an Australian resident. In September 2014, he travels to Thailand and can be paid for his entire absence. After 26 weeks absence from Australia there will be no change to his pension rate. That is, he will receive the maximum means tested rate of pension.
Travel to New Zealand
If you are travelling to New Zealand, Australia’s social security agreement with New Zealand may affect the rate of DSP you can be paid. If you are leaving temporarily your rate will change after 26 weeks. Your rate will change when you leave Australia if you are moving to New Zealand to live or if you plan on staying there for more than 12 months.
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/disability-support-pension/disability-support-pension-while-travelling-outside-australia
The rate of pension will be based on your working age residence, which is the amount of time you have lived in Australia and New Zealand between the ages of 20 and the date you are assessed under the Agreement.
Advising us of your travel outside Australia
If you are planning on travelling for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period, where possible notify us as soon as you have plans to travel, but at least 6 weeks prior to departure. This will allow time to arrange any medical review that may be required in order for you to be paid overseas for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period.
You should tell us if you are leaving Australia and you:
will be away for longer than 4 weeks in any 12 month period
are paid under the terms of a social security agreement, or
returned to live in Australia within the last 2 years and you started being paid Disability Support Pension during this period
Otherwise you do not need to tell us if you are leaving Australia. We will be advised automatically by Australia's immigration department when you leave Australia and when you return.
