Tell Centrelink about your travel plans
Some things you can’t ‘untell’ Centrelink – Tips and traps for overseas travellers
With international borders finally reopening many older Australians are keen to head overseas. But leaving Australia – particularly where you go and for how long – can have a major impact upon your Age Pension entitlements.
It’s critical that you know what your obligations are, including:
- which information you need to share, and
- the timelines of when you need to reveal this information.
If you are in any doubt, you can book an appointment with our customer service team to double check the detail you need to reveal, as you cannot ‘untell’ incorrect or inaccurate information. When you get it wrong, there is often a long process, sometimes including a rejection of your current or expected entitlements.
Mary got caught out when she went on a holiday. She did not need to inform Centrelink, but thought she did.
She told Centrelink she was moving overseas for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond Mary’s control she was forced to return to Australia 8 months later.
Whilst Mary did not do anything wrong, committing to a permanent move overseas from the outset meant that Mary immediately lost her pension and energy supplements as well as a portion of her pension due to Mary not being an Australian resident for 35 years prior to her departure date.
Had Mary initially treated the move as a holiday and then updated Centrelink on her intent to live there permanently later on, she could have kept her supplements longer (they would eventually have been removed though) and her pension would have stayed as it was for longer before being reduced.
Travelling outside Australia does not necessarily mean losing your Age Pension entitlements, even when you take up residence in another country. But the amount you get is connected with the time you are away – and the country in which you resettle.
If you are undertaking holiday travel, you do not need to advise Centrelink.
If, however, you:
- are going to live in another country
- will be away for longer than 6 weeks
- will receive a welfare payment from another country
- returned to live in Australia within the past two years and received an Age Pension in this time
- then you need to advise Centrelink through your online or myGov account.
There are three main categories of Centrelink interest when you travel:
- If you leave for between 6 and 26 weeks
- if you leave for more than 26 weeks
- if you leave to live in another country
If you leave Australia for between 6 and 26 weeks
Your pension supplement drops to the basic rate and your energy supplement stops.
If you leave for more than 26 weeks
There is a sliding scale of the rate by which your pension is affected, depending upon the length of your Australian residency. Those who are residents for 35 years or longer will see no change, but under 35 years the pension is paid at a pro-rata amount, according to your length of residency.
If you leave to live in another country
You will be paid what is termed an ‘outside Australia rate’. Your pension supplement will be reduced to the basic rate and your energy supplement will be removed.
If your travel plans change due to circumstances outside your control, including Covid-19, you may need to contact Centrelink to explain your situation.
Tips and traps
- Timing when you reveal your plans has a direct impact upon your pension payments as happened with Mary.
- Choosing to relocate to another country is a big decision. You will need to do your research on availability of medical care, aged care and whether Australia has a social services agreement with that country. It’s not just about entitlements – it’s worth checking out the country’s human rights record and whether Australia has a strong consular presence there. Cost of living will also be of vital interest.
- Payments for overseas pensions are approximately $2,000 per annum lower than payments to Australian residents
- Pension are paid every four weeks, not every fortnight – you need to plan for the gap in income if you change from an Australian to an international payment
| Rates | A$ amount per year single | A$ amount per year couple both eligible | A$ amount per year couple one eligible partner | A$ amount per year couple separated due to ill health |
| Maximum basic rate | $22,937.20 | $34,580.00 | $17,290.00 | $22,937.20 |
| Basic Pension Supplement rat | $642.20 | $1,060.80 | $530.40 | $642.20 |
| Total | $23,579.40 | $35,640.80 | $17,820.40 | $23,579.40 |
[Services Australia – these figures are a guide only and are effective from 20 September 2021.]
In summary, short-term travel has little effect on your pension income. Heading overseas for a longer time will need to be more carefully considered. So make sure you thoroughly understand the rules well before you leave.
And if in doubt, or need further information, our expert team are happy to explain all the rules. Book a consultation.
Have you headed away for a long period? If so, did you find it easy to manage your pension payments and concession card access? We’d love to hear your story.
Does Australia have agreement with thePhilIppines ?
Hi Keith, thanks for reaching out for further clarity regarding residency eligibility. Australia does not currently have a Social Security Agreement with The Philippines.
If you or anyone else reading would like to talk about the residency eligibility criteria in more detail we do offer 30min consultations at a cost of $75. We can clarify how Centrelink will assess you specifically and help guide you on any related matters that might impact your Age Pension. If you wish to proceed please CLICK HERE to book the best suitable time available.
My wife and I would like to travel overseas for 25 weeks.
Iam presently getting the age pension and my wife is getting jobseeker.
My wife will get the pension before we leave, so we will receive the pension as a couple combined.
Question is can we leave as a couple ever if my wife has just started receiving pension.
Is it best to let them know that we will be staying longer that 6 weeks closer to the 6 weeks time while we are overseas, or prior to departure.
We had previously left the country for three months a few months after I received the pension, my wife was on jobseeker.
My pension supplement was reduced after 7 weeks and they stopped the other supplement after 6 weeks.
My wife’s jobseeker was stopped when we left.
Could you please let me know the best way to handle this situation.
Thanking You
David
I do not believe I qualify for any pension due to assets unless I am considered a non home owner. I share a home with my family and I legally own 40% of the property. Am I considered a home owner or is there a proportion applied due to my reduced ownership.
Hi Chris, if your name is on the title then you will be assessed as a home owner (even if the ownership is split with others and not 100%). Regarding your overall eligibility we do offer 30min consultations at a cost of $75. We can clarify how Centrelink will assess you specifically and help guide you on any related matters like if the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is an option for you. If you wish to proceed please CLICK HERE to book the best suitable time available.
I want to know why we’re paying a pension for people to live overseas, dual citizen or not
It’s not fair on our tax payers
Julie: Rather unkind comment. Some people when they get old want to return to their country of birth. Why should they not be allowed to receive their pensions to which they are entitled? As well, plenty of people receive an overseas pension although they have not lived or worked in their home countries since way back when. Should they refuse these so they can get a full Oz pension?
I lived in Australia 34 years. I spent 3 years in My Home Country when I wasn’t a Pensioner due to the instability of Housing and work. I recently advised Centrelink of moving for 6 to 8 months and see if I lived with more resources in My Country of Birth since in the last 8 I moved 18 times with no grounds and unlawful renting on behalf of Landlords.
I get the basic Pension but I have a more stable Home and life with family and Friends. I miss My children and grand children but loneliness and struggling was too much to handle.
Centrelink said I can only stay 6 months and if I don’t go back to Australia they Will reduce the Pension in half due to my traveling while I was an Australia citizen?
Does that mean You can’t have holidays? because I haven’t been anywhere since I’m a Pensioner. I don’t get it and don’t understand why all these since there is a Housing Crisis in Australia and Nice people homeless in they street because they can’t rent anything under 350 a week.
So how long do they require we stay in Australia before we depart again where we can live with the Pension we get.
Hi Anabel, thank you for sharing your situation with us! There are 2 rules that come into play when looking at the impact of having lived/living overseas. The first is referred to as the ‘Returning Resident’ rule and based on your comments it does not apply to you specifically but I am posting it HERE for the benefit of other readers in similar situations whom it may impact. The second, which is what you are referring to in your comment, is the rules around how your pension is impacted by overseas travel even if you have not recently returned to Australia to live and you can read about the timeframes and impacts HERE.
I guess Julie, its because most of these people have been paying taxes all their working lives in Australia. When they retire they should be able to receive and spend their pension anywhere they like. I would much prefer people getting a pension that have earned it (in Australia) rather than pay pensions to immigrants the minute they lob on our shores. No offense to the immigrants its not their fault.
I agree wholeheartedly! I cant even get $1, I worked f o r 54 years in Oz…paid taxes raised 3 kids…and I kn oiw people who haver NEVER worked in Oz get an overseas pension AS WELL as an Oz pension! Its BS!
You mean they get less of an Australian pension as the income from the overseas pension kicks in. So its better that way as it saves the Oz taxpayer more money and they are less of a burden on Medicare right?
Its not fair to pay politicians and all the infrastructure around them. All they do is sign papers. Absolutely useless just like councils. Unfair is negative gearing and other taxpayer funded incentives that drive up house prices ti even more unaffordable levels. Unfair to the taxpayer is the billions subsidizing the industries of the politicians friends in big industry.
At least those who have worked all their lives are entitled to live anywhere they like because they cannot afford to live in Australia as everything here is ridiculously expensive and why is that?
They are less of a burden on the resources of Australia especially Medicare. So it makes more economic sense and humane to allow them to live out the rest of their lives elsewhere. They earned it unlike the politicians you vote for.
I guess that because I worked for nearly 60 years , paid taxes . Obeyed the law and tried to be a good citizen raised 7 children , putting 4 of them through University, I am more than annoyed that at 75 yo my old age pension will be affected if I do go overseas for a time.
Think economics Julie, it’s cheaper for Aust to pay pension than to pay their aged care in nursing homes or pay their medical needs while aging.
It cost approximately $136 a day (in early 2000) for a level 4 resident in the nursing home, aside from paying them full pension. Lower level of needs can be $90 a day. That’s something to learn Julie, aside being nicer to others. We are all migrants not unless you are an Aboriginal.
Thank you for the article. In the chart it states “maximum basic rate” and “basic pension supplement rate”. Can you clarify what these mean please? Give an example if possible?
So if you having been living overseas for a few years and return for a holiday for example six weeks does your pension increase?
Do you need to inform Centrelink of your return and then your departure back overseas?
The point is where is the fairness to long term Australians , my Grandfather was a Pioneer in Australia Farming, my father was born in Australia and also a Pioneer in the Farming Industry , i was born here and also a Farmer . I applied and was approved for Pension here ,but then had it immediatly cancelled because i went overseas .. It is cheaper for the Govt if eligible penshioners live overseas and not claiming medical etc ..
Why was it cancelled? You should be eligible for a full pension reduced only for rent, power etc assistance. Depending on where you move to and their agreements with Australia.
As a New Zealand citizen living in Australia I’m on a SCV which is issued at the border. I’ve worked and lived half my life in NZ and half in Australia, I’m entitled to the age pension paid half by Australia and half by NZ. But unlike everyone else on age pension mine will stop if I chose to live out my retirement outside Australia. This is because of legislation which says the SCV ends the moment you leave Australia and begins again the moment we enter so in effect while overseas we have no visa. What this does is removes my opportunities to experience retirement overseas something I’d planned for years. This has been taken away from us. It’s discriminatory and wrong in an all inclusive society as other than how the visa works there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be able to spend our age pension the same as everyone else
Hi Brenton, thank you for articulating your struggle so well! It sounds like you have done some homework but I must say that the scenario you have explained is not how we believe the Australian Age Pension to work when you wish to live overseas. You may wish to call Centrelink’s International Services Team on 131 673 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm AEDT) because if you CLICK HERE and scroll down to the heading “If you leave Australia for more than 26 weeks” you will see that your pension may be reduced depending on how many years you have been an Australian Citizen prior to leaving but it does not instantly cancel.
I don’t understand the 2-year residency rule. If I have been residing overseas for several years, should I return to Australia 2 years prior to my eligibility for the aged pension? For example, if I reach pension age at 67 years of age should I return when I reach the age of 65 years or do I return when I reach the age of 67?
Hi Graeme. As a rule of thumb you need to be living in Australia when you apply for the Age Pension; be a permanent resident,; have lived in Australia for at least 10 years; five of which were continuous. The two year residency rule impacts you if you are currently living overseas, return to Australia, and then apply, you will have to remain in the country for two years else your Age Pension will be cancelled
I would like some clear and accurate clarification on this rule that you must be living in Australia when applying for the pension, and then must remain in Australia for another 2yrs after first receiving the pension or risk having it Cancelled. I believe there are exceptions to the rule.
My understanding is that if the Australian Govt has an agreement with a country to share social responsibilities for social security coverage, ( for example Japan) then I believe you are able to apply for and receive your aged pension accordingly.
After reading the information available on the Australian Govt Services Agreement with Other Countries documents it clearly states that if you live in one of the countries listed you are able to receive Centrelink Payments and does not say you must be in Australia and living in Australia when applying and in fact says you can apply online or at the Japanese Social Insurance Agency.
I could be wrong, as Govt information is hardly ever clear and is always full of gobbledygook however this is an important issue for many retiring Aussies that needs clarifying.
Some Services Australia links are here for ref.
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/international-social-security-agreements-between-australia-and-countries-asia?context=22476
extension://bfdogplmndidlpjfhoijckpakkdjkkil/pdf/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.servicesaustralia.gov.au%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-07%2Fint033-2205en.pdf
Hi Edward, it can be tricky knowing what rules apply and when! How Centrelink will assess each person specifically can vary so it is difficult for us to give the level of specificity you are seeking in a forum such as this. You would need to book a consultation with us (HERE) so that we can discuss your individual scenario and clarify how Centrelink will assess you.
I have been overseas this year four times with no trip being longer than three weeks. Does the 6 week rule apply to the total of several shorter holidays overseas or just when a trip consists of more than 6 weeks of consecutive days.
have lived and worked in Australia for 34 years ,moved overseas at age 63 can i get age pension when i am 67 if i come back to apply for it ,then go back overseas or will i have to stay here 2 years first.
not living in an agreement country
Hi Kevin, thanks for your query! If you have been living overseas within the last 2 years before lodging your claim, Centrelink will ask you to remain in Australia for 2 years from the day you first moved back (not when you applied/got approved for Age Pension). Therefore you could move back here at age 67, lodge the claim and then remain here until you are 69 or you could move here at age 65, live here until 67, then apply/get approved and move back overseas.
I understand that I can travel overseas for 24 weeks and stay in Australia fir 28 weeks in a year my pension is not affected . My confusion is how is the year calculated- calendar year or financial year ?
Hi Ranjana, thanks for your comment! You are right that if the total amount of time you have spent outside of Australia in the past 12 months is only 24 weeks then you will not be considered to be living in another country however, any holiday abroad that goes for more than 6 weeks will result in your pension being reduced as the pension and energy supplements are removed at this time. Therefore it is incorrect to believe that you could go on a 24 week holiday and not have any impact to your pension, you would have to go on six holidays, for 4 weeks each, to avoid any impact.
In regards to the timing, it is based on whenever your first trip overseas starts. If you leave for your trip in February then the 12 month period taken into account is from the February you first leave up to the following February next year.
On this point do these rules apply to both partners if only one is of pension age?
Hi Eddie, thanks for asking a great question! If your partner is under Age Pension age then their travels overseas will not impact your Age Pension.
How would my pension be affected if I returned to the UK. I am 93 years of age and have been on a UK pension frozen since I was 65 because I have lived in Australia since 1994.. I have been receiving a part Australian pension from Australia for more than ten years. A response email would be appreciated.
Hi Colin, glad to hear you loved Australia so much you couldn’t leave! Regarding the potential impacts that moving to another country can have, there are a couple of factors to be considered. To understand the potential impact to you specifically we would need to have a confidential discussion to then provide you with your options and the pros/cons of each. Please CLICK HERE to book a day/time that suits you.
I’m an Australian citizen 58 years old. Married to a British Citizen husband who has permanent residency in Australia, and is currently receiving an Australian aged part pension
We are planning on moving to the UK to live permanently within the next 12 months or so and are aware that we need to return to Australia at a later date , for two years if I decide to apply and begin claiming the aged pension. We are then returning back to the UK after the 2 years has expired.
What I would like to know is – Would I qualify for the pension even though I I would have been living in the UK for approximately 9 years prior with the intention to return back to the UK to live indefinitely or would Centrelink require me to return to Australia to reside and show proof of this before they grant me the pension?
Hi Michelle, thank you for sharing your situation with us! It sounds like you’ve already done your homework as not many people are aware of the need to reside here for 2 years so well done! Thankfully the residency requirement is simply that you have spent at least 10 years living in Australia ad a citizen/permanent resident (with 5 of them having been consecutive). It does NOT have to be the last 10 years prior to applying. Therefore you have likely already ticked this box and are free to do as you plan to, so long as you spend the 2 years living here when the time comes for you to apply for the Age Pension yourself. Lastly Michelle, if you haven’t already, READ HERE about how you and your husbands Age Pension amounts may reduce when you do move overseas.
I have been living in AU for over 35 yrs however my age pension has been reduced to the basic rate on the grounds that I’m now living overseas for over 26 weeks and that I have been australian resident for only 22 years according to centrelink’s weird calculations.
When I spoke to customer service representative I was informed that the counting of numbers of years in Australia stopped in 2009 (I arrived in AU in 1987).
I could not find any information on centrelink website or anywhere else about this calculation method, no legislation, no documents proving it.+
So the information provided on centrelink website that you need to be a resident for minimum 35 years to get full rate of pension when living overseas is misleading.
Hi Andrew, thank you for sharing your experience with us! There are reasons why some years spent living in Australia may not be counted in the 35 year rule. For example any years you spend living here after you hit Age Pension age are not counted. If you turned 65 in 2009 (as that was the Age Pension age back then) this would mean that consequent years spent living here were not taken into account. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Thank you for all the information! I have a separate query. As an age pensioner, what if I leave Australia for around 26 weeks but then visit New Zealand for 2 weeks. But what happens to my pension payments if I again take a trip outside of Australia for less than 6 weeks. How will may payments be effected? This is all within 12 months after my less-than-26 week initial trip. A bit confusing for me!
Thank you again,
Warren
Hi Warren, don’t feel bad, this is a subject that many people are unsure about! Thankfully Centrelink do have a good web page that explains what happens to your payments when you travel HERE.
I have claimed for my age pension, I lived for more than ten years in Australia. My family decided to return to Italy in 1980. My application for age pension, through the Italian INPS,
was submited in february and received in march 2023.My question is: how long will it take before payments are competed? Your information will be appreciated…..
Hi Giuseppe, thank you for reaching out! If your claim was approved in March then you definitely should have started receiving payments by now, You should contact Centrelink to query what is happening.
I am 63 years old and have a Thai wife who has a property in Thailand. I would like to know if I can permanently move there once I can claim the pension at 67
Hi Dirk, thank you for seeking our assistance! Yes you can move overseas and still receive the Age Pension however as per the content in this article the amount of Age Pension you receive will be reduced.
Hi, i own my home in NSW and i want to buy a holiday home in Italy but i want to keep both homes so in a few years will lose my age pension cause of the second home in Italy
I’m 60 and was born in Australia, living here all my life apart from some 3 month holidays overseas. I’m ill health retired with a defined benefit pension. In the next couple of years I would like to relocate overseas (to a non-social services partner country).
Do I have to then return to Australia for 2 years to be eligible for the pension after spending my entire working life here? Does the 2 year rule mean I cannot even leave temporarily during that time?
Thanks for a great article – so hard to find quality information about this online.
Hi Vincent, thank you for the compliment and glad to hear you found the article helpful! In order to avoid complications you would need to return to Australia at age 65 and live here for 2 years prior to applying for the Age Pension. If you do this then once the pension is approved you can then leave again and live overseas with no need to return again.
What about if he spends 24 weeks overseas during that 2-year period?
Hi Ray, thanks for getting into the nitty gritty! In that scenario the 24 weeks would likely be classed as an overseas holiday but still living in Australia during that time and so it would not impact the 2 years rule.
Hello!
My dream is to retire to Scotland after turning 67 in 4 years time. I have lived most of my life in Australia and will qualify with a AWLR of 50 plus years. I understand that I will need to be a full time resident for 2 years before applying for the pension but my query is do I need to serve the 2 years after claiming the pension before I can move permanently overseas? All the info I have seen online seems to apply to people that have returned to Australia to claim the pension. Fingers crossed!
Hi Paul, thank you for sharing your scenario with us and well done on your research! The good news is you are right, the 2 year residency rule only applies to people who recently returned to live in Australia and apply for the pension. If you have been living here for +2 years prior to applying then there is no need to remain here once approved.
Thanks Steve and the crew at RE for your generous answers. I found clarity around that 2 year stay in Oz rule. It don’t apply to me as i’ve been a resident for way over 35 years. I did take an 18 month holiday in 1990-1991 though.
Hi Bri, thank you for the recognition, we don’t always know if our efforts are hitting the mark or not so much appreciated.