External
Policy

Last amended: 23 September 2009

VEA→

No requirement to be Australian resident and in Australia

A person who is overseas and is receiving a portable pension from either DVA or Centrelink can in certain circumstances transfer to a DVA pension that is also portable without need to be an Australian resident and in Australia at the time of claiming the new pension.

Circumstances where transfer is permitted

Transfer between portable pensions, without need to be an Australian resident and in Australia at the time of claiming the new pension, will be permitted where the pension the person was initially receiving:

  • is cancelled or reduced to nil; or
  • ceases to be payable automatically; and
  • the person meets all eligibility criteria for the pension they are transferring to.
Example where pension ceases to be payable automatically

A widow receiving partner service pension lodges a claim for  war widow's pension. If the claim is successful the partner service pension ceases to be payable automatically and war widow's pension and income support supplement is granted.

Transfers allowed without need to be Australian resident and in Australia.

A pensioner who is overseas and receiving:

  • age service pension,
  • invalidity service pension,
  • partner service pension,
  • income support supplement, or
  • a Centrelink pension (other than rehabilitation allowance)

can transfer to any of the following portable pensions without need to be an Australian resident and in Australia at the time of claiming the new pension: