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11.4.4 Transfers Between Portable Pensions

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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:

  • age service pension,
  • invalidity service pension,
  • partner service pension, or
  • income support supplement.         More →


Exemptions from requirement to lodge a claim for ISS

2.1.2/Service pension and Income Support Supplement claims

More → (go back)

Centrelink is a Government service delivery agency responsible for delivering a range of Commonwealth Government services (including social security pensions and allowances) to the Australian community through a network of more than 400 Centrelink offices.

A widow is a woman who was:

  • the partner of a person immediately before the person died; or
  • legally married to a man and living with him immediately before he died; or
  • legally married to a man and living separately and apart from him on a permanent basis, immediately before he died.

 

 

A form of pension that is paid to the partner of a veteran where the veteran has died as a result of war service or eligible Defence ServiceWar widow's/widower's pension is also paid to the partner of a veteran whose death was not war caused if the veteran was a ex-prisoner of war or if the veteran was receiving Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) Rate, Special Rate (T&PI) or a rate increased in respect of certain war-caused injury or disease.

 

A person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.

A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.

A form of pension that is paid to the partner of a veteran where the veteran has died as a result of war service or eligible Defence ServiceWar widow's/widower's pension is also paid to the partner of a veteran whose death was not war caused if the veteran was a ex-prisoner of war or if the veteran was receiving Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) Rate, Special Rate (T&PI) or a rate increased in respect of certain war-caused injury or disease.

 

ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.

 

 

Centrelink is a Government service delivery agency responsible for delivering a range of Commonwealth Government services (including social security pensions and allowances) to the Australian community through a network of more than 400 Centrelink offices.