The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

10.15.100 USA glossary

Introduction

This section contains a list of terms used in and applicable to the Agreement with the USA.

Benefit

Benefit, for Australia, means a pension, benefit or allowance payable under Australian social security legislation as specified in Article 2 of the Agreement. This includes Age and, in some cases, CP, DSP and PPS. It also includes any additional amount or increase that is payable to a person who qualifies for that increase, including pension supplement and RA for people inside Australia. Any additional amounts are subject to the portability restrictions of the SSAct for people outside Australia.

Note: Although listed as Australian benefits covered in Article 2 of the Agreement, from 20 March 2020, WP, WidB and BVA ceased. Recipients of these payments were transferred to another payment, such as Age, where eligible.

Benefit, for the United States of America, means a pension, benefit or allowance payable under US laws as specified in Article 2 of the Agreement.

More information on US benefits is available from the US Social Security Administration.

Carer payment

Under the Agreement, CP can only be paid to the partner of an Age or DSP recipient. That partner must have been an Australian resident at some time.

Disability support pension

Under the Agreement, DSP can only be paid to a person who is severely disabled.

Parenting payment (single)

Under the Agreement, PPS can be paid only to widowed persons (male or female) who stop being partnered persons because of the death of their partner. It does not include someone who has a new partner.

USA

The Agreement with the USA does not include a definition of the 'territory of the USA'. However, the USA defines it as all areas over which the US exercises sovereignty. For example, the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Island, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and a number of inhabited and uninhabited islands.

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