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.

10.17.5.20 Totalising to Qualify for a Croatian Benefit

Totalising for a Croatian benefit

Article 15 of the Agreement covers totalisation in order to qualify for a Croatian benefit.

Entitlement to an Old-Age pension under Croatian legislation is subject to a minimum number of years of completed periods of insurance in Croatia. To qualify under the Agreement (as at 2004) a person must have a minimum of 17 years of coverage in Croatia. The Croatian period of insurance is reducing by 6 months per year until 2008 when the requirement will be 15 years.

People who do not have the minimum period of insurance can add periods of Australian working life residence to the periods of Croatian insurance they do have to make up the minimum requirement.

In paragraph 4 of Article 15 of the Agreement, the Croatian authorities can take into consideration contributions by Croatian nationals completed in a third state to which Croatia is bound by an agreement on social security, to meet the minimum requirements for a Croatian benefit.

This means that if a person does not have enough Croatian contributions they can add together contributions from other agreement countries to totalise for a Croatian pension.

Act reference: SS(IntAgree)Act Schedule 16 Croatia

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