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.

10.14.5.20 Totalising to Qualify for a German Benefit

Totalising for a German benefit

Article 6 of the Agreement with Germany covers totalisation in order to qualify for a German benefit.

Entitlement to a German old age pension is subject to a person having a minimum of 60 months coverage. To totalise under the Agreement a person must have at least one contribution to the German pension insurance scheme.

They can then, if necessary, totalise periods of Australian working life residence with any German periods of coverage in order to meet this minimum requirement of 60 months coverage.

For the purposes of totalising for a German benefit, Germany will count one month of Australian working life residence as one month of contributions to the Germany scheme.

If a person contributed to the Miner's Pension Insurance (Knappschaftliche Rentenversichenung), then they can only count those periods of Australian working life residence during which they were employed in underground mining industry in Australia.

Note: While people can use their periods of working life residence in Australia (as defined in Article 1) to help them to qualify for a German benefit, the rate of that German benefit is based solely on their actual German periods of coverage.

Act reference: SS(IntAgree)Act Schedule 14 Germany

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