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.

1.1.A.340 Australian working life residence (AWLR)

Usage

This definition applies to the following payments:

  • age pension
  • parenting payment (single)
  • disability support pension, and
  • carer payment.

Note: This definition previously applied to WP and WidB. From 20 March 2020, WP and WidB ceased and eligible recipients were transferred to an alternative payment (such as Age or CP), depending on their circumstances. A person's payment rate was not affected by the changes.

Definition

AWLR refers to any and all periods from the age of 16 to age pension age during which a person was an Australian resident.

It is a measure of a person's potential working life and does not mean that a person had to have worked or paid taxes.

Act reference: SSAct section 7(2)-'Australian resident', section 1221-B2 Australian working life residence (general)

Calculating AWLR

A person's AWLR is used to calculate the rate of proportional pension for people overseas. The AWLR used is the number of whole months of Australian working life residence the person has, plus one month. The extra month is added after totalling all Australian working life residence including broken periods of months and days. When adding days, 30 days are equal to one whole month.

Example: Female born 4 June 1922.

Periods of residence Age AWLR
4/6/1922 to 3/6/1942 16 years on 4/6/1938 4 years
2/5/1965 to 8/4/1972 - 6 years, 11 months, 6 days
5/2/1981 to 17/8/1991 60 years on 4/6/1982 1 year, 3 months, 30 days
Total working life residence = 11 years, 14 months, 36 days
= 11 years, 15 months, 6 days
= 147 months + 1 month
= 148 months

Note: In the above example, the age pension age for the individual was 60 years. The age pension age has since increased (3.4.1.10).

Last reviewed: