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.

10.10.100 Portugal glossary

Introduction

This section contains definitions of terms applicable to the Agreement with Portugal.

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 (see definitions below). 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 in Australia. Any additional amounts are subject to the portability restrictions under 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 Portugal, means a pension, benefit or allowance payable under Portuguese legislation as specified in Article 2 of the Agreement.

More information on benefits under Portuguese law is available from the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.

Carer payment

Under the Agreement, qualification for CP is restricted to a partner who cares for a severely disabled partner who is in receipt of Age or DSP and residing in Portugal. CP is not payable to a person who has never been an Australian resident.

Disability support pension

When the original Agreement was negotiated, DSP was known as 'invalid pension'. The original Agreement covered DSP for both the severely disabled and the non-severely disabled. New grants of DSP under the current Agreement are limited to individuals who are severely disabled (non-severely disabled recipients granted under the original Agreement were grandfathered and remain eligible).

Parenting payment (single)

Under the Agreement with Portugal, PPS can be paid to a woman with dependent children who is a legal (de jure) widow or a dependent female (i.e. a woman who was a member of a couple for 3 years before her partner died and was wholly or mainly financially maintained by him).

Portugal

Portugal is the Republic of Portugal. It comprises the territory of Portugal on the European continent and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira.

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