10.11.4.20 Where People Can Lodge Claims under the Agreement with Austria

Where claims can be lodged

Claims for Australian benefits covered by the Agreement may be lodged:

• in Austria with any of the Pension Insurance Funds,
• in a third country, with which Australia has an appropriate agreement, with the authority nominated in the Administrative Arrangement to that agreement, and
• in Australia, with any Centrelink office.

Under Article 15 - Lodgement of Documents - of the Agreement with Austria, the date on which a claim is lodged with any of the above-mentioned authorities is the official date of lodgement for all purposes. This Article ensures that people outside Australia are not disadvantaged as a result of mailing delays.

In addition, Article 15 of the Agreement protects the rights of a person who lodges a claim for payment with the Agency of one party. That claim shall also be considered to be a claim for a 'corresponding' benefit from the other party if the person indicates, at the time of lodging the claim, that there has been a qualifying period (residence or periods of insurance) in the other country. For the original lodgement date to apply, the other country must receive the claim for the corresponding benefit within 12 months of the original claim being lodged.