10.2.5.10 Totalising to Qualify for an Australian Benefit - Agreement with New Zealand
Totalising
Article 12 covers totalisation in order to qualify for an Australian benefit.
Periods of working age residence (WAR) in New Zealand can be counted as periods of Australian residence to meet the minimum residence requirements for a benefit under the SSAct.
People residing in New Zealand must have a minimum of one year of Australian WAR (6 months of which must be continuous) before they can totalise and qualify for an Australian benefit. No minimum period of WAR is required for people residing in Australia.
The policy regarding overlapping periods discussed in 10.1.5.60 applies to the Agreement with New Zealand.
A claimant for Age must have reached whichever qualifying pension age is higher at the time they claim to obtain the benefit outlined in Article 12.
Act reference: SS(IntAgree)Act Schedule 3 New Zealand
Policy reference: SS Guide 10.1.5.60 Overlapping Periods