10.20.4.20 Where People can Lodge Claims under the Agreement with Norway

Where claims can be lodged

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

• in Norway, at any NAV insurance office, or
• in Australia, at any Centrelink office.

Under Article 23(2) of the Agreement, a date on which a claim is lodged with any of the above mentioned authorities is the official date of lodgement for all purposes. This ensures that people outside Australia are not disadvantaged as a result of mailing delays.

Article 24 allows a claim for benefit under the legislation of a party to also be considered to be a claim for the 'corresponding' benefit from the other party provided that:

• the request is received by the other party within 6 months of the claim originally being lodged, and
• the applicant does not state or it is otherwise evident that the claim was made exclusively for a benefit under the legislation of the first party.