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.

10.25.5.20 Totalising to Qualify for a Finnish Benefit - Agreement with Finland

Totalising for a Finnish benefit

No totalisation of Australian working life residence is included in the Agreement for qualification for Finnish National Pensions.

Article 15, paragraph 2 of the Agreement states that a Finnish national or Australian citizen residing in Australia only needs 3 years residence in Finland after the age of 16 (which cannot be totalised), to claim a Finnish National Pension under the Agreement.

Article 15, paragraph 3 of the Agreement states Finnish National Pension is portable from Finland to Australia, under the Agreement, as long as the person is a Finnish or Australian citizen and has at least 3 years residence in Finland after the age of 16 (which cannot be totalised).

Article 16 of the Agreement covers totalisation in order to qualify for a Finnish Earnings-Related Pension. There is normally no minimum earnings period required to qualify for a Finnish Earnings-Related Pension.

However, if entitlement to a Finnish Earnings-Related Pension requires a person to have completed certain periods of insurance (e.g. 5 years worth of employment during the past 15 years for a Finnish Earnings-Related Unemployment Pension), periods of employment in Australia can be added to the Finnish periods of insurance to meet the requirement.

Act reference: SS(IntAgree)Act Schedule 24 Republic of Finland

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