10.26.4.20 Where People can Lodge Claims under the Agreement with Poland

Where claims can be lodged

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

• in Australia, at any Centrelink office, or
• in Poland, with any of the Polish Social Insurance Institutions, and
• requests on certificate of coverage matters can only be made at the ATO or any of the Social Insurance Institutions in Poland.

Under Article 19, paragraph 2 of the Agreement, the date on which a claim is lodged with either of the above-mentioned authorities is the official date of lodgement for all purposes. This ensures that people outside Australia and Poland are not disadvantaged as a result of mailing delays.

Article 19, paragraph 3 allows a claim for benefit under the legislation of a party to also be considered as a claim for the 'corresponding' benefit from the other party provided that:

• the claim, or request, is received by the other party within 6 months of the original claim being lodged, and
• the applicant stated on the original claim an affiliation with the other country.