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.

10.4.100 Italian glossary

Introduction

This section contains definitions of terms applicable to the Agreement with Italy.

Benefit

Benefit, for Australia, means a pension, benefit or allowance payable under Australian social security legislation as specified in Article 2 of the Agreement. This includes Age and, in some cases, DSP, PPS, CP and DOP (see definitions below). It also includes any additional amount or increase that is payable to a person who qualifies for that increase, including pension supplement and RA for people in Australia. Any additional amounts are subject to the portability restrictions under the SSAct for people outside Australia.

Note: Although listed as Australian benefits covered in Article 2 of the Agreement, from 20 March 2020, WP, WidB and BVA ceased. Recipients of these payments were transferred to another payment, such as Age, where eligible.

Benefit, for Italy, means a pension, benefit or allowance payable under Italian legislation as specified in Article 2 of the Agreement.

Note: Under the original Agreement, women could only count periods until age 60 when totalising for Italian benefits. This restriction is not included in the current Agreement.

More information on benefits under Italian Law is available from the Italian National Social Security Institute.

Carer payment

Under the original Agreement with Italy, CP was limited to legal husbands caring for severely handicapped wives. Under the current Agreement, from 1 October 2000, CP is payable to the partner of a person who is in receipt of DSP for the severely disabled or Age.

Disability support pension

When the original Agreement was negotiated, DSP was known as 'invalid pension'. The original Agreement covered DSP for both the severely disabled and the non-severely disabled. New grants of DSP under the current agreement are limited to individuals who are severely disabled (non-severely disabled recipients granted under the original Agreement were grandfathered and remain eligible).

Double orphan pension

Under the Agreement, DOP can be paid to someone in Italy who has the custody care and control of a young person whose last surviving parent died while the young person was an Australian resident. However, in order to be paid DOP outside Australia, both the young person and the person claiming DOP must be residents of Italy.

Note: The person claiming DOP does not need to have been an Australian resident.

Parenting payment (single)

Under the Agreement PPS is limited to legal (de jure) widows. Other categories of lone parents (single parents, males etc.) are not covered under this Agreement.

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