7.1.1 Portability table (summary of portability rules)
Introduction
The following table shows for how long and under what conditions payments are portable and concession cards remain current.
Note: For payment recipients who are covered by an international social security agreement (1.1.A.120), see 7.1.5 and Part 10.
| Payment or card | Type of absence | Portability period | Special conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age pension | Any temporary or permanent absence | Unlimited | Payment may be proportionalised after 26 weeks’ overseas absence (7.2.2). An extension of the 26-week period can be granted in certain circumstances (7.1.4). Former Australian residents have a 24-month waiting period from the date of return to Australia before their pension is portable (7.1.6). |
| DSP (general) | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 28 days (4 weeks) in a rolling 12-month period The 28 days do not have to be consecutive days and exclude days overseas where the person was not in receipt of the DSP, had an approved temporary absence or had unlimited portability (see below). | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Former Australian residents have a 24-month waiting period from the date of return to Australia before their pension is portable (7.1.6). |
| DSP (additional approved absences) | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 4 weeks per approved temporary absence | A DSP recipient does not need to exhaust their general 28-day portability prior to seeking an approved temporary absence, nor does this period count towards the DSP recipient's general 28-day portability in a 12-month period. If required, a DSP recipient can add all or part of their general 28-day portability period to the end of their approved temporary absence without the need to return to Australia first. An extension of the approved temporary absence can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| DSP (terminal illness) | Any temporary or permanent absence | Unlimited | Severely disabled DSP recipients who are in the terminal phase of a terminal illness can be granted unlimited portability if they are departing Australia permanently to go to their country of origin, or to be with, or near, a family member (7.1.2). Terminal phase of a terminal illness means a life expectancy of less than 2 years. Payment may be proportionalised after 26 weeks’ overseas absence if the person’s CITW did not occur in Australia (7.2.2). An extension of the 26-week period can be granted in certain circumstances. |
| DSP (severely impaired and no future work capacity) | Any temporary or permanent absence | Unlimited | DSP recipients with a severe impairment (1.1.S.127) and no future work capacity can be granted unlimited portability (7.1.2). DSP recipients applying for unlimited portability under these provisions may be required to undergo an assessment of their impairment and their future work capacity in Australia prior to departure. Payment may be proportionalised after 26 weeks’ overseas absence if the person’s CITW did not occur in Australia (7.2.2). An extension of the 26-week period can be granted in certain circumstances. |
| Carer payment | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: See 3.6.4.80 Qualification for CP during overseas travel - 'Carer travels without the care receiver'. Note: A carer accompanying a DSP recipient with a terminal illness is considered to be going overseas for a temporary period and therefore may be entitled to 6 weeks’ portability. |
| Carer allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: A carer accompanying a DSP recipient with a terminal illness is considered to be going overseas for a temporary period and therefore may be entitled to 6 weeks’ portability. |
| Parenting payment | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: PP is not portable for recipients whose payment previously ceased to be payable because of portability provisions and who returned to Australia and have not stayed in the country for more than 6 weeks since the last absence. |
| Jobseeker payment | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence Note: Generally portability will only be granted for the amount of time required to deal with the crisis/issue, up to a maximum of 6 weeks. | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: A recipient has to be exempted from meeting mutual obligation requirements during the portability period. |
| YA (job seekers) | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence Note: Generally portability will only be granted for the amount of time required to deal with the crisis/issue, up to a maximum of 6 weeks. | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: A recipient has to be exempted from meeting mutual obligation requirements for the period of absence during the portability period. |
| YA (full-time students and apprentices) | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence Note: Generally portability will only be granted for the amount of time required to deal with the crisis/issue, up to a maximum of 6 weeks. | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| Austudy payment | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence Note: Generally portability will only be granted for the amount of time required to deal with the crisis/issue, up to a maximum of 6 weeks. | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| Special benefit | An approved temporary absence:
| Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence Note: Generally portability will only be granted for the amount of time required to deal with the crisis/issue, up to a maximum of 6 weeks. | Exceptions may be available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: Some temporary visas that are qualifying visas for SpB may have visa conditions that restrict travel in and out of Australia. The visa must remain valid outside Australia for portability of SpB to apply. |
| Mobility allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). Note: If MOB entitlement is linked to receipt of an income support payment (for example, DSP, JSP, YA or Austudy), portability of MOB will be limited to the portability period for the income support payment. |
Note: This payment ceased on 1 January 2022. The WA information in this table is for historical purposes only. | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | Exceptions were available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period could be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| Partner allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks per temporary absence | Exceptions were available in the following circumstances (7.1.3):
An extension of the portability period could be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| Telephone allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks | No special conditions |
| Rent assistance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 26 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, RA portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 26 weeks, whichever is lower. An extension of the portability period can be granted in certain circumstances if the person is unable to return to Australia (7.1.4). |
| Remote area allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 8 weeks absence from remote area | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, RAA portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 8 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| Pension supplement (general) | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 6 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, pension supplement portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 6 weeks, whichever is lower. For payments with unlimited portability, the pension supplement rate will reduce to basic amount only after 6 weeks temporary absence or immediate for a permanent absence (see below). |
| Pension supplement (basic amount only) | Any temporary or permanent absence if the substantive payment has unlimited portability. | Unlimited | Applies to age pension and DSP recipients with indefinite portability. |
| Incentive allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 26 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, IA portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 26 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| Pharmaceutical allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to 26 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, PhA portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 26 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| Utilities allowance | Any temporary absence | Limited | Payable on a test day during a temporary absence from Australia if the absence has not exceeded the allowed portability period for the substantive payment. |
| Energy supplement | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to to 6 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, ES portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 6 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| Pensioner concession card | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to to 6 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, the PCC portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 6 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| HCC (automatic issue) | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to to 6 weeks | Note: If the substantive payment has limited portability, the HCC portability is restricted to the portability period for the substantive payment or 6 weeks, whichever is lower. |
| HCC (non-automatic issue) | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to to 6 weeks | No special conditions |
| Commonwealth seniors health card | Any temporary absence | Limited Up to to 19 weeks | No special conditions |
Note: A person can only be paid during an overseas absence if they remain qualified for payment.
Note: The portability period for certain ancillary payments (ES, RAA and pension supplement) is specified in the relevant rate calculator for the substantive payment rather than in SSAct section 1216 and section 1217.
Act reference: SSAct section 1212D Part does not affect need for qualification, section 1216 Amounts added to rate, section 1217 Meaning of maximum portability period, allowable absence and portability period, section 1061ZUB Non‑cancellation of concession cards for temporary overseas absences