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.

7.2.2.60 Post departure reviews of portable payments

General provisions

Payments paid overseas are subject to the same review requirements as payments paid in Australia. Reviews may include:

  • income and asset reviews
  • medical reviews
  • 13 week reviews for SpB.

Reviews for JSP and YA will generally not be required while the recipient is absent overseas because they are exempt from meeting mutual obligation requirements. Where a review coincides with a short-term overseas absence, the review can be completed either before departure or postponed until the recipient returns to Australia.

Act reference: SSAct section 8(1)-'income'

Policy reference: SS Guide Part 6 Reviews, debts & payment recovery

AWLR reviews

If the recipient is still regarded as an Australian resident during the absence and has not yet reached age pension age, their AWLR will continue to accumulate during their absence.

Recipients who are overseas and receiving a proportional rate of payment based on their AWLR can request a review of the AWLR used to calculate their rate.

Reviews may result in changes to the recipient's rate if the AWLR previously used was less than 420 months. Once a recipient has 420 months AWLR, they will receive the full basic rate of means tested pension outside Australia.

Note: Recipients paid under the social security Agreement with Greece or New Zealand have a different AWLR period to receive the full basic means tested rate as specified in the respective agreement.

Act reference: SSAct section 7(1) Australian residence definitions, section 7(3) In deciding for the purposes of this Act whether or not …, section 23(5A) to (5D) Pension age

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