7.2.4 Post departure requirements for portable payments

Introduction

This section contains information on the obligations and reviews that may apply to a person while they are overseas if they are receiving a portable payment or concession card.

Notification obligations

While overseas, people are required to notify Services Australia of any change to their circumstances which may impact on their entitlements or payment rate, for example, a change in income or assets, or relationship status.

People generally have 14 days to notify a change in circumstances. Those who are overseas permanently or on a long-term basis have 28 days to notify a change in circumstances.

Reviews - general provisions

Payments paid overseas are subject to the same review requirements as payments paid in Australia.

Recipients who have review forms fall due while they are overseas must return them to Services Australia by the due date to guarantee continuity of payments.

Reviews may include:

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

Reviews for JSP, YA, PP and SpB that relate to mutual obligation requirements will generally not be required while the recipient is absent overseas.

Recipients of JSP, YA and SpB who are granted portability of their payments will be exempt from meeting mutual obligation requirements while their payment is portable. 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.

PP recipients who are scheduled to attend an interview to discuss the commencement of formal participation requirements at a time when they are expecting to be on an approved overseas trip can reschedule the interview to discuss their Job Plan to another convenient time prior to their departure, or on their return to Australia.

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.

DSP recipients who are under age pension age and are receiving a proportional rate of payment based on their AWLR while outside Australia can request a review of the AWLR used to calculate their rate.

An AWLR review may result in changes to the recipient's rate if the AWLR previously used to calculate their proportional rate 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 some social security agreements have a different AWLR period to receive the full basic means tested rate as specified in the respective agreement. This includes the agreements with Greece, New Zealand, India and Serbia.

Proof of life reviews

Recipients of age pension, DSP or CP who have been out of Australia for at least 2 years and are over 80 years of age must complete a proof of life certificate every 2 years to continue to receive their payment overseas.