Travelling overseas for 26 weeks or less

There are different rules if you get NZ Super or Veterans Pension and you're planning to:

• travel overseas for more than 26 weeks, or
• live overseas

There are also different rules if you're going overseas while on a benefit

When your payments will continue

Your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments will continue as long as you meet the following criteria:

• you intend to travel overseas for less than 26 weeks
• you intend to live primarily in New Zealand, and
• you consider New Zealand to be your home.

You may not meet these criteria if you spend more time overseas than in New Zealand over the course of a year. If you're not sure, call us to discuss your situation.

If you're only getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, you don't need to tell us about your travel plans. If you're getting other payments from us as well, you will need to contact us.

Getting other payments from us

If you're getting other payments from us, you can only continue to get these payments for up to 28 days while you're overseas.

Examples of other payments are:

• Winter Energy Payment (paid from 1 May to 1 October every year)
• Accommodation Supplement
• Disability Allowance
• Temporary Additional Support.

For this to happen, you must keep meeting the criteria for that payment while you're overseas. This means your costs, e.g. accommodation or disability costs, must be continuing while you're overseas.

If you don't continue to meet the criteria, your other payment will stop when you leave New Zealand.

There are different rules around going overseas for the Winter Energy Payment.

You must tell us you're going overseas

If you're getting other payments from us, you must tell us you're going overseas before you leave New Zealand.

We need to know your travel dates and reason for travel. We'll make sure you get the right payments while you're overseas.

You can either:

• call us or
• visit a service centre.

There are different rules around when you need to tell us for the Winter Energy Payment.

How travel delays could affect your payments

If you're delayed and return to New Zealand after 26 weeks, your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payments will stop after the 26th week.

If your delay is:

• unexpected, you can apply to keep these payments going. There are certain criteria you'll need to meet. If you don't apply, or don't meet the criteria, you may have to pay back the 26 weeks of payment you received.
• expected, you won't be able to keep these payments going. You may also have to pay back the 26 weeks of payments you received.

Have a partner included in your payments

If you have a partner who's included in your NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, their payments will also stop after the 26th week. When you return to New Zealand, you will not be able to include your partner in your payments again. They will need to apply for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension themselves, once they qualify (eg, they turn 65).