Travelling overseas for 26 weeks or less

If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension and plan to go overseas for 26 weeks or less, your payments may continue while you're away. If you're delayed and return to NZ after 26 weeks, we may still be able to help.

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

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.

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 the other 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.

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.

Find your nearest service centre
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).

If your delay is unexpected, you can apply to keep your payment going while you're overseas. This is to help you when your payment stops after 26 weeks.

You should apply before the 26 week period finishes. If you apply after the 26 weeks, you may miss out on some payments.

Criteria you have to meet

You must have been intending to return within 26 weeks but had a delay which was unexpected and beyond your control.

Unexpected delays could include:

  • aircraft breakdowns
  • bereavement
  • sudden illness/injury to you, your partner or relatives.

How to apply to keep your payments going

Email us as soon as you can. You should do this before the 26 week period finishes. If you apply after the 26 weeks, you may miss out on some payments.

We'll email you an application form. Complete the form and email it back to us. You may also need to provide proof of what caused your unexpected delay. 

If your application's approved, we'll email you to let you know:

  • how much you'll get (the amount could change, it depends on your situation), and
  • when you'll be paid.

When you arrive back in New Zealand

You need to email us or call us and tell us:

  • the date you arrived back 
  • your living situation, eg, whether you're living alone or with someone else
  • if you're returning to New Zealand permanently or not
  • your bank account number (if it's changed since you've been away).

You'll also need to provide proof of the date you arrived back in New Zealand, eg your boarding pass (you can scan and email this to us).

Once you've made contact with us, we'll cancel your overseas payment and start your normal NZ Super or Veteran's Pensions payment again.

Don't apply to keep payments going/don't meet criteria

If you don't apply to keep your payments going, or don't meet the criteria, you may have to pay back the 26 weeks of payments you received. It depends when you return to New Zealand.

If you return to New Zealand:

  • within 27-30 weeks, you don't need to pay it back
  • after 30 weeks, you may need to pay it back. 

You need to email us or call us as soon as you can to let us know that you'll be overseas for more than 26 weeks.

If your delay is expected, eg you choose to stay for longer than 26 weeks, you may need to pay back the full 26 weeks of payment you received. It depends when you return to New Zealand.

If you return to New Zealand:

  • within 27-30 weeks, you don't need to pay it back
  • after 30 weeks, you may need to pay it back. 

You need to email us or call us as soon as you can to let us know that you'll be overseas for more than 26 weeks.

Related

Travelling for more than 26 weeks
Winter Energy Payment

Contact

Our International Services team specialise in paying New Zealand benefits and pensions overseas. They are the best people to contact for questions about getting your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran's Pension if you want to travel or live overseas.

Contact International Services