PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEMPart GN – GeneralChapter 017 – Totalization BenefitsSubchapter 43 – Agreement With AustraliaTransmittal No. 5, 02/21/2025
Audience
Originating Component
ODEPPIN
Effective Date
Upon Receipt
Background
On December 20, 2019, the Australian Government Department of Social Services made changes to the Australian Proof of Life arrangements. The change requires recipients of the Australian Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, and Carer Payment, who are aged 80 and over and who have been residing out of the country for at least two years, to complete a Proof of Life Certificate every two years to continue to receive their pension.
Summary of Changes
GN 01743.020 Australian Social Security Benefits – Eligibility Requirements
Subsection B , We changed the title from Benefits for workers to Eligibility for workers.
Subsection C, We changed the title from Benefits for dependents of retired or disabled workers to Eligibility for dependents of retired or disabled workers.
Subsection E, We moved the information to a new subsection F.
Subsection E, we included new policy related to the requirements for recipients who are age 80 and over.
Australia's social security program pays flat-rate retirement, survivors, and disability benefits to qualified individuals. Persons must meet income and assets tests to qualify. Australia generally considers the income and assets of both members of a couple who are married or in a registered or de facto relationship.
To qualify for Australia's Age Pension, a person must:
be at least age 66 years and six months (increased to age 67 on July 1, 2023); and
have at least 10 years residence in Australia between age 16 and minimum retirement age, including a continuous period of at least five years (some exceptions apply).
To qualify for Australia's Disability Support Pension, a person must:
be between age 16 and the minimum retirement age;
be permanently blind or have a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric impairment;
be unable to work or be unable to retrained for work at least 15 hours per week within two years due to the impairment; and
be an Australian resident for at least 10 years, including a continuous period of five years; there is no minimum residence requirement if the disability occurs while the person is a permanent resident of Australia (some exceptions apply).
There is no provision for married spouses.
A parenting payment can be paid to a divorced spouse who is caring for at least one dependent child under age eight. There is no minimum residence requirement if the couple was residing in Australia on the date of divorce. Otherwise, the couple must have been residents of Australia for at least two years.
There is no specific benefit for children. However, a supplement to the retirement or disability benefit may be payable if there are dependent children.
A “carer” payment is an income support payment for a person who provides constant care to a retirement or disability beneficiary.
A parenting payment is payable to a surviving spouse, including a divorced surviving spouse, who is caring for a dependent child of the deceased under age eight. There is no minimum residence requirement if the couple was residing in Australia on the date of death. Otherwise, the surviving spouse must have been a resident of Australia at the time of death and have resided in Australia for at least two years.
There is no specific benefit for children. However, a supplement is payable to a person receiving a parenting payment for dependent children.
Prior to March 20, 2020, a bereavement allowance equal to the retirement benefits rate for a single person was payable for 14 weeks to a surviving partner not otherwise entitled to a pension. As of March 20, 2020, a one-time bereavement payment equal to 14 times the difference between a single and couples pension is payable to the surviving partner of a pensioner couple.
Effective December 20, 2019, recipients of the Australian Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, and Carer Payment, who are aged 80 years and over and have been residing overseas for at least two years, must complete a Proof of Life Certificate every two years to continue to receive their pension. This Proof of Life Certificate must by certified by an authorized certifier. Under Australian law, officials of an overseas pension agency (including the Competent Institutions and Liaison Agencies under the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America on Social Security ), a local or regional government authority, doctors, lawyers, police officers, notaries public, and Australian consular officials are allowed to certify a proof of life certificate.
Additional information about the Australian Proof of Life Certificate can be found on the Services Australia website at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/proof-life-compliance-reviews-if-youre-older-80-and-live-overseas.
SSA cannot give official information about Australian benefits. Refer all inquiries about Australian benefits to:
Individuals who live in the United States can call Centrelink toll free at 1-866-343-3086. Centrelink can also be contacted by e-mail at international.services@centrelink.gov.au.