Effective Dates: 02/21/2025 - Present Previous | Next

TN 5 (02-25)

GN 01743.020 Australian Social Security Benefits – Eligibility Requirements

A. Benefits included in the Agreement

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.

B. Eligibility requirements for workers

1. Retirement Benefits (Age Pension)

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).

2. Disability Benefits (Disability Support Pension)

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

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    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).

C. Eligibility requirements for dependents of retired or disabled workers

1. Married Spouse

There is no provision for married spouses.

2. Divorced Spouse

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.

3. Children

There is no specific benefit for children. However, a supplement to the retirement or disability benefit may be payable if there are dependent children.

4. Care Provider

A “carer” payment is an income support payment for a person who provides constant care to a retirement or disability beneficiary.

D. Eligibility requirements for survivors of retired or disabled workers

1. Surviving Spouse

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.

2. Children

There is no specific benefit for children. However, a supplement is payable to a person receiving a parenting payment for dependent children.

3. Death Benefit

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.

E. Requirements for recipients age 80 and older

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.

F. Requests for official information

SSA cannot give official information about Australian benefits. Refer all inquiries about Australian benefits to:

Centrelink International Services
P.O. Box 7809
Canberra BC ACT 2610
AUSTRALIA

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.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0201743020
GN 01743.020 - Australian Social Security Benefits – Eligibility Requirements - 02/21/2025
Batch run: 02/21/2025
Rev:02/21/2025