Question 1

On permanently moving to Australia while receiving NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, apply for the Australian Age Pension (AAP) within 26 weeks of leaving New Zealand, and separately apply to keep your NZ payment within 12 months of applying for the AAP: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date of leaving New Zealand, for the AAP application deadline; the date of applying for the AAP, for the continuation application deadline. AAP application: within 26 weeks of leaving NZ. Continuation application: within 12 months of applying for the AAP (or within 26 weeks of leaving NZ if already receiving AAP) If you don't apply for these payments within the required timeframes, you'll need to pay back any payments you received after you left NZ. You'll need to pay back the 26 weeks of NZ payment you received after you left NZ.

Question 2

Work and Income states that a person can apply to keep getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension while overseas if, among other criteria, they are ordinarily resident in New Zealand when they apply and intend to travel overseas for more than 26 weeks.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date the person leaves New Zealand. At least 6 weeks before you leave New Zealand. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 3

Inland Revenue holds unclaimed money for only 20 years; after that it is removed from the register and the money can never be claimed again.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. 20 years from the date Inland Revenue receives the unclaimed money. The money is removed from the unclaimed money list and no further claims can be made.

Question 4

Build up the New Zealand residence years NZ Super requires before turning 65, knowing the requirement is rising from 10 to 20 years by birth cohort, with anyone born on or after 1 July 1977 needing 20 years.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The page does not state an explicit start date for counting the residence years on this page beyond the birth-date cohort table itself. 20 years of NZ residence required, for anyone born on or after 1 July 1977, by the time they apply / turn 65. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 5

NZ Super is not backdated to your 65th birthday.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. On or before your 65th birthday; applications can be lodged from 12 weeks before turning 65. You will be paid from the date you apply rather than from your 65th birthday.

Question 6

To keep NZ Super or Veteran's Pension while going overseas for more than 26 weeks or moving abroad permanently, you must apply at least six weeks before you leave New Zealand.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. At least 6 weeks before the date you leave New Zealand. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 7

An organisation holding your unclaimed New Zealand money must pass it to Inland Revenue every quarter, so the money leaves the institution you last dealt with and must afterwards be traced through Inland Revenue instead.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. Each quarter. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 8

If you were automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver when you started a New Zealand job, the only window to opt out is between day 14 and day 56 after starting; miss it and you remain a member with contributions deducted.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. Between the end of week 2 and week 8 of starting work - on or after day 14 and on or before day 56; late opt-outs may be accepted after 8 weeks and up to 3 months in limited circumstances. You will stay in KiwiSaver and your employer will continue to deduct contributions from your pay.

Question 9

After a Benefits Review Committee decision, an appeal to the Social Security Appeal Authority must be made in writing within 60 working days of receiving the letter and the Committee's report.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. Within 60 working days (approximately 12 weeks) of receiving the letter and Committee's report. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 10

To challenge a Work and Income decision about your pension you must apply for a review of decision within three months of the decision being made.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. Within 3 months of the decision being made. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 11

Inland Revenue states that after a person has been living overseas, other than Australia, for 1 year, they can take out most of the savings from their KiwiSaver account, specifically their own contributions, their employer's contributions, the $1,000 kickstart if they got it, fee subsidies if they got these, and interest earned, but states that they cannot take out the government contributions.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date the person began living overseas. After living overseas (other than Australia) for 1 year, most savings become withdrawable, but the government contributions remain non-withdrawable; moving permanently to Australia instead allows the KiwiSaver savings to be transferred to an Australian superannuation scheme. You cannot take out the government contributions.

Question 12

Work and Income states that if a person on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension is delayed and returns to New Zealand after 26 weeks, their payments will stop after the 26th week.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date the person leaves New Zealand on the overseas trip. Return within 27 to 30 weeks: no repayment required. Return after 30 weeks: repayment may be required. You may need to pay it back.

Question 13

Work and Income states that the amount a person gets while overseas depends on the number of months they lived in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65, this total being 45 years, or 540 months.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

Months of residence in New Zealand counted between the person's 20th and 65th birthdays. Payment is calculated as (months lived in NZ between ages 20 and 65) divided by 540, multiplied by the full single or couple rate. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 14

You cannot withdraw your KiwiSaver savings immediately on leaving New Zealand: you must have been living overseas (anywhere other than Australia) for a full year first, and the government contributions can never be withdrawn at all.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. After 1 year of living overseas (not Australia) Before the 1 year has passed you cannot take the savings out; and in any case "You cannot take out the government contributions."

Question 15

The New Zealand residence requirement for NZ Super is stepping up from 10 years to 20 years on a fixed birth-date schedule for everyone turning 65 from 1 July 2024 onwards - so a former New Zealand worker who qualified under the old 10-year rule may no longer qualify at all.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. Applies to people turning 65 from 1 July 2024; requirement rises by birth date from 10 years (born on or before 30 June 1959) in steps to 20 years (born on or after 1 July 1977) the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

New Zealand pension deadlines for people who left

On permanently moving to Australia while receiving NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, apply for the Australian Age Pension (AAP) within 26 weeks of leaving New Zealand, and separately apply to keep your NZ payment within 12 months of applying for the AAP

Work and Income states that a person can apply to keep getting NZ Super or Veteran's Pension while overseas if, among other criteria, they are ordinarily resident in New Zealand when they apply and intend to travel overseas for more than 26 weeks.

Inland Revenue holds unclaimed money for only 20 years; after that it is removed from the register and the money can never be claimed again.

Build up the New Zealand residence years NZ Super requires before turning 65, knowing the requirement is rising from 10 to 20 years by birth cohort, with anyone born on or after 1 July 1977 needing 20 years.

NZ Super is not backdated to your 65th birthday.

To keep NZ Super or Veteran's Pension while going overseas for more than 26 weeks or moving abroad permanently, you must apply at least six weeks before you leave New Zealand.

An organisation holding your unclaimed New Zealand money must pass it to Inland Revenue every quarter, so the money leaves the institution you last dealt with and must afterwards be traced through Inland Revenue instead.

If you were automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver when you started a New Zealand job, the only window to opt out is between day 14 and day 56 after starting; miss it and you remain a member with contributions deducted.

After a Benefits Review Committee decision, an appeal to the Social Security Appeal Authority must be made in writing within 60 working days of receiving the letter and the Committee's report.

To challenge a Work and Income decision about your pension you must apply for a review of decision within three months of the decision being made.

Work and Income states that if a person on NZ Super or Veteran's Pension is delayed and returns to New Zealand after 26 weeks, their payments will stop after the 26th week.

Work and Income states that the amount a person gets while overseas depends on the number of months they lived in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65, this total being 45 years, or 540 months.

You cannot withdraw your KiwiSaver savings immediately on leaving New Zealand: you must have been living overseas (anywhere other than Australia) for a full year first, and the government contributions can never be withdrawn at all.

The New Zealand residence requirement for NZ Super is stepping up from 10 years to 20 years on a fixed birth-date schedule for everyone turning 65 from 1 July 2024 onwards - so a former New Zealand worker who qualified under the old 10-year rule may no longer qualify at all.