Termination of the Social Security Agreement with the UK - Information for UK migrants in Australia
Australia has terminated the Agreement because the UK Government refuses to change its policy of not indexing pensions in Australia, even though it does index pensions paid in some other countries with which it has Agreements.
The Australian Government has made considerable efforts over the last decade to get the UK to re-negotiate the Agreement to address the indexation problem but the UK has refused all our efforts.
WHEN DID THE AGREEMENT TERMINATE?
The Agreement terminated from 1 March 2001.
HOW WILL TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT AFFECT UK MIGRANTS IN AUSTRALIA?
Up until the Agreement terminated migrants from the UK continued to be granted payments under the Agreement. Those payments will continue as long as the person remains qualified to receive that payment.
As of 1 March 2001 migrants from the UK who are of Age Pension age will no longer have immediate access to Australia Age Pension unless they migrated to Australia on or before 1 March 2000 (the date formal notification of termination was served on the UK Government).
People who migrated to Australia from the UK on or before 1 March 2000 are protected from the effects of the termination and continue to have early access to Australian Age Pension as if the Agreement were still operating.
ARE THERE ANY PAYMENTS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO MIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA AFTER 1 MARCH 2000 AND REACH AGE PENSION AGE AFTER THE AGREEMENT TERMINATED (1 MARCH 2001) BUT WHO DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED QUALIFYING RESIDENCE TO GET AN AGE PENSION?
Special Benefit
Special Benefit may be available to migrants in Australia who are in financial difficulty and:
Other social security payments may be available to migrants who are not of Age Pension age, but again only after they have resided in Australia for two years.
If a migrant receives Special Benefit, or certain other payments, while covered by an Assurance of Support, the amount paid will become a debt, regardless of the circumstances that caused the migrant to qualify for Special Benefit.
WILL I CONTINUE TO GET MY PENSION FROM THE UK NOW THAT THE AGREEMENT HAS TERMINATED?
The UK should continue to pay its pensions into Australia as these payments are made under UK domestic law and not the Agreement. Should you have any concerns about this you should contact the UK Department of Social Security. Their website address is www.dss.gov.uk.
IF I MIGRATE TO THE UK WILL I BE ABLE TO GET AN AUSTRALIAN PENSION?
Australia will continue to pay its Age Pensions to pensioners going to the UK under it's general portability laws. However, Australia will not grant pensions to people residing in the UK (nor did it prior to the Agreement terminating).
Pensioners planning to travel to the UK (and other overseas countries) should advise their nearest Centrelink office.