Pension rates payable outside Australia

We’ll pay your pension differently if you live outside Australia on a permanent or long term basis.

When we make payments

If you live or travel outside Australia long term, you’ll get a payment every 4 weeks.

October 2024 to December 2025 payments schedule

Date we’ll issue your paymentDate you’ll get your direct deposit paymentDate you’ll get your cheque paymentPeriod the payment covers
17 October 202423 October 20246 November 202419 September to 16 October 2024
14 November 202420 November 20244 December 202417 October to 13 November 2024
12 December 202418 December 20241 January 2025*14 November to 11 December 2024
9 January 202515 January 202529 January 202512 December 2024 to 8 January 2025
6 February 202512 February 202526 February 20259 January to 5 February 2025
6 March 202512 March 202526 March 20256 February to 5 March 2025
3 April 20259 April 202523 April 20256 March to 2 April 2025
1 May 20257 May 202521 May 20253 April to 30 April 2025
29 May 20254 June 202518 June 202501 May to 28 May 2025
26 June 20252 July 202516 July 202529 May to 25 June 2025
24 July 202530 July 202513 August 202526 June to 23 July 2025
21 August 202527 August 202510 September 202524 July to 20 August 2025
18 September 202524 September 20258 October 202521 August to 17 September 2025
16 October 202522 October 20255 November 202518 September to 15 October 2025
13 November 202519 November 20253 December 202516 October to 12 November 2025
11 December 202517 December 202531 December 202513 November to 10 December 2025

*Remember, if you’re paid by cheque, there may be mail delays over peak holiday periods.

Pension rates while outside Australia

This table shows the maximum basic rate and Basic Pension Supplement rate when you’re living outside Australia. Your rate may be less depending on your situation.

These figures are a guide only and are effective from 20 September 2024.

RatesA$ amount per year singleA$ amount per year couple both eligibleA$ amount per year couple one eligible partnerA$ amount per year couple separated due to ill health
Maximum basic rateA$27,224.60A$41,043.60A$20,521.80A$27,224.60
Basic Pension Supplement rateA$751.40A$1,237.60A$618.80A$751.40
TotalA$27,976.00A$42,281.20A$21,140.60A$27,976.00

Allowable income while outside Australia

This table shows your allowable income if you’re on a full or a part pension.

Pension typeA$ amount per year singleA$ amount per year combined couple both eligibleA$ amount per year combined couple one eligible partnerA$ amount per year combined couple separated due to ill health
Full pensionUp to A$5,512.00Up to A$9,672.00Up to A$9,672.00Up to A$9,672.00
Part pensionLess than A$61,464.00Less than A$94,234.40Less than A$94,234.40Less than A$121,576.00

Allowable assets while outside Australia

You and your partner can have assets up to a certain amount before your payment rate changes.

Pension typeA$ amount per year singleA$ amount per year combined couple both eligibleA$ amount per year combined couple one eligible partnerA$ amount per year combined couple separated due to ill health
Full pension - homeownerUp to A$314,000Up to A$470,000Up to A$470,000Up to A$470,000
Full pension - non-homeownerUp to A$566,000Up to A$722,000Up to A$722,000Up to A$722,000
Part pension - homeownerLess than A$672,750Less than A$1,012,500Less than A$1,012,500Less than A$1,187,500
Part pension - non-homeownerLess than A$924,750Less than A$1,264,500Less than A$1,264,500Less than A$1,439,500

Deeming rates and thresholds while outside Australia

Deeming is a set of rules used to work out the income created from your financial assets. It assumes these assets earn a set rate of income, no matter what they really earn.

Deeming rates and thresholdsA$ amount singleA$ amount per year couple both eligibleA$ amount per year couple one eligible partnerA$ amount per year couple separated due to ill health
ThresholdA$62,600A$103,800A$103,800A$103,800
Rate below threshold0.25%0.25%0.25%0.25%
Rate above threshold2.25%2.25%2.25%2.25%

How we calculate your rate of payment

We calculate the rate of payment under both the income and assets tests. We apply the test that results in the lower rate or nil rate. Some assets are deemed to earn income. There are special rules for other types of income. You can read more about income and assets for the purpose of calculating your rate of pension.

If you’re permanently blind, there’s no income or assets test.

Reduced rate

You may get a reduced rate of pension based on how long you were an Australian resident.

Transitional rate

Some customers may get a transitional rate of pension based on the pre-20 September 2009 income test rules. If you’re eligible, we’ll compare the transitional rate to the current rate.

If the current rate is the same or higher, we’ll pay you the current rate instead. You can’t go back to the transitional rate once you get the current rate of pension.

Work Bonus

The Work Bonus helps eligible customers earn more income from working without reducing their pension. Work Bonus does not apply to the transitional rate of pension or if you get Parenting Payment Single.

Read more about Work Bonus.

Disability Support Pension

If you’re younger than 21 years and don’t have any dependent children in your care, there are different rates of payment. Read more about Disability Support Pension payment rates.

How we make payments

We’ll pay you outside Australia by direct deposit. In exceptional circumstances we may pay you by cheque.

Direct deposit payments

We can put your payment straight into your bank account. This can be a bank account held in or outside Australia. Your payment will be available within 6 days of issue.

If you don’t get your payment within 10 days, contact your bank. If your bank can’t help you, call our International services line.

If we’re paying into an Australian bank account, we’ll pay you in Australian dollars.

If we’re paying into a bank account outside Australia, we’ll pay you in local currency or US dollars. This will depend on what country you’re living in.

You’ll need to complete an International bank account form for any banks outside Australia.

Foreign currency cheque payments

Cheques will be in local currency or in US dollars. This will depend on the country you’re living in.

You should get it in the post 14 to 20 days after we issue it. We use international and local mail systems to send your cheque. Delays due to the mail system are out of our control.

If you don’t get your cheque within 20 days, we can cancel it and send a new one. You’ll need to allow time for the new cheque to arrive.

If a cheque arrives after we cancel it, don’t cash it or put it into your account. If you do, your bank may charge you a fee.

Banking your cheque

When you deposit your cheque, it’ll need to clear before you can access the funds.

This could take:

  • around 2 weeks if the cheque is in local currency
  • up to 4 weeks for US dollar cheques.

In most countries we can pay pensions directly into bank accounts. We prefer this method of payment, as it is safe, quick and reliable.

How someone can deal with us on your behalf

You can nominate a person or organisation outside Australia to act on your behalf with us.

Fill in the Authorising a person or organisation to enquire or act on your behalf (outside Australia) form.

Find out more about someone to deal with us on your behalf.

Contact numbers available on this page.

Centrelink international services line

Use this line for help claiming a pension from another country.

Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm AEST (AEDT during daylight saving months)

If you live in Australia and get a foreign pension, public holidays may cause a delay in getting your payment. Please call your overseas pension authority during their opening hours for information about their payments.

There are other ways you may want to contact us.

Page last updated: 11 December 2024.
QC 29791