How long they need to have been a resident
To claim this payment your partner must have been an Australian resident for at least 10 years in total. For at least 5 of these years, there must have been no break in their residence.
You must also be an Australian resident and in Australia on the day you claim.
How else you may meet the rules
In some situations, you can get this payment if your partner was an Australian resident for less than 10 years.
If your partner was a refugee or former refugee
You may be able to get this payment if your partner was a refugee or former refugee.
If your partner got another payment
You may be able to get this payment if your partner reached Age Pension age.
They must also have been getting 1 of the following:
- Mature Age Allowance
- Partner Allowance
- Widow Allowance
- Widow B Pension.
Mature Age Allowance payments stopped in 2008.
Widow B Pension payments stopped in 2020.
Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance stopped in 2022.
You are a woman whose partner died
You both had to be Australian residents when your partner died. Your partner also needed to be an Australian resident for the 2 years before their death.