International social security agreements

What an agreement can do

Agreements may let a person lodge a pension claim across borders and, where the agreement permits, combine Australian residence with foreign contribution or insurance periods to help meet minimum qualification rules.

Shared responsibility

Modern Australian agreements generally use a shared-responsibility model: each country pays a benefit reflecting the person’s connection with that country’s social security system.

Payment-specific coverage

A country agreement may cover Age Pension, disability, survivor or other categories but not every payment in either country. Country pages therefore separate 'benefit exists' from 'agreement covers benefit'.

Portability and claim location

Where a person lives when they claim, how long they have lived or worked in each country, and whether they remain overseas can change the analysis.

Australian working life residence (AWLR)

For most agreement pensions paid outside Australia, the rate can use Australian working life residence up to 420 months (35 years). AWLR means Australian residence between age 16 and Age Pension age; it does not mean the person had to be working or paying tax. Use the Compass AWLR calculator for an estimate, then verify the applicable agreement and DSS/Services Australia guidance.

Seconded workers

Some agreements also coordinate compulsory superannuation or equivalent contributions for temporarily posted workers. The ATO certificate-of-coverage process is relevant to contribution coverage, not Centrelink pension entitlement.

Sources and further reading