Centrelink recipients heading overseas have been reminded to loop the government in on their plans.
“There are rules covering how travelling outside Australia may affect your payment or concession card,” Centrelink said.
“These depend on the payment or concession card you get.
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“When you leave Australia, we may adjust or stop your payment or concession card based on these rules.”
Centrelink recipients are advised to check their Centrelink account regularly through myGov and to inform Centrelink of their travel plans through their account.
“If you can’t tell us online, you can tell us by calling us on the phone number that relates to your affected payment,” Centrelink said.
Before travelling out of the country, recipients must report their income on the last business day before they depart, even if their reporting day falls on, or after they leave.
Recipients should also inform the government if they are travelling overseas to see a partner while receiving payments as a single person.
“If you’re going overseas to visit your partner … we need to review your payment before you leave, otherwise we may pay you too much,” Centrelink said.
If for any reason Centrelink cannot get in touch with you while you’re outside Australia, your payment or concession card may be stopped.
“If your payment stops while you’re overseas, we usually can’t restore your payment until you return to Australia,” Centrelink said.
“While overseas, it’s important to tell us if your circumstances change just like if you were in Australia,” Centrelink said.
“This is because some changes can affect your payment or concession card.”
You do not need to tell Centrelink when you arrive home.
If you are travelling out of Australia for less than a year, your payments will continue every two weeks as usual.
However, if you will be out of the country for more than a year, your payments will be extended to every four weeks.
The monthly payments can be paid into an overseas bank account, paid in the local currency or US dollars depending on where you are travelling.
If a serious issue, such as an illness or natural disaster, impacts your ability to travel home, you may be able to extend your payments but will need to contact Centrelink International Services.