We understand that veterans on the pension who travel overseas for short periods often continue to have everyday living costs in Australia, like energy, phone and internet bills.
So we're pleased to report that the time a pensioner can travel overseas before their Pension Supplement is affected has doubled from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
What does this mean?
These changes increase support and give greater flexibility to pensioners who travel overseas for short periods. After 12 weeks temporarily overseas, the Pension Supplement will cease.
What is the Pension Supplement?
The Pension Supplement is an extra payment added to the base pension.
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DVA pays it with the Service Pension, DVA-administered Social Security Age Pension, Income Support Supplement and Veteran Payment.
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Services Australia pays it with eligible Centrelink pensions, including the Age Pension.
What do I need to do?
If Services Australia pays your pension, update your overseas travel details through your Centrelink online account linked to myGov, or contact Services Australia. For more information go to: When and how to tell us about overseas travel if you get Age Pension
If DVA pays your pension, notify DVA through MyService or call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372). For more information go to: Travelling or living overseas
To notify DVA through MyService, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to MyService. If you do not already have an account, follow step-by-step instructions at: How to set up a MyService account.
2. On the MyService homepage, go to Report changes and select Notify of overseas travel.
3. Select Add travel.
4. Answer whether you are moving overseas permanently. If you are moving permanently, follow the prompts to update your residential address. If you are not moving permanently, enter your departure and expected return details.
5. Review the information you have entered, then select Submit.
6. Your reported travel will appear under Reported travel. You can edit the details if your plans change or delete the trip if it is cancelled.