NZ Superannuation
What are the current NZ Super rates?
New Zealand Superannuation rates – from 1 April 2018
| Before tax (gross) | Post-tax (net) | |||
| a year | a week | a year | a week | |
| Single, living alone | $24,078.08 | $463.04 | $20,845.24 | $400.87 |
| Single, sharing | $22,128.60 | $425.55 | $19,241.56 | $370.03 |
| Married couple one qualifies | $18,239.52 | $350.76 | $16,034.72 | $308.36 |
| Married couple both qualify | $36,479.04 | $701.52 | $32,069.44 | $616.72 |
New Zealand Superannuation is paid fortnightly. The next change is due 1 April 2019.
New Zealand residents are entitled to receive NZ Super (the “old age pension”) if they satisfy all of the following conditions. They must:
- have reached pension age (currently age 65);
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
- live in New Zealand;
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since age 20;
- have lived in New Zealand for at least 5 years since age 50.
- HOW DOES NZ SUPER WORK? The NZ super benefit is linked directly to the national average wage and is reviewed each year (1 April). The current level is 66% of the net national average wage.There are no income or asset tests applied to NZ Super. However, if one partner of a couple qualifies and the other does not, both may receive the benefit, but an income test applies in respect of the benefit paid to the partner that does not qualify in their own right.
- However, entitlements to an overseas social security pension (like the UK’s Basic State Pension) but not work-related, employer-provided pensions reduce the New Zealand pension by the equivalent amount.
- The pension is taxed as income in the normal way under the PAYE system
- Residence in a country with which New Zealand has reciprocal social security arrangements (like Australia and the UK) counts as residence in New Zealand.
Posted By Alec Waugh, thanks to Super Life for the above information
Thanks Kaspanz. Our Super payments over the last two weeks are unusual. On 19 March and previously we were paid $600.30 / fortnight each, on 29 March $603.82 each and yesterday 16 April $616.72. Is there a simple explanation?
This is the period from 1 April when NZ Super increased. The increase from 600.30 to 616.72 is the full fortnight increase, the other is the part increase pre and post 1 April
Super payments were increased on 1April 2018 and first payable on 3 April. As the Easter holidays fall on 30 March, the practice is to pay in advance. Hence, your first payment increase is for the initial three days increase payable in advance on 29 March. The 16 April payment is the normal, full fortnight increment. Hope this clears up the confusion.
Does Some one living in Australia long term, and working their since 20, when they return to NZ, have to wait 5 years to get Super here… ? Or do they qualify because of arrangements ?
Always cautious re a yes/no. There is no room for a mistake or might be, so contacting NZ Work and Income with your specific details, can provide a specific answer based on your circumstances. In general the arrangements in place between NZ/Australia are favorable to you
Receiving a New Zealand benefit or pension in New Zealand
Can I receive New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension?
You may qualify for either of these in New Zealand if you have lived in Australia and/or New Zealand and:
you are 65 or over
you are in New Zealand when you apply
you intend to remain in New Zealand for at least one year or have lived in New Zealand for at least six months
you have lived in Australia for a period of at least 12 months between the ages of 20 and 65, including six continuous months
you have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20, with five years since the age of 50 (if you meet the age criteria for Australian Age Pension, you can use time spent as an Australian resident between the ages of 20 to 65 to count towards this)
you have the necessary service and disability qualifications (for Veteran’s Pension).
Absolute total right to NZ Superannuation. Which will be done via the reciprocal agreement between NZ and Australia.
As a nz resident who qualifies for NZ pension, what period of time can I be out of country in one year. ie travel etc
26 weeks.
26 weeks in a block. I’ve been told, but not confirmed by Senior Services, that technically you can arrive back and then leave again the following day for another 26 weeks ad infinitum.
Hayley asking a question
I have been a permanent resident and NZ Citizen for 18 years
Am I entitled to an NZ pension ?
Who can get it
You may qualify for NZ Super if you:
are 65 or over
either:
are a New Zealand citizen
are a permanent resident, or
hold a residence class visa
are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply
have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20
have lived in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau (or a combination of these) for at least 5 years since you turned 50.
You formally apply, and then you are advised if you qualify
I married almost 2 years ago to a man on superannuation. His other income meant i was not eligible to be added to his pension.
I will be 61yrs next month and earn less than $30,000. What should he be getting in superannuation? He lost alot when we married.
I was wondering what my rate was likely to be in 4 years?
What is the proposed increase on NZ super on the 1st April 2019?
I wonder how pensioners will be able to survive as time goes on: I see we have had a $10 per wk raise on April 1, 2019; but all food has gone up, my rent just went up $10 pw, and all other expenses have gone up in the past year…so basically, we get poorer and poorer every year…puzzling!