NZ Superannuation

When you'll be eligible

Find out whether you will be eligible for New Zealand Superannauation, the NZ state pension, when you retire in New Zealand - and how much it is.

The NZ state pension is known as New Zealand Superannuation or more colloquially as National Super. You will be eligible if you:

are 65 years of age or over and
are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and
have lived in New Zealand for a certain amount of time and
normally live here when you apply

You need to have lived in New Zealand for:

a total of 10 years since you turned 20 and
5 of those years have to be since you turned 50, unless you spent some of that time overseas:
- having special medical or surgical treatment or
- doing vocational training or working as a missionary or
- working with Volunteer Service Abroad or
- serving in one of the Commonwealth's armed forces or
- working on a New Zealand owned or subscribed ship trading to and from here

If you spent time overseas, you must usually have been living here before and after you were overseas. The NZ Govt Superannuation is based on 66% of the average national wage. While this may or may not be sufficient to survive on depending upon your individual circumstances, like other benefits in New Zealand it will not cover much more than this. New Zealanders who are able to save into private pension plans or use other investment strategies can expect a higher standard of living in retirement.

For more information on New Zealand Superannuation, see the government Work and Income website.

As of 1st April 2009 the amount retired people receive is as follows:

Weekly rate - after tax (assuming no other income)

Married, de facto or civil union (both partners qualify) - payment per couple - $478.38 ($24,876 annually, $12,438 each)
Married, de facto or civil union (only 1 partner qualifies) - payment per couple - $454.98 ($23,659 annually, $11,829 each)
Married, de facto or civil union (non-qualifying partner not included) - $239.19 ($12,438 annually)
Single (living with others) - $287.03 ($14,926 annually)
Single (living alone) - $310.95 ($16,169 annually)

This article was contributed by Jeremy Henderson from Broadbase International. Their UK website, www.broadbaseimmigration.co.uk, has a great range of up-to-date articles on life in New Zealand written especially for prospective migrants.

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