9 Oct 2021

Commissioner pleased seniors can access pensions in Australia

5:48 pm on 9 October 2021

The Retirement Commissioner is welcoming news the superannuitants stuck on the other side of the Tasman can now apply to have their payments continue.

Close up hands of senior elderly woman patient suffering from pakinson's desease symptom. Mental health and elderly care concept

File photo. Photo: 123RF

Some retirees who flew to Australia when the travel bubble was in place found themselves stuck there, with not enough spots in managed isolation to return home.

It's resulted in their superannuation payments being cut, due to a rule they can't receive them for longer than seven months while overseas.

The Commissioner, Jane Wrightson, went in to bat for them - accusing the Ministry for Social Development of showing a lack of sympathy.

She's glad the ministry has now relented and allowed those stranded in Australia to apply to keep getting their payments past their expiry.