Travelling overseas while receiving a Work and Income benefit

If you receive a benefit, you must let Work and Income know of your travel plans and your reasons for travel before departing New Zealand. Partners travelling must also inform Work and Income. 

Work and Income will automatically stop payments from the day after you leave New Zealand (an exception being those on New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension), unless you have informed Work and Income before you go and they have agreed payments can continue. 

You can tell Work and Income about your overseas travel:

• online by using ‘My Account – Going overseas’
• in New Zealand, through calling 0800 559 009
• from overseas, through calling +64 9 913 0300, or
• at one of the Work and Income offices  

For more information on travelling while receiving a benefit, visit the Work and Income website and read the Are You Travelling Overseas? information. This provides detail on what type of travel is acceptable on what benefits.  

If you are planning to move overseas permanently, please read the Are You Moving Overseas? information.