I have become a New Zealand citizen in 1998...and lived and studied and worked part time until 2006...since then I am

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Customer: I have become a New Zealand citizen in 1998...and lived and studied and worked part time until 2006...since then I am overseas in my country of birth...in June 2022 I plan to return to New Zealand at my age of 71+...I would like to know if I can qualify or claim a "non contributory old age pension" during the remaining few years I will live over there...?
JA: Have you talked to a New Zealand lawyer about this?
Customer: Not really
JA: What steps have you taken so far?
Customer: I have my New Zealand passport updated and extended until 2029....I have called Work & Income IR Dep...and there was mentioned a Hardship fund for which to make application on my arrival...I think after my arrival to New Zealand and staying at least 3-4 months in New Zealand.. I will be allowed to make an application for qualifying to "Super Annuation"...?
JA: Is there anything else the Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured that they'll be able to help you.
Customer: As I have studied and worked on postgraduate engineering research in New Zealand Universities...I have accumulated some good student loan which I did not have a chance to pay back as I have not been working since 2006...and surely will this affectc any old age pension payment by deductions...???

Answered by Chris The Lawyer in 36 mins 5 months ago

Chris The Lawyer

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Chris The Lawyer

41066 Satisfied customers

10+ years of experience

Chris The Lawyer

10+ years of experience

41066 Satisfied customers

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Chris The Lawyer, Expert

Hi My name is ***** ***** I am a New Zealand lawyer based in Wellington with more than 42 years of experience. I am here to help with your questions.

Chris The Lawyer, Expert

Your situation is complex, but you will not be eligible for superannuation because you have not lived in New Zealand long enough. The test is you must have

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 may qualify for a WINZ benefit as a New Zealand citizen and apply for Jobseeker support although does have an obligation to look for work, which at your age may not be realistic.

Your student loan will however need to be negotiated with inland Revenue, and if your income is minimal, they would require minimum payments. Ig you have not been paying the loan, there will be penalties and interest as well

Customer

Thks for your interest and advice. I do have a NZ customs check report ...I have arrived to Auckland in 1995 (age 45)July and returned to my home country Turkey in April 2006(56)...in the mean time I have been living and traveling in Europe for periods up to 6 months or so...my estimated stay in New Zealand is less than 10 years and ~6 -8 months less than 5 years above 50....(total ~ 9 years)...I plan to live and complete this period after my arrival to New Zealand in 2022...is that feasible?

Customer

I prefer to take advice just by chatting instead a phone call...

Chris The Lawyer, Expert

Don’t worry about the phone call

The rules about qualifying for superannuation Are applied quite strictly. You can certainly ask WINZ but you are most likely to only qualify for a benefit rather than superannuation, and you may not even get a benefit until you have been here for a period of time.

Chris The Lawyer, Expert

I hope this has been useful, and feel free to answer new questions

Customer

Dear *****,
Thank you very much again for your concern and useful info including your own comments and advice.I would like to point out I have requested and acquired a formal record of my international travel movements as held by New Zealnd Customs...accordingly I can roughly estimate that... I can fulfill the requirements to qualify for Superannuation , that isa) min 10 years of residence and b) 5 years above 50...if I return to NZ April 2022 and start living until December...

Customer

I would like to know your comments and/or advice whether fulfilling these 2 x conditions would be satisfactory in my circumstances of age and my other obligations ...that is repayment of my student loan with interest and penalties etc...?

Customer

Please also note that I have experienced some very unfortunate traumatic events during my PhD research ..in Chemical Engineering.Dep ..with a resulting "mental breakdown"...that is why I could not achieve my degree otherwise I would surely find a R&D employment with a good income to pay back the stident loan in due time...

Customer

Chemical Engineering Department at Canterbury University Christchurch...

Customer

I have also made my best efforts to continue and achieve this unfinished postgrad degree while overseas at various Unis.. incl TU Dortmund in Germany ..without however a final outcome as yet...

Chris The Lawyer, Expert

You should apply for the pension using that material. There is no discretion based on personal circumstances however. Your eligibility is based on the time in New Zealand

Customer

Thank you for your concern and info...

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