[D&J]

Hi. We are moving in 6 - 12 months and looking (once we've settled) at sponsoring hubby's parents. Anyone got any information or advice. According to the medical criteria they are OK, but they do receive a number of benefits in the UK (disability living allowance - for arthritis, state pension). If they relocated could they continue to claim these from either the UK or from NZ under the reciprocal agreement. This is a big factor in them assessing if they could afford to live if they made the move. Cheers D&J

[cathgates]

Give your local benefit office a call - they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Cath X

[JandM]

http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/recagree,0.pdf

This may help.

It says plainly that the UK retirement pension will go on being paid at the rate it was when you leave - there won't be the annual increases those staying in the UK get.

I don't know what would happen about the Disability Allowance. It looks as if the UK one wouldn't be payable. You'd need to ask someone who's up in NZ regulations if your parents would be able to claim one from NZ.

[D&J]

Thanks to you both for your speedy response any information is welcome and the link is very informative. I will sit down and have a good read through it.
Cheers.

[Croft]

From my interpretation of the NZ regulations, they should be able to claim an NZ pension. UK time counts as NZ time.

From http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/international-services/uk-agreement.pdf

Receiving New Zealand benefits or
pensions in New Zealand

Can I receive New Zealand
Superannuation?

You may qualify for New Zealand Superannuation,
if you have lived in the United Kingdom and you
meet the standard criteria for New Zealand
Superannuation. Your periods of residence in the
United Kingdom and/or contributions to the United
Kingdom National Insurance Scheme can be used
to meet the residence criteria.

[JandM]

Thanks for that link. It may have a bearing on our situation when in due course we can go over.

[Rusty]

I may have misunderstood your 1st line, but you cannot sponsor your parents until you have had PR for 3 years. There are a lot of threads about this to find out more info from a quick search.
If I am wrong then ignore this post - it's easy to do.:yes

[D&J]

Hi, no problem all information is greatful. We did know there was a time scale involved regarding being able to sponser, and they would have to come and visit first to see if they liked it having never been. One other question I have is we were issued with residence visa's in April 2006 and visited for the second time in March 2007 which kicked in our 2 year return residence visa's. Does this actually count towards the 3 years or do you have to have spent the time in the country?

[Croft]

Hi, no problem all information is greatful. We did know there was a time scale involved regarding being able to sponser, and they would have to come and visit first to see if they liked it having never been. One other question I have is we were issued with residence visa's in April 2006 and visited for the second time in March 2007 which kicked in our 2 year return residence visa's. Does this actually count towards the 3 years or do you have to have spent the time in the country?

I think that counts towards the requirement - this from http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/parent/:

(Note that your sponsor must have been a New Zealand or Australian citizen and/or the holder of a Residence Permit or a Returning Resident’s Visa for at least three years immediately before the date your completed application is received by Immigration New Zealand.)

[Rusty]

I agree, it probably starts from when you 1st visited and activated your residence permit. I think there is a part about being in the country for 184 days each year though.