Εβδομάδα Είναι … Και Κυλάει

Melbourne,  13.08.2008

The Social Security Agreement between Australia and Greece (signed on May 23, 2007) will come into force on October 1, 2008, Australia’s Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin reiterated.

A total of 50,000 people will benefit from the agreement (37,000 Australians of Greek origin and 13,000 former residents of Australia who now live in Greece).

Australia and Greece will contribute fairly to the support of people who have spent part of their adult lives working in Greece or living in Australia. The Agreement covers Australian and Greek Age Pensions and people will be able to move between Australia and Greece knowing that their pension rights are recognised in both countries.

Once the Agreement starts, former residents of Australia living in Greece may be able to claim an Australian Age Pension and use periods of insurance in Greece to be counted towards meeting the minimum residence requirements. Similarly, Australian residents with periods of insurance in Greece may be able to qualify and claim for a Greek old age pension by taking into account periods of Australian residence.

The Agreement also includes provisions covering Australia’s Superannuation Guarantee scheme, similar to those included in Australia’s agreements with Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and the USA. These provisions will eliminate the need for compulsory contributions having to be made into both countries’ systems for seconded workers. The Australian Tax Office will administer these provisions and any enquiries about this should be directed to the ATO on 13 1020.

For more information, those interested can visit the ministry’s website to get answers to most frequently asked questions or visit Centrelink welfare agency offices across Australia.

Some of the key points of the agreement that covers only Age Pensions are:

• Residents of Australia who will return to Greece after the agreement enters into force will receive age pension based on their working life residence in Australia over a denominator of 25 years.
• Former residents of Australia who have retuned or will return to Greece before the agreement enters into force will receive age pension based on their working life residence in Australia over a denominator of 44 years.
• Entitled to pension in Greece are individuals who have minimum qualifying insurance period of one year.
• The pensioner and his/her family members will have full healthcare in Greece.
• If the pensioner receives age pension only from the Australian system he/she will have healthcare in Greece by paying a contribution corresponding to 8.5 percent of the pension received.
• Those entitled for age pension from the Australian system will submit their applications in Greece not having to travel to Australia for this purpose.
• The rights of age pension recipients from the Australian system are being guaranteed.
• Payment of pensions from Australia will not depend on pension rights in Greece.
• The Australian side will calculate the pension amount without taking under consideration EKAS payments, OGA pensions and certain large family benefits.

(Source: ANA MPA)