The Truth – What Kiwis In Australia Can Access & How

We understand the frustration for our community of kiwis living and working in Australia right now.

We have a list of steps and services listed below that you can follow.

We would like to explain that this information is true and correct. It’s important to let you know that the effect of misinformation has spread rapidly across our community to the point where we have had to shut down a couple of our large FB groups. We are opening them today and admins will be sharing this document to our community

When our community panics and jumps the gun and starts to apply for Govt assistance ‘before’ the govt has had a chance to figure out how it is all going to work the following happens

• Community members share how they were declined and there is no help – causing panic
• Community starts posting & sharing experiences where they have no help and no one cares – causing panic
• Community members start sharing hoax’s like ‘Call this number (Senator Ruston) is counting the phone calls’
• The call centres are over loaded with Kiwis that are ‘not at that time eligible’ blocking up the system causing frustration for the call centre and applicant
• The community members then have to re-apply wasting their own time again

Who can you trust with information for Kiwis in Australia?

1. Government agencies & websites
2. Air NZ & NZ Travel Agencies
3. The New Zealand High Commission Australia
4. NZRelo – we only ever produce content that is factual and cited from GOVT agencies or our commercial licensed partners

NZRelo have licensed kiwi migration agents, others do not, we work with one of the largest ‘non for profit’ Superannuation companies in Australia and have done for years

Some Facts

• If you are not an Australian citizen please understand that your Prime Minister right now is Jacinda Ardern. Whether you like her, do not like her, hate Labour or like or dislike National – now is not the time for politics
• Before accessing your Super please look into your Super’s ‘Income Protection Insurance component you most likely have built in Income Protection insurance and may be able to access it if you contact your provider
• Misinformation is rampant at the moment
• Many FB pages or ‘Kiwi community FB Pages’ have always used scaremongering as a tactic for engagement. We do not, we have only ever provided large scale solutions
• Only trust visa and migration information from registered migration agents who understand how the laws work for NZ citizens living in Australia. Some migration agents do not specialise in NZ citizenship services. Always ask first prior to engaging them.
• Are media outlets making money from this right now? Yes they have adverts inside the news articles, they use cookies to market products to you later, yes their headlines are emotive and pull on heart strings so you click on them.

Now let’s get into the nuts and bolts of what you can do, we have taken into consideration that each individual kiwi in Australia has a different situation

Some have money or savings, some have jobs some do not, some are non-protected citizens, some are not, some have kids, some can come home and others cannot. Some kiwis employers are using the stimulus packages and are covered and some have been let go or lost employment.

Non – Citizen wanting to contact Centrelink in Australia

The ministry of social development is the agency responsible for Centrelink, Centrelink is the Australian equivalent of WINZ. Changes were made yesterday.

How do I know what my Centrelink entitlements are? 

You can find out what you are entitled to outside of the Covid-19 payments by using the Payments & Services Finder.

This will give you a detailed list of all payments you are eligible to claim based on your visa status.

Should you want to talk to someone directly: The phone number to call  is 131673 Extension 2 this is for International Services based in Hobart Tasmania -They specialise in the Trans Tasman Travel Arrangements between NZ & Australia

“This agency will be the first agency to understand any new entitlements for kiwis living in Australia”

There are long wait periods, have as much information ready for them prior to calling.

Temporary early release of superannuation

The government is allowing individuals affected by the coronavirus to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019–20 and a further $10,000 in 2020–21. Individuals will not need to pay tax on amounts released and the money they withdraw will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.

From mid-April 2020, eligible individuals will be able to apply online through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020. They will also be able to access up to a further $10,000 from 1 July 2020 for approximately three months.

Source ATO: ATO My GOV

Eligibility – Read carefully

To apply for early release, you must satisfy any one or more of the following requirements:

• You are unemployed.
• You are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments), special benefit or farm household allowance.
• On or after 1 January 2020, either
  • you were made redundant
  • your working hours were reduced by 20% or more
  • if you are a sole trader, your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20% or more.

Apply here: Start Application 

What if I do not have any Super?

You should contact your Kiwisaver in NZ, you will have a provider, you need to contact them and make enquiries as to how you might access your Kiwisaver

What if I do not have KiwiSaver or Super with no savings or money?

You need to either apply some action ‘listed below’ Covid 19 could last 3 months/6 months or longer

You can start actioning the following

1.Call your debtors and negotiate smaller payments
2. Call your real-estate agent
3. Start a budget and plan to have 8 weeks rent aside 8 weeks food money aside
4. Plan the children’s needs, medicines or medical treatments nappies etc
5. Call your insurance companies and assess your options
6. Consider your options to secure some funds

Then fill this out

 You can find out what you are entitled to outside of the Covid-19 payments by using the Payments & Services Finder.

This will give you a detailed list of all payments you are eligible to claim based on your visa status.

Can I come home to NZ ? Are the borders shut?

Ordinary residents & New Zealand Citizens are able to return to New Zealand

Learn more here: NZ Border Information Covid 19 

Transferring Money

If you need to transfer money or have someone trying to send you money between NZ & Australia

We suggest using the NZRelo/OFX partnership (We do not make a profit from this partnership)

• No fees on transactions over $250 AUD
• Has dedicated customer call centre (others do not)
• Can setup automatic payments

Start here: Money Transfers No Fees 

Visa & Migration Assistance

Working out if I am a Protected or Non- Protected SCV Holder 

FAQ’s 

Book a free korero with our registered migration agent here

“Please use the wait list option if you cannot book in this week”

All up to date visa information

How to find out what date you arrived in Australia

How do I work out if I am a protected or non – protected SCV holder?

You can work this out here, or book a free korero with our kiwi migration agent. We recommend popping your name down on the waitlist if your query is urgent.

Most importantly please keep you and your whānau safe at this time. We will continue to update our community.

This information is true and correct as of March 28th 2020

 

Written by:  Mark Berger – Owner/Founder NZRelo -The Home of Kiwis In Australia