Social Security Agreement between Australia and Germany: What You Need to Know
The Social Security Agreement between Australia and Germany is a bilateral agreement that aims to provide assurance to individuals who have worked in both countries that their social security rights are protected. It covers a range of social security benefits, including retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, as well as unemployment and sickness benefits.
The agreement helps to eliminate the possibility of individuals being subject to double social security contributions, as it allows for periods of insurance contributions made in either country to be used to meet the eligibility requirements for social security benefits in both countries.
Key Provisions of the Social Security Agreement
The Social Security Agreement between Australia and Germany has several key provisions that are intended to ensure that individuals who have worked in both countries are not disadvantaged by differences in social security systems. These include:
1. Eligibility for Benefits
Under the agreement, individuals who have worked in both countries and have met the eligibility requirements for social security benefits in one country can use periods of insurance contributions made in the other country to help meet the eligibility requirements for benefits in that country.
2. Payment of Benefits
The agreement provides for the payment of social security benefits to individuals who have worked in both countries, regardless of which country they reside in. This means that individuals can receive their social security benefits in the country where they are living, without having to move back to the country where they worked.
3. Portability of Benefits
The agreement also provides for the portability of social security benefits, which means that individuals who have worked in both countries can receive their benefits in a third country if they move there permanently. This provision is particularly important for individuals who move to a third country after retiring, as it ensures that they can continue to receive their social security benefits even if they are no longer living in either Australia or Germany.
4. Totalisation of Benefits
Finally, the agreement provides for the totalisation of social security benefits, which means that individuals who have not worked long enough in one country to qualify for social security benefits can use periods of insurance contributions made in the other country to help meet the eligibility requirements for benefits in that country.
Conclusion
The Social Security Agreement between Australia and Germany is an important bilateral agreement that provides assurance to individuals who have worked in both countries that their social security rights are protected. By eliminating the possibility of double social security contributions, providing for the payment, portability, and totalisation of benefits, the agreement helps to ensure that these individuals are not disadvantaged by differences in social security systems.