The Social Security (Australia) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992

Part VIII Transitional and Final Provisions

ARTICLE 24 Transitional Provisions

(1) No provision of this Agreement shall confer any right to receive any payment of a benefit for a period before the date of the entry into force of this Agreement.

(2) Any contribution which a person has paid or earnings or contributions credited under the legislation of the United Kingdom before the date of the entry into force of this Agreement, and any period during which a person was resident in Australia before that date, shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining the right to receive a benefit in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement under the legislation of Australia and under the legislation of the United Kingdom respectively.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where, on the date on which this Agreement enters into force, a person:

(a) is in receipt of a benefit under the legislation of either Party by virtue of the former Agreement; or

(b) is qualified to receive a benefit referred to in sub-paragraph (a) and, where a claim for that benefit is required, has claimed that benefit,

no provision of this Agreement shall affect the entitlement to receive that benefit.

(4) The rate of a benefit which is payable by virtue of paragraph (3) shall, subject to this Agreement, be assessed in accordance with the provisions of the legislation of the relevant Party.

ARTICLE 25 Entry Into Force

(1) The Agreement shall enter into force on a date to be specified in Notes exchanged by the Parties through the Diplomatic Channel notifying each other that all matters as are necessary to give effect to this Agreement have been finalised.

(2) Subject to the provisions of Article 24, the former Agreement shall terminate on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 26 Termination Provisions

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), this Agreement shall remain in force until the expiration of twelve months from the date on which either Party receives from the other written notice through the diplomatic channel of the intention of the other Party to terminate this Agreement.

(2) In the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with paragraph (1), the Agreement shall continue to have effect in relation to all persons who by virtue of this Agreement:

(a) at the date of termination, are in receipt of benefits; or

(b) prior to the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph, have lodged claims for, and would be entitled to receive, benefits.