Tougher residency requirements now apply for pensioners starting from July 1, 2018 saving the Federal Government $119 million per year.
Residents will need to have lived in Australia for 15 years, or 10 years if they can prove they have worked for at least five years or not received income support for five years or more.
Exemptions currently in place to the residence requirements for the pension and disability support pension will stay the same.