Welfare payments to families, pensioners, single parents and carers will be dramatically cut if the recipient chooses to spend more than six weeks on their overseas travel according to a Herald Sun report.

According to the report, the cut comes as part of a Federal Budget crackdown. Family Tax Benefit A & B and the disability support pension are among those being forced to deliver a surplus and are faced with these cuts.
The government is set to reap tens of millions of dollars due to these new rules, which will come into effect on January 1, 2013.
Families – who choose to travel overseas for more than six weeks – will have their benefits reduced to the base rate of $52.64 a fortnight, and can stand to lose up to $160 a fortnight.

Those exempt from this will be age pensions, as the government has decided that they’ve paid their taxes and deserve the reward of travel. Also many aged pensioners born overseas, like to revisit their home country. But they do stand to lose their mobility, telephone and utilities allowances as they are not at home. People with severe and permanent disability will also be exempt.

The seniors supplement for Commonwealth seniors health card holders will also be cut.
As it stands, the 13-week restriction on overseas travel has been judged excessive and six weeks will be set as enough time for people to be overseas and still receive welfare.