Under rules introduced by the territory's independent Remuneration Tribunal in April 2014, exiting members receive two weeks salary for each year served in the Assembly, capped at 12 weeks.

The rate of pay used in the resettlement allowance is calculated using the basic members' salary, about $2550 per week.

Ms Gallagher resigned as chief minister in December after serving as a member and minister for 13 years. She is expected to join the Senate on March 26, replacing outgoing Labor veteran Kate Lundy.

As her formal resignation was received by Assembly Speaker Vicki Dunne on December 23, Ms Gallagher handed back her taxpayer-funded car and became eligible for the resettlement allowance. A members' superannuation panel also considered her required super payments from the territory.

The Remuneration Tribunal moved to create the new resettlement allowance payment to assist members who resign or are not re-elected, for use in accessing financial and other counselling services.

New South Wales is the only jurisdiction not to offer outgoing politicians any severance or resettlement payouts.

Former prime ministers and state premiers are eligible for taxpayer-funded offices and other perks including drivers and travel in jurisdictions such as New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

In Victoria, state MPs are eligible for three months salary at a basic rate plus an additional three months if they have served more than one term in Parliament. Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly elected after 2005 receive 12 weeks basic salary on leaving politics.

Next year's territory election could see more ACT members receive the resettlement payout, which also goes to politicians who decide not to stand for re-election.

The tribunal considered the challenge former politicians face in trying to find employment in Canberra, including because of their known political affiliations in a city dominated by public service employment.

The tribunal's decision noted some members will become "burnt out" in public life and should not be penalised for deciding to resign or not to seek re-election.

Unlike federal and territory public servants, Assembly members do not accrue leave or long service benefits and are therefore not eligible for similar payouts when they leave politics.

In her role as chief minister, Ms Gallagher was paid $278,828 annually.

She will take up the ACT Senate seat after Legislative Assembly members vote on the casual vacancy created by Senator Lundy's resignation.

Senator Lundy's retirement from politics comes more than a year after she qualified for a lifetime pension payment of 75 per cent of her parliamentary pay, more than $146,000 per year.

MPs and senators are entitled to a pension of 50 per cent of their wage after eight years in Parliament or 75 per cent if they have served 18 years or more.

First elected in March 1996, Senator Lundy will have completed more than 19 years service when she retires.

She will join the NRMA board, replacing Alan Evans in representing the ACT and south coast region on March 31.

The former sports minister won't receive any parliamentary severance benefits such as taxpayer-funded travel because she chose the timing of her departure from politics.