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  1. #1
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    Australian age pension

    I have just been reading from Human resourses Australian working life residence
    tightening proportionality requirements updated 15 March 2016 and this budjet measure is subject to the passage of legislation
    I worked in Australia for 27 years and have been receiving my pension for 6 years
    according to the legislation if I am out of Australia before the 1st January 2017 and i
    do not go back in under 26 weeks will come under the 35 year rule and I will lose
    8/35ths of my pension
    Am I reading this right

  2. #2
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    ^ You may have found your answer by now elsewhere, but my understanding is that right now you will lose 8/35th once you have been away for 26 weeks. After 1 January that period will drop to 6 weeks. (But the website does say this is subject to legislation being passed, and there's a Federal election on next week...)

    https://www.humanservices.gov.au/cor...y-requirements

    There was a good Oz Aged Pension thread going last year, I'll see if I can find it again. You may find some useful info in it. And there has been a OAP thread running for eight years on that other Thai forum, if you're a member over there.

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  4. #4
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    Thanks bindog

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    I beleive that when the 35 year rule came in July 1 2014 they said that if you where overseas on that date the 25 year rule would still cover you unless you went back and stayed for 6 months +

  6. #6
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    I think the only thing you can guarantee is the Ozzy polies will change the goal posts whenever they feel like it.
    ATM I can retire at the end of January 2022.

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    Quote Originally Posted by gosmk2 View Post
    I beleive that when the 35 year rule came in July 1 2014 they said that if you where overseas on that date the 25 year rule would still cover you unless you went back and stayed for 6 months +
    Yeah, that rings a bell. But I thought it applied if you set foot back in the country? Still, if you've read it on the website that trumps what I have heard second-hand.

    On the 8-year-old thread I mentioned earlier several people talked up Centrelink's "international office" I think it is called. Based in Hobart. They are said to actually be pleasant, helpful, and know what they are talking about. So obviously don't belong at centrelink. The reverse-charges number on this page https://www.centrelink.gov.au/RateEs...low%3DCOMBINED is a Hobart number, might be them. I see also there is a Thailand toll-free number you can call.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lantern View Post
    I think the only thing you can guarantee is the Ozzy polies will change the goal posts whenever they feel like it.
    ATM I can retire at the end of January 2022.
    Remember not so long ago aged pensioners were sacred to pollies? They wanted their votes. But now that the baby boomers are starting to line up for a pension, the country suddenly says "oh shit!, how we gonna pay for that!", and aged pensioners are getting to be public enemy number 1.

    So yeah, if you don't already receive a pension and you are planning to retire overseas, I believe you should plan on never getting a pension. I suspect we won't get anything if we go offshore. (They already apply some vague 'residency' test when you first apply. If you fail the test then you cannot set foot outside Oz for two years, not if you want to receive a pension.)

  9. #9
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    Was just reading a Sydney Morning Herald "your financial questions answered" column:

    Can I get the age pension and move overseas?

    [Question:] I will retire in the next six months and would like to know how much pension I will get. I am single, own my house and have $400,000 in monetary assets. I have lived in Australia for 25 years. I believe that 35 years are required to get the full pension. I am not entitled to a pension in my country. I plan to live six months of the year overseas. I have tried to get the above information through the internet, but I have not found an informative site with a list of different scenarios, where you just tick the ones that apply to you and then get a final answer. M.C.

    [Answer:]Assuming $420,000 in savings, car, personal assets etc, you can expect a part pension of around $365 a fortnight at January rates while in Australia.

    To get an age pension, you only need to have been an Australian resident for a continuous period of at least 10 years, or for a number of periods that total more than 10 years with one of the periods being at least 5 years, unless you (i) are a refugee, (ii) were getting partner allowance, widow allowance or widow B pension immediately before turning age pension age, or (iii) are a woman whose partner died while you were both Australian residents, and have been an Australian resident for two years immediately before claiming age pension. You may also meet the residence requirements if you lived or worked in a country with which Australia has an international social security agreement.

    You are referring, in Centrelink jargon, to "age pension portability", which you can Google, and changes are afoot, scheduled for January 1, 2017.

    Currently, age pensioners (plus those getting the wife pension, widow B pension and disability support pension) continue to receive their pension payments while overseas for up to 26 weeks, that is six months. However, from January 1, this reduces to six weeks for pensioners who have lived in Australia for less than 35 years. Your payments will then be paid at a reduced rate proportional to your period of "australian working life residence".

    For example, if you lived in Australia for 25 years between the age of 16 and age pension age, you will generally receive 25/35ths of the your means-tested rate of pension.

    The changes will only apply to people whose absence starts after January 1. Those already outside Australia then, will only see future overseas travel affected. Start packing!

  10. #10
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    That's interesting.

    I thought that the 35 year rule would effect me, as I also only have 20 years after age 16 of living in OZ.

    Had been contemplating if it was worth returning for a few more years.
    Not sure that I'll really qualify with the means testing anyway.

  11. #11
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    What is it about the Australians and their penchant for keeping their shitty country a prison until you die?

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    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    ^

    The pension rules are in continuous flux, it wont be long before Pensioners receiving their pensions in Thailand may find themselves severely fuking challenged.

    Australians receiving Australian pensions in Thailand must be very worried, if made to return to Australia because of lack of funds they would be living at the rubbish tip I'm afraid.

    That's if they have burned their bridges with home and have fook all.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    ^

    The pension rules are in continuous flux, it wont be long before Pensioners receiving their pensions in Thailand may find themselves severely fuking challenged.

    Australians receiving Australian pensions in Thailand must be very worried, if made to return to Australia because of lack of funds they would be living at the rubbish tip I'm afraid.

    That's if they have burned their bridges with home and have fook all.
    I have a few friends in that situation (Aussies).

    The pay and cost of living is obviously so vastly different.

    Save, invest, Buy at least 1 house to rent out if you're going to be a long term expat.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    I learned something very important today.

    I was under the opinion that if one wants his pension sent to Thailand he must flounce back to Aussy and stay unbroken for 2 years.

    That only applies if one has not lived in Australia for 35 years of ones life.

    I'm fookin sorted because I lived there my whole life and only fooked off at age 56 after I retired.

    Still a long way to go before i will receive any free gravy though.

    Paid taxes all my life also and never once received a dole check off the tight bastards.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    I learned something very important today.

    I was under the opinion that if one wants his pension sent to Thailand he must flounce back to Aussy and stay unbroken for 2 years.

    That only applies if one has not lived in Australia for 35 years of ones life.

    I'm fookin sorted because I lived there my whole life and only fooked off at age 56 after I retired.

    Still a long way to go before i will receive any free gravy though.

    Paid taxes all my life also and never once received a dole check off the tight bastards.

    Terry, do you have a link for the info?

    .

  16. #16
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    ^^ Yes, keen to hear more. I have heard otherwise, but that was second hand.

    You have qualified? They deemed you 'resident'?

    I know you spend a chunk of time back home every year, and I take it you own property back there too. About how much time do you spend back there each year?

    That was going to be my strategy. (I'm 54 now, and will also retire at 56 all going well.) But how long do you have to be home each year to be 'resident'? It would be a bastard to spend two or three months in Oz every year for 12 years (in my case), and then be told you don't qualify / must be shackled for two years in order to qualify.

  17. #17
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    It is my understanding that to qualify as "resident" you have to spend 183 days minimum per tax year (July-June)

  18. #18
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    There is a difference between resident for tax purposes and resident for Centrelink purposes. The ATO requirement is documented - it's right there in black and white, no grey areas. The Centrelink requirement is vague, grey area stuff. If it is documented it is remarkably difficult to pin down.

  19. #19
    Molecular Mixup
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    Quote Originally Posted by terry57
    Paid taxes all my life also and never once received a dole check off the tight bastards
    mug

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by bindog View Post
    There is a difference between resident for tax purposes and resident for Centrelink purposes. The ATO requirement is documented - it's right there in black and white, no grey areas. The Centrelink requirement is vague, grey area stuff. If it is documented it is remarkably difficult to pin down.
    I just called Centrelink International Services. After enjoying the on-hold music for 15 or 20 minutes I got to speak to someone.

    Firstly, there is no defined 'residency' period. It is at the discretion of the local Centrelink officer processing your application.

    For people like us, already retired and spending time out of the country, they look at:
    - Family Ties (Some mention of ".. and with your wife being from Thailand ...")
    - Assets
    - Travel history.

    And it is the travel history that carries the most weight. The Centrelink officer couldn't give me a firm answer on how long you would have to spend in the country each year to be deemed resident - as she said, "there is no cut and dried answer". She did say six weeks would not be enough, that is just a visit, it is not classed as spending time at home.

    She also could not tell me how many years they go back to look at your travel history.

    The suggestion was that I speak to someone in the 'aged pension' section to try and get more information. I will do that some day and post what they say.

    Worst case (under the current laws) is that one would need to stay shackled to Oz for two years after getting a pension. That is what we all need to plan for IMHO if we are living in Thailand - plan to stay shackled for two years, or have enough super / investments so that you don't need their fvcking pension at all.

  21. #21
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    I went to see centrelink yesterday to get some clarification on the changes to the pension in January next year, I was told my pension will go from $320 a fortnight to $119 a fortnight WTF.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by bindog
    plan to stay shackled for two years, or have enough super / investments so that you don't need their fvcking pension at all.
    The tax benefits of Super are not available if you are a non-resident

  23. #23
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    Came back to Victoria 2 weeks ago and am over the place already, centerlink is a coin toss.
    They have few fixed rules by the sound of it, all case by case, first no way would they except, I, kids or wife are classed as residents, wife had to pay for a resident return visa as she has PR, but that doesn't count.

    All I was really after was medicare, card had expired, have a eye problem that needs monitored and treatments at times, so explain, no treatment, if needed, looking at disability or sickness benefits in the end.

    Medicare number issued and I'm off for the free test, the word free was a bit misleading.
    I need a OCT scan, not covered by medicare, $60 cost, Thailand private eye hospital $25.
    Test, eyes are good for now, but I should go to a retinal specialist, ask is it covered by medicare, payment is covered, but you have to cover the difference between what medicare pays and what the doctor charges, $200 to 300 extra.

    No chance of any other assistance until head office processes the application, which must be submitted on line.

    Crap weather, beer and cigs out of the world price wise, you can't afford to go out, only cheap stuff is pizza and rut gut wine.

    Think we will be heading back to Thailand sooner than planned, wife has got a job massive $14 an hour, wouldn't even cover rent if we stayed for any length of time.

    Bright side, rubber price is up and if the Thais don't steal all the money, we'll get about $1000 oz a week until the dormant period.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Iceman123 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by bindog
    plan to stay shackled for two years, or have enough super / investments so that you don't need their fvcking pension at all.
    The tax benefits of Super are not available if you are a non-resident
    Hmmm, now that is something to think about. Might have to pay one of those nasty leech-like financial advisors some of my hard earned.

    Getting taxed regular PAYE on my earnings hopefully would not amount to much, our super is spread across both our accounts, my wife and me. But 'no tax' is preferable to 'not much tax'.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David48atTD View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by terry57 View Post
    I learned something very important today.

    I was under the opinion that if one wants his pension sent to Thailand he must flounce back to Aussy and stay unbroken for 2 years.

    That only applies if one has not lived in Australia for 35 years of ones life.

    I'm fookin sorted because I lived there my whole life and only fooked off at age 56 after I retired.

    Still a long way to go before i will receive any free gravy though.

    Paid taxes all my life also and never once received a dole check off the tight bastards.

    Terry, do you have a link for the info?

    .
    Nope,

    I was reading the in depth thread on Australian Pensions over on Thai-Visa mail out.

    Some dude gave out that info as people where bitching about the 2 year rule.

    Dunno if its true or not but I certainly hope so.

    I'm not concerned as i have my own money but I'd be very happy to get something after a life time of paying Tax.

    I wouldn't import it to this shit house though, just let it build up in the Bank and blow it on Hi-So trips.

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