Receiving Pension every 4 weeks after 12 months Overseas

[Denis-NFA]

It is my understanding that once I have been living overseas for 12 months that Centrelink International will change my pension payment schedule from fortnightly to 4 weekly for 13 payments in a year and make the payment directly into my overseas bank account.

I would appreciate if any forum member, or anyone viewing this board who is not currently a member and would join, could share their experience of this change as there are some details I will appreciate clarifying whether in the open forum or by way of private message through this forum's message system.

What I would like to know is,

1. Do they give you much notice or any notice?

2. Will they make payments to my overseas bank account in any recognized foreign currency denomination of my choice, for instance, will they pay me in US$ even though I am based in SE Asia?

3. Are the payments made at the official Reserve Bank exchange rate of the day of payment? and

4. Can I have my pension deposit split so that part is paid into an Australian bank account and the balance is deposited into my overseas bank account?

The reason I ask is to help me with my forward planning and to have the foreknowledge to best tell CL/International what I want prior to the change.

Any help will be most appreciated.

Cheers
NFA

[Banjo]

This will be new ground for me as well nofixedaddress and I'm waiting for answers myself.

1) I've heard it claimed it just happens without warning.
2) the money will go in in AUD.
3) the rate will be what your own bank gives you.
4) No

All of this is opinion based on various information picked up.
ThaiVisa.com has an Australian pensioner fixed topic if you like to try there.
(I know you're not in Thailand but the information must be the same).
You could try someone like Yahoo Answers, maybe Centrelink still answers questions there.