Applying for the OAP

[onemore]

As the rules state one has to be in Australia to apply for the OAP, so here I am. I went down to the local Centrelink office to ask some questions and was told that everything is online, all information and all the application process, no worries.

So what's the go here people, do I just apply online today and head back overseas on Sunday,or wait here for further contact from them?

While I am here I was also going to  apply for a returned service pension but they have scrapped all the DVA offices.

The mind boggles, luckily I know how to turn a computer on.

On a side note, whilst at the Centrelink office I just happen to notice that the attire of the rest of the clients was not what I expected to see, not much denim and that sort of gear but a lot of robes, I gotta get out of here.

[Banjo]

This was my experience in 2013.

Was cruising through C'links website today and noted that I can lodge an intent to claim the OAP 13 weeks before my birthday.

Intent to claim

To be paid Age Pension from the earliest possible date you must either lodge a claim for Age Pension in the 13 weeks prior to reaching age pension age or register an intent to claim on the day you first qualify for Age Pension.

You can register your intent to claim by email, in person at your nearest service centre or by phone.

www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/age-pension/claiming

So shot down to the nearest Centrelink and was told.... "you can't do that here, you need to ring up, it takes a while so make sure you use a land line".

So home I went and made a call, 15 minute later was told.... "you can't do that over the phone, we need to send you out a form which we will do before you turn 65".

I'd like to do it now.

"errr.... yes, you can do it when we send the form out, it shouldn't be too long now...".

[Deleted]

onemore things may have changed a bit since Banjo applied Here's the start of my experience in January this year. As for when you can go back OS, that'll all depend on whether you already had UP with your DSP I'd expect or if they say you are a returning resident and have to wait two years.

As for your DVA Pension; try to get an advocate from your particular serviceman's organisation, but don't expect any quick resolution of your application. I have been reliably informed, once you have all of your documents and medical stuff in order, DVA then have up to four months to make a decision. Good luck, cheers bear


This post has prompted me to write my experiences since receiving a letter from Centrlink with an offer to "Transfer to OAP", which I received on the 24th Nov 2017. This arrived eight weeks out from an expected start date, being correct for people already receiving a payment, whereas people not receiving assistance receive their advice of being entitled to OAP, twelve weeks out.

The online letter advised payments are the same, whilst advising there would be more generous travel allowances, should I choose to transfer. The site advised it would only take ten minutes. When the process was complete another process began! I was now required to take identity documents equivalent to a certain number of points, to the nearest office, with the following notifications. "Failure to do so by December 8th may see my payment suspended. Failure to do so by January 26th may see my payment cancelled." January 26 just happens to coincide with sixty five years and six months, my due date.

Not wanting to have things mislaid, lost, never received by lodging at my local agency, I made the trip to the city. A very helpful CSO took all of the details, fixed erroneous information that had majically appeared on my file and updated my assets. She then told me I would be contacted in two weeks, as to whether my application had been successful and yes it is regarded as a new application but there wont be any problems. It's the OAP.

Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/thread/5358/transferring-oap?page=1#ixzz5KthFXfa2

[Deleted]

As Bear said, with you bring on a payment it is 8 weeks Online
Mine went smoothly
But i did have to contact Centrelink 2 weeks before the OAP transfer from DSP
To confirm ,plus i wanted to see the letter before i came overseas
This was in September 2015