AGE PENSION QUESTION/S

[pete57ad]

G’Day all,

My reasons for DSP in 2000, was diagnosed “degenerative”.
How true!
23 years later, I required some treatment after a fall, ( one of those falls when you think the chair was there, wasn’t)
I turned 66 August 23.
After treatment, immediately I rang NDIS.
They transferred me to Age Care, because I’m no longer eligible
for NDIS, because I’m nearing Age Pension eligibility.
Is this correct ?

Next question,
Do I start a process to begin entry to Age Pension
, if so what do I need to do, or wait till after
August 2024 ?

Hopefully the Gov don’t shift the goal post and raise
the retirement age yet again.

Thanks

[Banjo]

Centrelink Older Australians Line

132 300

[Denis-NFA]

I was under the impression that if you are on DSP that you do not have to transfer to the OAP and depending on your DSP circumstances there was a benefit to stay on DSP.

Being overseas I cannot transfer to the OAP without traveling back to Australia to apply in person.

[nomadic]

I was offered to change over to OAP a few years ago but declined. A bit of a case of I didn't trust them and why fix something that's not broken? Figured I may miss out on some benefits down the road if I did. No regrets at all as I already had UP. That's the only benefit I can see for changing and if you decline their offer maybe you can get INDIS. It is for the disabled so should not matter how old you are. Discrimination I would think.

[bear]

G'day pete57ad , regarding the NDIS age limit; unfortunately that is correct, as 65 years is the cutoff point.

However peak disability bodies such as the Macular Degeneration Foundation, MS Australia etc. are lobbying to have it changed due to guidelines outlined in the NDIS report but; at this point the government is standing firm!!

ourguidelines.ndis.gov.au/home/becoming-participant/applying-ndis/do-you-meet-age-requirements#:~:text=How%20old%20are%20you%3F,to%20complete%20your%20NDIS%20application.

www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/government-must-rethink-ndis/

www.msaustralia.org.au/advocacy/ndis/

Aged Pension:- They will send you a letter 13 weeks before Aged Pension age offering it to you, which you can accept or decline. The base payment is the same, though I think there's some fiddle with rent assistance if you accept and of course automatic Unlimited Portability comes with OAP. Cheers 🐻

www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/prepare-to-transfer-to-age-pension-if-you-get-disability-support-pension?context=22276

[tasjo]

Hi pete57ad - the only exception for NDIS is if you qualified prior to turning 65, in which case you retain NDIS.

But, I believe with the current status of NDIS funding (and the difficulty gaining access to NDIS) you are probably better off applying for a home care package via Aged Care.

[pete57ad]

Thanks everyone, cleared things up.
Yes when I was offered NDIS in it’s early formative years,
I declined, and their attitude then was, “we will get you like it or not”.
I just did not trust the gov of the day, ( and still don’t).
Credit where it’s due, Australian and live in one of the best
places on the planet.