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Post by Denis-NFA on Dec 19, 2012 9:34:39 GMT 7
So I can assume that no one else has been told that OAP will be subject to portability restriction?
And speaking of Residency....has anyone heard how Lynne got on yesterday...?
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Post by Banker on Dec 19, 2012 9:53:48 GMT 7
So I can assume that no one else has been told that OAP will be subject to portability restriction? And speaking of Residency....has anyone heard how Lynne got on yesterday...? There was a guy on thaivisa about a year ago saying he had been told by that he had to return every 26 weeks, I challenged him about that and a few other matters and it turns out that he was full of sh*t. To answer your Q different C/L staff will tell you different things that's why I tell people to get it in writing. About Lynne, I was thinking the same thing last night. I just hope it went well for her.
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Post by Banjo on Dec 19, 2012 10:29:02 GMT 7
I may have been wrong with the date... maybe 20th? I checked the AAT site, there's a case on the 18th but not hers.
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Post by pete on Dec 19, 2012 12:12:41 GMT 7
The woman I saw at centerlink said if I get portability I would still have to come back every 26 to 36 weeks to report this is what she said , they won't let you see the same person you saw last time not by request anyway would have to be luck. That's QLD is there different rules from state to state , are there statistics as to how many people are getting portability and Not .
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Post by chrisnouy on Dec 19, 2012 12:39:59 GMT 7
Oap's have unlimited portability. This is because Cl cant find a reason to deny it because oap's are not subject to the " be available for work" rule they use for other pensioners You lose all the extras if you are absent for more than 13 weeks After 26 weeks you are also subject to the AWLR rules whereby you have to have resided in australia for 25 years or your pension is prorata-ed. This will be increased to 35 years in 2014 but existing pensioners overseas will not be subject to the rule unless they return to Australia for more than 6 months . Then the new rule will apply( i assume that if i return every 26 weeks i will be safe every which way) A few years ago before i was oap they have tried to declare me a returning resident after a stint working in korea but i had house bank act etc so it was thrown out on appeal recently they cancelled my residency after some oaf noted i was 'living ' in thailand I got this overturned on appeal as well-- I gave them a stat dec stating that i had never knowingly said I was 'resident ' in thailand and pointed out that Thai residence is almost impossible to obtain But take great care with words or they try to twist themin My appeal against reduction of benefit to half the couple s rate is currently being heard on the papaers
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Post by peter on Dec 19, 2012 12:46:21 GMT 7
Medicare from reports seem to be tougher than Centrelink on residency. Centrelink seem to accept a statement of intent..............."I am here and I am remaining here".
When I tried that with Medicare, it was no go. Where is the proof? Such as.........closing of overseas bank accounts, closing of overseas lease, return of possessions etc.
I was only at the Medicare Office to get it for ID which Centrelink were asking for. I did not need any medical care or uncare, so I just let it go, but it is a thing that might become a real issue for ageing Australians living abroard who are forced to return for medical reasons.
To give up permanent residence in Australia one now gives up Medicare, Rent Allowance, and some Pension Supplement. The Rent Allowance is $60, the Pension Supplement surrender is $20, both per week.
Next March is the 1.7% Carbon Tax adjustment to the Pension Supplement and I think that will also be a surrender item upon departure.
So, its approaching $90 per week to live outside Australia, plus Medicare surrender, plus part pension surrender if one fails the 35 years AWLR test.
With the low cost of air travel these days and becoming lower, it is becoming feasible to keep a foot in both camps, both in Australia and holiday elsewhere.
The other benefit, is that it is misery to return to Australia for whatever reason and then have to look for accommodation starting from scratch, and also very costly.
A few weeks in a Backpackers will convince a senior person of that. And one cannot stay in the park as there are signs everywhere saying "no camping".
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Post by Banjo on Dec 19, 2012 12:55:28 GMT 7
I think I'll try to stick to a 6 month return once I'm on the OAP, I have friends I can use for short stopovers and once I get a permanent place of my own overseas I can return the favour. After Banker's lovely photos I may move in with him, I see he has twin beds.
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Post by chrisnouy on Dec 19, 2012 13:00:20 GMT 7
Once I had established i was an australian resident Medicare agreed to give me a new card without demur But I dont recall receiving it yet Maybe at my Australian address? For regualar travellers i would suggest that you get a peppercorn long term lease of room with a sympathtic relative for a nominal rent cancellable at short notice Anybody tried this?
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Post by Banjo on Dec 19, 2012 13:08:33 GMT 7
Sure, finding the sympathetic relly is a problem sometimes, I'm pretty lucky as my old Mum has a spare room and Centrelink OK'd it, I had endless problems with my other address though.
I think we need to write to Medicare and get something in writing off them. Might leave it until after New Year now.
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Post by Banker on Dec 19, 2012 13:56:07 GMT 7
If I was forced to return to live in Australia this picture tells the story, I will be homeless. How will I prove my residency to Medicare if this is my living situation. (This is not a trick question) Attachments:
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Post by Denis-NFA on Dec 19, 2012 14:44:43 GMT 7
I actually know what it is like.
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Post by Banker on Dec 19, 2012 15:02:27 GMT 7
I think I'll try to stick to a 6 month return once I'm on the OAP, I have friends I can use for short stopovers and once I get a permanent place of my own overseas I can return the favour. After Banker's lovely photos I may move in with him, I see he has twin beds. Always welcome here mate, just don't fart in the bed OK...
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Post by peter on Dec 19, 2012 16:10:33 GMT 7
Is there any benefit for an OAP to announce upon his departure that he is leaving permanently?
Cause as soon as he does he surrenders the benefits mentioned above.
The system will pick up an OAP up after 26 weeks away and take away part of the Pension Supplement and the rent allowance. That does not mean that one is non resident, simply that he is "away".
Other factors will determine residency, but if he stays away then that is straightforward.
The people who should declare themselves non resident are those who want to escape the 35 year AWLR, due in on Jan 1. 2014.
But for other OAPs really no incentive to declare themselves non resident and they might just as well wander off until the situation shows that to be the case and put the extra Pension Supplement in their pocket.
Pretty sloppy system. They should have carrots out over the ocean to get rid of OAPs so that they can dump their medical care elsewhere, but here they are fiddling around Pension Supplement, rent allowance, AWLR and Medicare, to make it unprofitable to leave, and keeping people too scared to cut their ties because of Medicare.
But they are two faced and low level people. They crow to the heavens about how they have stoushed overseas pension systems by getting twice as much into Australia in overseas pension as goes out and proclaim this policy of "getting the better of their neighbours" as some sort of big win.
But they are reluctant to play by those rules in reverse and think they have a win by putting obstacles in front of OAP portability, instead of encouaging it which would be in Australia"s national interest.
Brainless system.
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Post by Banjo on Dec 19, 2012 17:26:09 GMT 7
What pressure would be on an OA pensioner to tell them when he's returning.. or leaving for that matter. But say he does check in and say bye bye, is he compelled to give a return date?
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Post by Banker on Dec 19, 2012 19:27:15 GMT 7
What pressure would be on an OA pensioner to tell them when he's returning.. or leaving for that matter. But say he does check in and say bye bye, is he compelled to give a return date? I think I have put this here before. The last time I was in OZ I called C/L to tell them I was leaving, she asked when I would be returning, my reply was " I don't know". After she had asked the same Q several times and got the same answer from me she decided to get a supervisor, Well he came on only to start all over again but this time he could hardly speak English. He said " You must tell us when you are returning" My reply then changed from " I dont know" TO "Its none of your business when I choose to return" Then he decides he would punish me by saying " You will be getting a letter from me" That was over a year ago.....No such letter. These pricks at C/L will try & bluff you if they can, this has been proven many times on this forum. Please remember when reading this that >>> I am grandfathered into the old system, I have U.P. and I have lost my residency, so I have the attitude that I don't have to tell them SH*T. Your situation may be different.
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