Travelling to the UK in Sept, traumatised dealing with C/L.

[disbeleaf]

Hi all,

I'm new here … I suffer from PTSD & depression & chronic pain.  I'm on a part DSP as I am also on the Aust Post Invalidity Pension.

I'm an Aust Citizen & am planning to go back to the UK (where I was born) for a month in Sept this year & I've suddenly discovered there is a 28 day limit unless otherwise granted.  

I need help comprehending the effect this has on my trip so I went to the main C/L office in town to make an appointment to talk this over but I was simply (quite rudely actually) told I could stay away for 28 days then my request to make an appt was denied. I left extremely frustrated & in tears.  

I then later called C/L (Not Int, I didn't know about C/L Int until finding this forum) & after a 50 min wait my call was put through but was then disconnected.

I then approached my local member's office to see of they could act as an advocate & help me arrange an appointment see the C/L Social Worker.

I also rang National Welfare Network for advice who told me just don't go for 28 days which confused me.

Then the local member office called to say they'd been in contact with C/L (not via the public number) but were told that I'm not entitled to a Social Worker appt & should just call 132 717.

I needed to visit my GP who told me she has a direct number of a C/L Social Worker so through my GP I now have an appointment next week.  The Social Worker said that she is happy to put whatever I need in writing which is fabulous.

My problem is I feel totally traumatised by the process so far & not only fear losing my pension but fear any contact with C/L.  I need to keep this appointment but need help with making sure I have some relevant questions to ask.  I have already been told by this Social Worker via phone, that "...the day I fly to the UK is day 1 but the day I return isn't counted".

It is difficult for me to get my head around this whole issue.  Something in writing from the Social Worker regarding my trip will help me no end.  

I struggle comprehending any of the complex laws & with understanding even what is on the C/L website regarding travelling OS on a DSP.

I just want to go overseas to see my elderly aunts for the last time without losing my DSP in the process.  

I'm 55 yo.

Thanks for reading.

[Banjo]

Welcome to the board disbeleaf, and congratulations on not giving up.

You're certainly entitled to 28 days overseas, no problem at all there.
We believe that you can overstay this period for up to 13 weeks but you will not be paid for this period, your pension will be suspended and reinstated on return to Australia.

I can't understand what the Welfare Rights member you called told you... did they tell you not to go at all?
What office did you call?

[disbeleaf]

Hi Banjo thanks for the encouragement.

So far you have given me a question to ask the Social Worker … "What happens if I over stay the 28 days?".

This is why I joined here, help with compiling sensible questions so I can have the facts relating to the impact my OS trip may have on my DSP.

Sorry about the confusion regarding the Welfare Rights phone conversation.

I was told that the best advice he could give me was to return to Australia well within the 28 days, to have 3 weeks instead of 4 maybe. He told me I didn't have rights across the board as it depended on who I saw or spoke to at the time what I could expect.

It was the Hobart office.

I hadn't expected Welfare Rights to be of so little help so I called back after lunch & asked to speak to someone who wouldn't be so much a lawyer or legal type, more a supportive type but while the lady assured me she wasn't a legal type per se, once I mentioned I'd called earlier she just told me whatever I'd been told was pretty much what I should expect to be told & then just gently tried to end the conversation.

I said I needed help with what to ask the C/L Social Worker so I could get the facts but she told me just to write down what questions I had & take them to the meeting.

I'm really not coping with this whole thing. I might not be giving up but it's clear to me this Social Worker appointment is the final straw & if I'm brushed off meaning I'm told only what is on the C/L website then I'm just going to have to cut my 28 days down to 25 or whatever & just forget ever knowing the facts regarding what my entitlements & obligations are.

[Banjo]

We are now 5 months into the new legislation regarding portability and I have not heard of a single person losing their pension for overstaying the 28 days.
One of our senior members is currently overseas and intends to exceed the 28 days and I can assure you that they would not be doing this if loss of pension was possible.

I doubt the social worker will give you anything in writing, hopefully their advice will be of use though.

[disbeleaf]

Update.

I've been to see the Centrelink Social Worker who explained to me, not in any order, that:

1. Centrelink go off my flight itinerary as to what time I fly out. This will be day 1 of 28.

2. The day I return to Australia isn't counted (that would actually be day 29) therefore day 28 is the day I leave the UK.

3. If I'm out of the country for longer than 28 days my DSP will be cancelled & I would need to reapply/ be reassessed.

4. I need to tell Centrelink about my proposed trip & show them my flight itinerary. It is then that the portability rules would be explained to me.

5. If I'm delayed in my return to Australia by ilness/natural causes i.e. volcano dust, I could explain that in my appeal.

[Banjo]

Well here's what we got back from a long term member:

Well after some procrastination, I rang CL International yesterday to ask for the application papers. I spoke with a nice bloke who had been working with CL for 20 years. He was very helpful and gave me a couple of tips to make the process work a little faster.

I specifically asked him about what would happen if I was knocked back for UP and he said that I would not lose my DP as I was assessed a year ago under the new tables. I also asked him about the 4 weeks and overstaying. I thought it was 4 weeks paid and 13 weeks maximum (9 weeks unpaid) before being cut off. He assured me it was 4 weeks paid and then 13 weeks unpaid making a total of 17 weeks out of the country before before being cut off. I brought this up 3 times in the conversation to be very clear on this.

I am now going to get every last report and and documentation together and go see my doctor and see what he has to say. I will also ask for a copy of my JCA from CL through the FOI act.

Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/search/results?what_at_least_one=overstay&who_only_made_by=0&display_as=0#ixzz3WzX7URS7

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