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Post by onemore on Dec 22, 2016 8:13:02 GMT 7
Good morning everyone,
I have just finished reading some excellent articles on this forum about proving residency when applying for the OAP, very informative and thought provoking.
I am turning 65 next January and with the new rules coming in on January 1st wont be eligible for the OAP until I get rid of some assets, meaning in my case money, no problem there as there is a cruise happening next year from London to New York that I can book a ticket on, and some other trips on the bucket list that need completing.
My concern at the moment, and one I didn't envisage until I read the articles in this forum is where I live, which I now know I need to address before applying to centrelink for anything.
At the moment I travel to and from Australia every four to six weeks, returning to Australia for anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks before heading off again and whilst in Australia stay with my daughter, or my sister, no problem we all love a drink so no problems.
My thoughts are after reading the articles is that I need to get a rental somewhere so that I do have somewhere on the books that I "reside" at while in Australia, as I was thinking of just putting that I board with my daughter on the application, somehow I don't reckon that it will cut it.
My immediate thought is to look around the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads are because of the availability of flights with Scoot and Air Asia from there.
I will go to any lengths to secure the OAP after having to pay the ATO in the next couple of months 205 thousand dollars because of a change in the rules on foreign income, I will claw some of that back before I cross the bar.
Any thoughts on other rental areas come to mind please fellow members, and does anyone think I am over thinking this?
Cheers,
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Post by Denis-NFA on Dec 22, 2016 10:24:57 GMT 7
Any thoughts on other rental areas come to mind please fellow members, and does anyone think I am over thinking this? Personally I don't think you are over thinking this. Depending upon your overseas geographical destinations as regards temperature and what you are accustomed to experiencing I could suggest you look at Cairns or Townsville. Or SE NSW down to about Bega. Merimbula is nice and just into Victoria as well. Albury/Wodonga is worthy of consideration and likewise Wagga Wagga. Bit further north is Dubbo. I've lived in or have friends in all the above. Mt Gambier I like. Launceston. Perth. Esperance. I'm not a fan of big cities. |
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Post by onemore on Dec 22, 2016 11:29:01 GMT 7
Thanks for your ideas Denis, I have already been looking at Cairns and I reckon I will do a trip there and do some research on rentals on the ground running.
Personally I wouldn't mind betting that Centrelink has been told to really scrutinize all applications, dismissing anyone that makes a claim for the OAP for any non compliance, hence me ticking all the boxes when I make the application.
I don't have any information to back up my theory, only a gut feeling for the budget repair, they don't really give a damn about the public.
Cheers,
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Post by Banjo on Dec 22, 2016 11:46:44 GMT 7
Depending on what you're used to you may need to consider climate options.
Cairns may be too hot and Mt Gambier too cold.
I had a months or two mid winter house sit in the Barossa Valley once and if they had not told me to be unstinting with the reverse cycle air conditioning I doubt I'd have lasted it out.
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Post by chris on Dec 23, 2016 8:49:21 GMT 7
Depending on what you're used to you may need to consider climate options. Cairns may be too hot and Mt Gambier too cold. I had a months or two mid winter house sit in the Barossa Valley once and if they had not told me to be unstinting with the reverse cycle air conditioning I doubt I'd have lasted it out. I'm booked for 18 nights in a Cairns Backpacker, 6-20 April 2017. I'm hoping to get into a share house within 1-2 months. I got the recommendation from the forum, and Denis reinforced it. Gold Coast, because of the cheap flight options, is my 2nd choice. I lived in the ACT. The south coast of NSW, Bateman's and south of that is another option, but nah, it's too quiet down there and too cold most of the time. I will be looking elsewhere in Queensland if Cairns doesn't work out. I'm doing 24 months in Cairns. If pending legislation does push through, I might end up staying and doing only 6 week stints to the Philippines. Will look at that later and will consider where to live over the longer term later. I have 3 sisters, friends and relatives all over, but that would not work for me. About 2 weeks is the limit for that kind of arrangement. |
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Post by Banjo on Dec 23, 2016 9:34:05 GMT 7
There's a tendency to scorn major cities but if it's short term then budget accommodation options can be better and food cheaper in supermarkets etc.
Those Age pensioners seeking casual work would find more opportunity as well.
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Post by chris on Dec 23, 2016 16:20:05 GMT 7
There's a tendency to scorn major cities but if it's short term then budget accommodation options can be better and food cheaper in supermarkets etc. Those Age pensioners seeking casual work would find more opportunity as well. I have looked at all aspects. Those budget flights look really good eg to Darwin, Perth, Gold Coast....but when you start adding up the extra's plus the time spent in airports, food, the savings are not so big. Full fare especially off peak or high season or promo's and special offers, inc food and drinks, coffee all in saves about one day's s food. And yep, I'm hoping to work (in Aged Care and you guys already know my story). That would be about 1 8 hour shift a week over 52 weeks, easy enough. I'm hopeful. And reading the case filed by the Greek/Aussie guy recently posted here, gives me more hope. I could get hung up on my residency, but willing to stay until it's validated. Anyway, hope Onemore will contact me or vice versa will send him a message. Coolangatta with it's close proximity to GC Airport, looks good for the future. Would check it out first of all though. |
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Post by Denis-NFA on Dec 28, 2016 14:05:22 GMT 7
Depending on what you're used to you may need to consider climate options. Cairns may be too hot and Mt Gambier too cold. I had a months or two mid winter house sit in the Barossa Valley once and if they had not told me to be unstinting with the reverse cycle air conditioning I doubt I'd have lasted it out. Mt Gambia and further South would be too cold for me these days. When I was in Cairns I had a few days when the clouds came over the mountain at the back and enough moisture was precipitating on the floor of my upper story unit that I had to mop the floor. Funniest thing I ever saw but it was cold air falling down to warm air. It didn't occur on ground floor and I was next story up. Agree Banjo. You need to know what your geographical/temperature tolerances are. |
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Post by onemore on Dec 28, 2016 15:53:04 GMT 7
Further to my post about where to live:-
I have spend the last 5 days (one off for christmas day when a typhoon came through and disrupted everything) researching and apply for rental properties up and down the east coast of Australia, excluding capital cities of course, my findings in no particular order:-
- unless you are wanting buy real estate none of the agents are interested, I have had 1 reply to all I sent out.
- There is next to nothing that I could find in Tweed Heads/Coolangatta to rent for a decent price, $350 being the norm.
- Gladstone, Mackay and Cairns have plenty of rentals available, although the Cairns flights price might take the shine off any savings.
Then onto N.S.W.
Ballina has a few at a good price, but I have had no response from agents.
Coffs Harbour has a few to offer, once again no response from agents.
Port Macquarie has some, no response from agents.
Newcastle not many.
The thing about Ballina, Coffs Harbour and the like is that they all have airports and once out of the holiday season the price isn't too bad for flights, in and out of Sydney, and there is even Philippine airlines in and out of Cairns but not cheap.
I do realise that it is the holiday season so I will cut the agents some slack on no replies, see what happens come next week when business is back in business, with the season finished.
I reckon the thing for me to do is pick a place, and when I get back after being out 6 weeks go knocking on the realtors doors, but we all know how that goes, you make the inquiry and they hand you the listings on the book, then starts the form filling.
Being an ex home owner I don't have any rental history so that should prove interesting.
Apologies for being long winded about this
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Post by Banjo on Dec 28, 2016 16:06:43 GMT 7
One of the main disadvantages for people like us is the cost of living while you're looking for somewhere cheap.
I'd tend to avoid backpacker country because they mainly cater for backpackers, I'd look at community notice boards in low rent areas, maybe put the word out in local pubs and coffee shops.
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Post by onemore on Dec 29, 2016 8:07:34 GMT 7
Even harder as I have just found out, is getting a rental property if you haven't rented previously.t
No rental history is not a good thing, even when with just selling a house and having a very, very healthy bank account, good work history of 35 years with the one company, none of it means anything without a history.
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Post by Banjo on Dec 29, 2016 8:22:39 GMT 7
(Duplicate post removed).
Back in the day they had to prove you lived overseas, there was an AAT appeal won by a guy who admitted he slept rough when in Australia.
They had to show you owned or rented a property overseas, had family there, paid bills, maybe a residency visa.
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