Lurker, new, few Qs

[pugsy]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking here for quite a long time - although I'm not someone who has a great interest in travel. (Well, I do, but the various problems I have make that a pipe dream for now.)

Anyway, I wanted to sign up as I have a question I was really hoping to get some feedback on, be it reassuring or reinforcing the need to prepare.

Long story short, I have a need to go overseas for a few weeks. (A friend of mine is not well, it is quite serious. It's not a holiday or an adventure or anything like that.)

I am deathly afraid of Centrelink. I have a small amount of income (I have always done the right thing with reporting) but if my payments were cut off, well, I'd probably die. (This might sound melodramatic but honestly, I have no idea how I could survive.)

I have thus far been very lucky in that the people at Centrelink who I've spoken to have almost always been wonderful - I'm still scared of them but they've not done wrong by me so far.

My concern is that when I tell them I'm going away, it might trigger a review - because while I do have some problems that are not related to mental health, the majority of them are - and I wonder if they'd look at someone with my problems being able to go overseas, even in a fairly dire situation, as a suggestion I was somehow "better".

All the recent news about how more people will be booted off DSP worries me, because it seems like less emphasis will be put on mental health issues.

What I really want to know is, in your experience, do you believe that a review will be triggered if I go to see my friend? I have to go, one way or the other - I'd just like to either calm my nerves or, alternatively, know that their probably will be a review and prepare myself for that.

Sorry if this seems long and self absorbed; I have terrible anxiety and this seemed like a good place to get some advice.

Thanks,
Pugsy

[Banjo]

Hi Pugsy, welcome to the board.

Every year hundreds of Disability Support Pension recipients travel overseas, some more than once a year.
All they do is ring Centrelink International when they are booked to go and tell them the date of leaving and the date of return.

These people will show a complete lack of interest in how you are paying for it, they will ask you where you are going and warn you that if you do not return in 13 weeks your payments will be suspended until you return.
Not cut off, suspended until you return.

If you return within another 13 week period they will be reinstated on the date you return.
When you arrive back in Australia you have to ring Centrelink and report back.
The only way you can get into trouble is if you don't return for 26 weeks when you will be cut off and have to reapply when you get back.

Enjoy your trip, sorry about your friend but there's no reason you can't have a holiday as well.

[pugsy]

Hi Banjo, I enjoy your posts.

Thanks for replying.

I feel quite reassured about the situation, although I have another question; although my travel dates are set (and if they changed naturally I know I'd have to let Centrelink know) should I still call them when I return home, or is there no need? (I suppose I'll probably have to call them about a week after I return anyway, to report income.)

I really appreciate your response, and thank you RE my friend. I will still enjoy it, we will get to spend time together - so it is just as good as a normal "holiday", although bittersweet.

Thanks again,
Pugsy

[Banjo]

Ring them the day or the day after you get back.
Once it's done then they give you a quick check with Immigration to make sure you're not ringing from Monaco or somewhere and check you back in.
It's a free or local call... 13 1673.

Here's some stuff from their site, they make it sound harder than it is.

www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/international/pension_how_long.htm

[Banker]

Welcome to the forum Pugsy.

When you return to Australia you must notify C/L with in 24 hours of your return, they will know anyway because their computers are interlinked with the Immigration Dept but the rules are that you must notify them.

Please always when talking with a C/L officer on the phone ask them for a receipt number for the call and keep a record of it with time & date.

Dont worry too much & enjoy your trip..There is also more information on our web site.

www.australianpensioner.org/

Cheers
Banker

[pugsy]

Banjo, thank you - for all my looking up information I had not come across that specific page.

Banker, I am also familiar with that website (from my lurking here) however I shall look over it again; it never hurts to refresh things

Thank you also for the info on calling them after returning; I will do so and will make sure I make a note of the receipt number and time/date. (I previously recorded receipt #, but not the time or date.)

Pugsy