Post by bear on Dec 22, 2021 19:09:37 GMT 7
Centrelink denies pension to veteran trapped overseas due to border closures
An Australian veteran says he felt like Centrelink told him “f**k you” after denying his application for the pension while he was stranded overseas due to Covid-19 border closures.
Steve Hambley and his wife had been travelling for around four years after selling their Brisbane home when they retired.
They were due to fly back to Australia when the international borders slammed shut in early 2020 – leaving them stuck in Malaysia to “ride out” the lockdowns.
After their flights were cancelled several times, airfares began skyrocketing.
“I’m not in a financial position for the two of us to pay $10,000 in airfares then $4000-5000 in isolation costs,” the 67-year-old said.
“We were looking at anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 just to get home.”
Read more:-
Joseph Finianos came to Australia from Lebanon when he was 22, and has paid his taxes ever since. But when he went to apply for a pension several years ago, he claims he was told “we can’t help you”. He said the name differences prevented him getting a pension, and he had trouble getting the required paperwork.
Queensland only introduced the option of home quarantine for international travellers from December 13, 2021.
During the pandemic, the federal government eased portability requirements so pensioners stuck overseas could continue to receive payments, but no changes were made to accommodate people like Mr Hambley, who was applying for the first time.
Mr Hambley, who spent 21 years in the army and 23 years as a corrections officer in Brisbane, became eligible for the Age Pension last year while they were renting in Penang.
He attempted to apply via the Centrelink website, but the final part of the process said he had to attend in person to complete the application.
“I contacted Centrelink and was told there’s no way around this,” he said.
“I sent emails to the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the PM’s office, the leader of the opposition. I got condolences from everybody – how sad, too bad. The PM’s office sent an email back saying thanks for your enquiry, unfortunately nothing can be done, that’s the rules and that’s the way it is.”
He says he also received a phone call from a Services Australia representative, who told him not only could he not apply online, but that “in fact I’d argue you’ve been out of Australia too long” to be eligible at all.
Mr Hambley says the call felt, to put it bluntly, “like a f**k you”.
“If it was a politician [having a similar issue] I can tell you they would sort it out,” he added.
He says he would be happy to travel to the Australian consulate in Kuala Lumpur to apply, as he would be able to if he were residing in a country such as Japan.
Australia has 31 bilateral social security agreements that allow people to make a claim for certain Australian social security payments, including the Age Pension, while living in an agreement country.
However, Australia does not have an agreement with Malaysia.
Mr Hambley said he and his wife were now “not sure what we’re going to do”, with their finances “dwindling fairly quickly”.
“Luckily the dollar goes a lot further here,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Services Australia directed enquires to the Department of Social Services.
“It is a longstanding requirement of the social security system that a person must be in Australia on the date that a claim for the Age Pension is lodged,” a DSS spokeswoman said in a statement.
“These rules are set in legislation and there is no discretionary power to intervene and allow someone to claim the Pension while overseas.
“During the pandemic the government extended portability arrangements to ensure anyone unable to return home because of Covid-19 could continue to receive payments.
“When Mr Hambley returns to Australia, he will be able to apply for the Age Pension.”
www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/centrelink-denies-pension-to-veteran-trapped-overseas-due-to-border-closures/news-story/686684eabea0ef2cc83e43b29bacc6c3?amp
An Australian veteran says he felt like Centrelink told him “f**k you” after denying his application for the pension while he was stranded overseas due to Covid-19 border closures.
Steve Hambley and his wife had been travelling for around four years after selling their Brisbane home when they retired.
They were due to fly back to Australia when the international borders slammed shut in early 2020 – leaving them stuck in Malaysia to “ride out” the lockdowns.
After their flights were cancelled several times, airfares began skyrocketing.
“I’m not in a financial position for the two of us to pay $10,000 in airfares then $4000-5000 in isolation costs,” the 67-year-old said.
“We were looking at anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 just to get home.”
Read more:-
Joseph Finianos came to Australia from Lebanon when he was 22, and has paid his taxes ever since. But when he went to apply for a pension several years ago, he claims he was told “we can’t help you”. He said the name differences prevented him getting a pension, and he had trouble getting the required paperwork.
Queensland only introduced the option of home quarantine for international travellers from December 13, 2021.
During the pandemic, the federal government eased portability requirements so pensioners stuck overseas could continue to receive payments, but no changes were made to accommodate people like Mr Hambley, who was applying for the first time.
Mr Hambley, who spent 21 years in the army and 23 years as a corrections officer in Brisbane, became eligible for the Age Pension last year while they were renting in Penang.
He attempted to apply via the Centrelink website, but the final part of the process said he had to attend in person to complete the application.
“I contacted Centrelink and was told there’s no way around this,” he said.
“I sent emails to the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the PM’s office, the leader of the opposition. I got condolences from everybody – how sad, too bad. The PM’s office sent an email back saying thanks for your enquiry, unfortunately nothing can be done, that’s the rules and that’s the way it is.”
He says he also received a phone call from a Services Australia representative, who told him not only could he not apply online, but that “in fact I’d argue you’ve been out of Australia too long” to be eligible at all.
Mr Hambley says the call felt, to put it bluntly, “like a f**k you”.
“If it was a politician [having a similar issue] I can tell you they would sort it out,” he added.
He says he would be happy to travel to the Australian consulate in Kuala Lumpur to apply, as he would be able to if he were residing in a country such as Japan.
Australia has 31 bilateral social security agreements that allow people to make a claim for certain Australian social security payments, including the Age Pension, while living in an agreement country.
However, Australia does not have an agreement with Malaysia.
Mr Hambley said he and his wife were now “not sure what we’re going to do”, with their finances “dwindling fairly quickly”.
“Luckily the dollar goes a lot further here,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Services Australia directed enquires to the Department of Social Services.
“It is a longstanding requirement of the social security system that a person must be in Australia on the date that a claim for the Age Pension is lodged,” a DSS spokeswoman said in a statement.
“These rules are set in legislation and there is no discretionary power to intervene and allow someone to claim the Pension while overseas.
“During the pandemic the government extended portability arrangements to ensure anyone unable to return home because of Covid-19 could continue to receive payments.
“When Mr Hambley returns to Australia, he will be able to apply for the Age Pension.”
www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/centrelink-denies-pension-to-veteran-trapped-overseas-due-to-border-closures/news-story/686684eabea0ef2cc83e43b29bacc6c3?amp
