|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 10:05:49 GMT 7
My name is Lynne and under the new DSP rules they have informed me I must return to Australia to retain my Australian residence.... but we all seem to be swimming in the same pond. Yes I agree! Lets' all pool our experiences and speak out.... especially as the Australian Government has gone against the human rights policy of pensioners living overseas. My experience with Centrelink though they only act on latest legislation which seems to be changing from day to day that they have discounted that the majority of us were once taxpayers and it is from our blood sweat and tears that we assisted to make Australia what it is today. Most of us, probably had work related injuries. I did. After raising two children on my own I worked to support them without welfare assistance. Not taken into consideration when the people in power consider us bludgers. Having a disability of any kind makes life a hard slog - unfortunately made even harder with Centrelink over our heads wielding a whip. With the new legislation I now have to return to Australia and leave my full time carer and a 13 year old childr I found 9 years on the streets and have been looking after since that time. Throughout the years centrelink has been aware of that. By recalling DSP living overseas back to Australia we are going to be a bigger burden to the tax payer. Ie housing, medicare, emergency assistance, increased payment rates... probably something not considered by the Politicians when they thought they would be saving tax payers money by recalling us back. With the new changes quickly coming into place perhaps the penny did drop to a few astute Politicians that in fact we we will probably be costing them quids. What confuses me is the timeline of when I made the decision to live overseas and sometimes that particular lw still applies and sometimes not!!! Anyway else having the same battle
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 10:32:25 GMT 7
Welcome to the board Lynne, glad to have you here. You will find that everyone here has a different story but all our stories are the same. Ludicrous Centrelink rules take away many of the basic freedoms Australians are entitled to.
If you read through the forum.... and I wish you the best of luck, it can be a bit chaotic but that's mainly banker's fault... you should find someone who has had to address similar problems to your own.
We're all here to share our experiences and help in anyway we can. There are no professionals here but we will do our best to help you find one if you need help at that level
|
|
|
Post by rodcourt49 on Feb 18, 2012 14:11:34 GMT 7
..welcome Lynne..happy to have you aboard this leaky ship..but we all strive to keep her afloat and head in the right direction!
|
|
|
Post by immiadvice on Feb 18, 2012 14:50:15 GMT 7
Since this site has been set up a few of us have had our pensions cancelled but I am pretty sure we have all had it reinstated again.
Without the knowledge I have gained on this forum I don't know what I would have done.
We're all fighting a common war here. Strength in numbers.
|
|
|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 15:29:05 GMT 7
Thank you for the welcome. Yes I have gone through the forum and though my situation is doom and gloom at least I am not in a leaky (though mine is sinking fast should anyone care to come aboard) that their others in the same situation. I am facing the daunting process of reviewing centrelinks policies and change of over the past 9 years. Having been granted portability 9 years ago - first 26 weeks then 13 weeks and now no weeks there are some rules that still apply to my original portability. Anyone out there can help me on this question : 5 years ago when they introduced the work capacity program naturally I also had to be accessed. Result 20% mobility left in my back (less now as age deteriorates) HOWEVER since that review I have not had to undergo the two year medicals for my doctor to sign me off as unfit for work nor have any forthcoming appointments in the next 90 days. Does anyone know how that situation rates with centre link on their permanent disability scheme of thinking when you have been signed off unfit even for 7 hours a week. . They have not yet answered that question...
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 16:20:11 GMT 7
I think a lot of them don't know Lynne, personally I don't think any DSP recipient of our age, time on the DSP and disability level would have any trouble qualifying for the promised indefinite portability that should come into force on 30th June this year. Where it's gone pie shaped is their insane desire to enforce the new residency rules on people like us. It's a dilemma I'll have to face personally when my current portability runs out in April... do I sit it out until the end of June or do I push the envelope and assist on one more 13 week "holiday"? I may be in a different position to many of you as I lost my DSP on residency grounds last year and successfully appealed it in the SSAT. Some members, whom I don't doubt are smarter than me, say that this will make no difference if my residency is reviewed again this year. My thoughts are, is that if they are going to stop my residency again, I may as well make it as difficult for them as possible with another appeal. Remember the media release in May last year that started all this b/s? All the money they were going to save by making us stay in Australia? Well they haven't saved any on me I can assure you.
|
|
|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 16:56:42 GMT 7
Another thought just came to me and I am wondering if it can be used as a leverage (doubt it) just putting my hand in the hand in the hopes of pulling out a few tricks. Over the years we followed by the rules set by Centrelink in traveling overseas - so why are we now being penalized with loss of residency status when they themselves set the rules. And I do not think I am alone when returning to Australia to report in then free to leave again.... often on the next plane out to which Centrelink never slapped on this wrist for. My last conversation with International Centrelink, and though sympathetic to my situation has to follow the rle book stated I have to show them proof that I intend to remain in Australia by giving them a six month rental lease --- on what - perhaps from the shire on a park bench. My argument to this was I hold an address and do not hold residency status with another county as I enter Indonesia on a tourist visa. I consider my points to be very valid. I am not that enlightened on SAAT but there was a nice man who forwarded my email to International Centrelink on my behalf so poor fellow, is now on my cc list to all Centrelink correspondence and I plan to add him to my Christmas Card list. Re Proving Residency... I think they may be throwing the residency appeals in the govt paper shredder as to why they are backtracking and offering this Indefinite Portability.... perhaps realizing that they are not saving tax payers any money and if they had used a calculator in the first instance they would have realized the concessions we are not paid by living overseas must add up to a princely sum. AND MEDICARE! YIPPEE! I haven't used this in years and I don't think I have a card anymore but I plan to luxuriate in hospital and have some much needed medical attention with television great meals and perhaps a swimming pool to paddle around in. ... the alternative to the park bench idea.
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 17:42:41 GMT 7
If you're planning on elective surgery you may find the waiting list a little lengthy in the public hospital system.
|
|
|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 17:50:43 GMT 7
I was planning on fainting at the airport and have them cart me off to the local hospital in a nice comfortable ambulance.... This I will have to do because due to the problems of centrelink and having to leave my adopted 13 year old my monkeys home etc etc my blood pressure keeps sky rocketing, I faint, feel stressed and overwhelmed by what lies ahead that my doctor has declared me unfit to fly out to Darwin. My centrelink payment has already been cancelled three days ago so I am going to have to take that risk in a few days and hope I arrive alive in Australia....
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 18:06:51 GMT 7
OK, we have a thread running at the moment on inability to return in the portability period but it was refused as Centrelink considered a pre-existing condition. Here's the regulation. Section 1218C or section 23(14) of the Social Security Act Reasons for allowing a discretionary extension if the person or a family member of the person (section 23(14)) is: involved in a serious accident, seriously ill, hospitalised, or the victim of a robbery or serious crime, if the person is: involved in custody proceedings, required to remain overseas in connection with criminal proceedings, other than in respect of a crime alleged to have been committed by the person, unable to return because of war, industrial action, or social or political unrest in which the recipient is not willingly participating, or unable to return because of natural disaster, if a family member dies. Read more: dspoverseas.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=experiences&action=display&thread=832&page=2#ixzz1mjLjboUq
|
|
|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 18:52:06 GMT 7
All of the above sounds good - I havve dealt with centrelink in the past re illness and they dragged things out which ultimately led to having my pension suspended then a month awaiting for a decision so beware.... they have no qualms about leaving you stranded overseas and no money to pay for medical care. Aside from all of that I must add your forum is having a life line thrown because dealing with what centrelinks is throwing at us at the moment and not knowing your rights is extremely daunting.
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 19:22:26 GMT 7
As I said, we're not offering legal advice, just support and personal experience. If you were abandoned overseas I'd recommend ringing the National Welfare Rights Network and asking them to speak to Centrelink on your behalf.
|
|
|
Post by lynne on Feb 18, 2012 20:31:37 GMT 7
I will definitely book mark that link. Thanks for that. I know a few people who finding themselves in the same situation were not aware National Welfare existed.
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Feb 18, 2012 20:49:09 GMT 7
|
|
|
Post by spaceyone on Feb 19, 2012 8:28:22 GMT 7
Anyone out there can help me on this question : 5 years ago when they introduced the work capacity program naturally I also had to be accessed. Result 20% mobility left in my back (less now as age deteriorates) HOWEVER since that review I have not had to undergo the two year medicals for my doctor to sign me off as unfit for work nor have any forthcoming appointments in the next 90 days. Does anyone know how that situation rates with centre link on their permanent disability scheme of thinking when you have been signed off unfit even for 7 hours a week. . They have not yet answered that question... It is very possible you will put through another Job Capacity Assessment, as part of the new residency witch-hunt. Once that happens, obtain a copy of the report from Centrelink, so you are always clear on your own rating, and any conditions or exceptions which have been granted to you. Centrelink aren't above trying to bluff people into thinking they should be working, when it has already been recorded that they are exempt. As part of the last one you had, it might have been recorded that you aren't expected to recover from your illness, and would only deteriorate. That would explain why they no longer check up on that aspect of you, and suggests you might have no problems proving your continued eligibility for DSP. Ask C/L to post a copy of your last JCA Report to you, or call into their office and ask them to print it out, when you are in Australia. Good luck!
|
|