PATSTAN

11 hours ago, kevvy said:

I am not going back to re qualify for th OAP . I have a great life here in Chiang Rai . Leave this happiness to go back to the nanny state for 2 years . no way mate ...

 

Thanks mate, good on you...I am confused too and thinking if its worth it but as long as I'm here maybe worth trying, just a few months left...I had good life too compare with here and can't wait to go back...

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

This is what I did, returned to Oz & went on Newstart three months prior to claiming Age Pension. Over 55, Newstart currently permits 15 hours a week volunteer work. e.g. Coast Guard or some such activity and no need to be a "job seeker". Also easy to switch from Newstart to Age Pension. However, not long after arriving back in Oz was diagnosed with aggressive cancer, whilst recovered, cannot afford to live in Thailand due to cost of ongoing medical treatment, just visit once a year - swings and roundabouts....

Thanks mate, get well and stay strong, take  turmeric and ginger in the morning, don't trust pharmas, only natural will do good! Trust me, all  the best!

4 minutes ago, dinga said:

5555555 - no Ace, unfortunately and also no grand plan at this stage.  Just considering possibilities - and trying  to benefit from the wisdom of others

 

BRs

Any new ideas, suggestions boys?

1 minute ago, simple1 said:

 

I know, but the usual Centrelink staff one deals with day to day often are unaware of the detail of Age Pension, it's why best to contact Centrelink International regards payment portability, they know the detail. As a tip. the best number for BAU questions regards Age Pension is 132 300

Thanks a lot, I appretiate

4 hours ago, simple1 said:

 

All the background & criteria info you require is available online; refer link below. The criteria / rules do not change "every few months" as require approval through the parliamentary budget / legislation process. It is unhelpful to make statements that do not reflect reality and such statements have previously caused quite a lot of confusion.

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/age-pension

 

As a member stated above, Centrelink International Services are the best people to contact regards Age Pension Portability payments and so on....

 

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/international-services

Simple1 thanks a lot for useful links, very important! 

Best regards

P.S. But actually they are the same Centrelink just different department...Working hand by hand....Thanks

9 hours ago, djayz said:

If you're a "city guy", who enjoys life in a modern/western city, then you're going to have a really hard time living in Isan (and most other regions in Thailand). 

 

Aside from shopping malls, the odd cinema, markets, coffee shops, loads of temples and maybe, if you're lucky, a nice bar or two, there really isn't much else going on in the average city in Thailand. 

 

Really nice restaurants, good selection of wine, well stocked librarys, museums, art galleries, further education for adults, leisurely walks through well kept lush green parks, etc. just isn't here. 

 

You need to have a few hobbies that will keep you both mentally and physically active, a small but good network of close friends to help you if you're sick or meet for coffee/a drink. 

 

Whether you adapt to life in a remote part of a developing country really depends on how much of your western life you can give up. As others have suggested, travel around a little and get a "feel" for a few different places. 

 

I've lived in Nakhon Ratchisma (more affectionately known as "Korat") for approx. 4 yrs. now and I love it. I live way out in the country though (hate cities). It's a 3.5 hr. bus ride to BKK, there's also a train connection but this is being upgraded to a high-speed train in the foreseable future which, supposedly, will cut travel time between BKK and Korat to 1.5 hours. The amenities here are very limited, but it has a BKK Hospital amd a few other decent to good hospitals, a developing city center, a few shopping malls to chose from (if hanging around the mall all day rocks your boat). It's a far cry from London, Berlin, Paris, New Youk, etc. but it's safe, people generally leave you alone, there's a huge damn outside the city (BKK bound) and a relatively nice park in the city. 

 

It's not everybody's cup of tea, but it's home to me. 

 

Just my 2 cents worth ?

 

Good luck. 

 

Currently, there is another thread here which is very similar to yours. You might want to read through it. Food for thought. 

 

Thanks a lot Mate, I thought myself about Korat after studying and thinking what other guys said, I read about this UK guy, his situation a bit different  from mine, I  am much older and spent 8 years in Thailand living in major cities except Isaan. Are you still in Korat?

8 minutes ago, oxymoron said:

This subject has been done to death in a thread Aussie OAP started in around 2007 and having comment from past and existing Centrelink people.

Do a search.

I read it for interest as I will never get anything from the Australian Gov. and personally think all welfare is BS.

But one common theme seems to be "International pensions" are handled by one central Centrelink Office and that is/was based in Hobart Tasmania. These people are the only ones that have been able to provide other forum guys with real and sensible personal case study information.

The detail including phone numbers of this International office are in the thread I mentioned earlier.

Oh well if you mentioned this thread started 10 years ago so govrnmets changing and laws changing every second month they not sure themselfs, i am here and every time they sing different songs.

16 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

So what about those people that actually get their pension sent to a Thai account ?

& if I was to have no fixed address (reside with a family member ), As I'm always back & forth

So I guess C/L would not be able to track your Passport Info (especially if it has a marriage visa in it ), 

I tell Auss nothing about my family as that's the way I like it, but have taken wife & son to Auss a few times

I just mention this as we all know that the Auss government has every department linked with computers & microscopes

Good point BEVUP, i also new a couple of guys they used to receive money direct to thai account, would be interesting to know from them

1 hour ago, Aussieroaming said:

I'm younger than some but I've made the assumption that I will never be entitled to an Australian pension. I paid tax in Australia until i was 47 (54 now) and a lot of it at a high rate due to overseas work. My understanding is that i would have to return to Aust for 2 years to re-qualify for a residency and hence a pension once i hit the great pension age, so i decided to forego the experience.

Thanks Mate, well as i mentioned earlier I spend 8 years in Thailand and returned home a few months ago to see what will happen.

They didn't mention anything about I didn't live in Australia for that period, they just said I can lodge application 3 months before

I'm 65.5. I think even a few hundred buks won't bother us living there to have a nice dinner with family once or twice a month.

Worth trying if we gonna live another 50 years hahaha...

Anyway, I will lodge application mid  December, if you interested you can  PM me so I'll let you know if its worth trying.

If they reject I will shake your hand somewhere in Isaan early next year. Cheers Mate.

8 hours ago, plachon said:

If you are satisfied with hills, not mountains, then Phu Phan hills bordering Sakon Nakhon and Kalasin are green and pleasant with some scattered reservoirs, and you can be in either city in 30 mins to an hour, depending on location. The roads are good for bike riding, though the hairpin bends on the main road over the hill range can be a bit hairy, especially if you meet a ten wheeler truck or bus coming in the other direction on your side of the road as they overtake a slower vehicle, which used to be a regular occurrence. It all adds to the thrill of the ride or drive though, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred you make it down unscathed. 

 

Reasonable food markets & restaurants, but not much nightlife in either city to speak of, compared to Udon, Khon Kaen or Ubon. Udon is drivable in about 2 hours from Phu Phan area.

8 hours ago, plachon said:

If you are satisfied with hills, not mountains, then Phu Phan hills bordering Sakon Nakhon and Kalasin are green and pleasant with some scattered reservoirs, and you can be in either city in 30 mins to an hour, depending on location. The roads are good for bike riding, though the hairpin bends on the main road over the hill range can be a bit hairy, especially if you meet a ten wheeler truck or bus coming in the other direction on your side of the road as they overtake a slower vehicle, which used to be a regular occurrence. It all adds to the thrill of the ride or drive though, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred you make it down unscathed. 

 

Reasonable food markets & restaurants, but not much nightlife in either city to speak of, compared to Udon, Khon Kaen or Ubon. Udon is drivable in about 2 hours from Phu Phan area.

Thanks a lot guys, every opinion counts, always food for thoughts..

Hello guys living in Isaan,

I'll be moving to Isaan, looking for a nice place with mountains and lake/water views, reasonable roads for riding, good excess to other cities, bigger

shopping centres and supermarkets Lotus, Makro, Big C, Homepro  etc. A few bigger hotels and education centres with Universities and collegies.

Some night life and good food markets, some eating places would be nice, not very dirty . 

I had a few in mind like Sakon Nakhon  ? Kalasin?  Nakhon Rakhasima? Any suggestions guys?

I appresiate any advice and suggestions

Many thanks in advance

2 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

The worst thing you can do is declare to centerlink/ATO etc that you live or intend to live in Thailand, that you own a house in Thailand, have a Thai partner etc etc.

If any Gov dept asks, You live in Australia, Home is Australia, you intend to return to Australia etc. 

There is a big difference between an Australian who lives in Australia (resident for taxation purposes) and spends large amounts of time overseas, "AND" an Australian who declares that they no longer live in Australia, are not returning etc.

 

Thanks again Peterw42, yeah i tried talk to them a few times but their answers are very fishy and confusing, laws are changing every second month. I lived in Hua Hin for 8 years but return home to lodge application for aged pension but by new laws must wait another 6 months to start receiving pension. The info you provided worth gold.

Thank you so much Peterw42, very useful info

All the best

Hello guys, i was wandering if any Aussies are on this forum who are receiving age pension when living in Thailand.

I was told by centrelink that if I move to live in Thailand permanently my age pension will be cut completely. 

Any thoughts and experiences about this?

Any info will be highly appretiated

Regards to all

Hello guys, any ideas where i can find not expencive mechanic and fix my Izusu pick up truck around Hua hin area, also looking for a second hand parts and good paint shop.

Thanks

Hello, we can rent a byke for you , all bykes a new and well serviced, i am in soi 112, if you rent a byke for longer term the price is 100 bht/day.

where to look for rental accomodation on the day of arrival? thanks

Thanks a lot guys, any idea where is the best pla

Thanks, what about places and provinces best to live, what about Buriram?

Thanks guys,

I am planing to move to Isaan and would need an advice from guys living there about what is the good secure place to settle down, maybe around Buriram area , not sure, not far from shoppings and social life. I am on low budget, any advice if 5000 bht/month would be enough to rent a small dwelling with kitchen?

And how about dengue feever at the moment?

I appreciate any advice, thanks.

Stan

I am planing to move to Isaan and would need an advice from guys living there about what is the good secure place to settle down, maybe around Buriram area , not sure, not far from shoppings and social life. I am on low budget, any advice if 5000 bht/month would be enough to rent a small dwelling with kitchen?

And how about dengue feever at the moment?

I appreciate any advice, thanks.

Stan

Thanks guys, i really appreciate your replyes

My Thai girlfriend and i decided to move to Phuket and open some food or clothes business, she is in her 40"s and me in late 50"s.

we just started warried a lot when we read about problems with immigrations office farangs have if they own business, some say officials from office call them every 2-3 months asking to pay under the table, also tax office visits them every month and asks to pay huge amounts .

Can anyone sugest what is the best way to do the business, how to avoid immigration and tax offices extortion and how much work permits would cost to run business by thai law in Phulet? Aso can somebody suggest me what is the best and cheapest way to get multiply entry visa class O in Phuket because we used to get it in Hua Hin before.

Every reply would be kindly appreciated, thanks

Well i have the same problem starting new topic , i tryed to use " Thaivisa clessifieds" and tryed different sections but couldn't find " forum" section, does anyone can give me advice?

thanks