halloween

12 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I just read in Gregsters post a little ways above #2272 that:

 

You can apply for the Age Pension online (although you must be physically residing in Australia or in a Social Security Agreement country). Just make sure that your MyGov account is linked to Centrelink. You might find it useful to familiarise yourself with the required forms—the questions tell you what Centrelink are interested in. Even if not at pension age yet, these questions might help you to plan ahead.  

I have just been through the process, expecting a decision tomorrow. 4 points:

Don't go to a CL office expecting assistance from an actual person. They will point you to a computer, so you might just as well do it at home.

They will ask for for travel dates going back many years, dates you probably don't have, but they can access through immigration, or that you have previously supplied. Don't sweat it, just put approximations and they will correct.

An off-shore bank a/c is a complication you really don't want. Better to close it before applying, if possible. KISS principle applies.

You will need to present plenty of ID. A current passport is not enough, add driver's licence and credit card.

OAP CPI increase applied as of 20/3/18. Base Pension increased by $12.20/fn to $826.20, Pension supplement increased by $1 - unclear whether that increase was to total supplement or basic supplement.

37 minutes ago, Gregster said:

After six weeks overseas, your Supplement will stop altogether.

Incorrect, it will drop to the Basic Supplement amount, $14.40/fn IIRC though due to change with CPI increase(??)

12 hours ago, ELVIS123456 said:

Agree - and all that does apply IF you are living permanently in Australia (and have for at least 2 years) at the time you qualify and apply for the OAP.

 

Australia first changed the rules some years back, when it become apparent that a lot of people from Greece and Italy (and some in UK), who had previously lived for many years in Australia, had applied for and got the OAP with no intention of ever living in Australia again.  So they changed it so that to get the OAP you had to be a resident of Australia at the time you applied, and many came back to apply for the OAP and once granted they immediately had gone back to their 'old country'.  So they changed it again and made it the current rules: if you are a resident and come back and claim the OAP, you must be a resident with the intention of staying permanently, and you cannot take the OAP overseas until after minimum of 24 months as a permanent resident of Aust. 

 

I agree that people should not be able to get the OAP from anywhere in the world just because they meet the minimum working/living period in Aust (10 years). Perhaps it would be reasonable to introduce some form of concession for those who have met the maximum working/living period (35 years), so that they can apply for the OAP from anywhere in the world - like the citizens of USA and many other countries.  Perhaps it might have more chance of being accepted if for this exemption the minimum period of living in Aust (after age 16) was 44 years - which means that person would be a min of 60 years old before they left for overseas. A lot of people find themselves unable to keep/find a job once they hit 55-60, so allowing them to start a new life in a cheaper country, and still reward them for contributing for so long to Australia by getting the OAP overseas once qualified.  Seems reasonable to me - it wouldnt do it for everyone (me included) but at least those who are in that situation in the future could get treated fairly.

 

Why should somebody who has lived in Oz, or any other country, for the minimum 10 years be denied a part pension? should somebody who has worked in different countries, paying taxes and adding to the economy, be entitled to nothing, or be entitled to part pensions from those countries where he/she qualifies?

Currently waiting result of OAP application with an answer due on 4th April. So far so good, except every 5 days I get an SMS stating "your application has progressed, please view your MYGov a/c" (even on Sundays). MyGov adds nothing extra, so why bother?

With 4 years meeting minimum residence requirement (ie 183+ days) don't expect any problems.

On 3/9/2018 at 9:42 PM, scorecard said:

 

Thanks, in other words any calculation of years in OZ would start from DOB.

 

Thanks again appreciated.

 

 

No, it's working life, which they assume begins at age 16 whether you were working, in education, on the dole, whatever.

While living in LOS, an election was held while I was in Oz. I drove mum to the polling station and asked how I go about voting. Much confusion and butt-scratching all round, with a total lack of answers. First question was, what electorate should I vote in? If you are an overseas resident, how do you claim electorate residence?

Since returning and establishing residence, I have re-enrolled, and this will be part of my claim I am resident even while absent most of the year.

3 hours ago, Bikeman93 said:

So if you are outside the country for more than 183 days you may be a non resident for tax purposes.

 

Read the bit "Foreign resident tax rates 2016–17"

 

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/?page=1#Foreign_residents

 

The OAP is not generally considered taxable income unless it passes the tax free threshold through additional income or lowering the tax free threshold itself.

 

Are you aware that the full OAP is ~$22,000, and the threshold is $18,000? Do you think pensioners get a tax bill of $800 (19c +MCL times $4000)?

The OAP is not taxed. And as a Oz citizen, tax resident previous year travelling abroad while maintaining a residence in Oz, I can still claim to be a tax resident even after 11 months absence.

2 minutes ago, Bikeman93 said:

So if you are outside the country for more than 183 days you may be a non resident for tax purposes.

 

Read the bit "Foreign resident tax rates 2016–17"

 

https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Individual-income-tax-rates/?page=1#Foreign_residents

Before 2/ there was 1/. Which part of it don't you understand?

BTW next financial year I will be outside Oz for 11 months, returning to earn ~$4000. Because I will meet other criteria, I expect to pay zero tax on those earnings.

6 minutes ago, Bikeman93 said:

On top of that they are now removing the tax free threshold ($18,200) and raising the tax rate (32 cents in the dollar) if you spend more than 6 months outside of the country (non resident). Meaning if you do get a pension you may lose 1/3 in tax.

1/ the OAP is not considered taxable income

2/ if you are in Oz less than 183 days per financial year, you MAY be a non-resident for tax purposes. This is far from new, and there are other ways to maintain tax residence.

11 hours ago, Gregster said:

Getting back to the 2 year “home detention” qualifying rule for portability:

 

Would one still qualify for portability having served their 2 years living at a OZ friend’s house and still owning a locked-up Thai condo?....or would CL refuse you portability because they have no belief in your story of staying in Oz “forever more” as you:

 

1/clearly arrived back to Oz from Thailand exactly 2 years prior just to get portability

2/have no OZ property nor OZ assets nor OZ property lease.

3/you only have the Thai condo

 

The only problem I can see is if they ask you to prove you live at that address with a lease, electricity or landline phone bill, or similar.

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

Just simpler. Prefer to avoid the yearly trip to Aussie Embassy in Bkk for the stat dec.

Makes sense. I haven't got that far yet, still waiting pension.

5 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I have a second account to keep the 800,000 baht for retirement extension of stay.

I can maintain the required balance in a single a/c. But why aren't you using your OAP income as a pro rata offset of the B800,000?

Just now, toughlove said:

3 minutes ago, halloween said:

Why? A second account in Oz would have any interest paid reported to ATO and would show up on CL data. As I am not having my OAP paid offshore, what would the benefit be of a second account?
BTW if you sold your condo, your address would change. Do you think there would be no interest in possible rental income, or are you prepared to start a web of deceit for little gain?

Taking about thailand

And I asked, what is the benefit of a second a/c in Thailand? It is in my interest to maintain Oz residence as long as possible, so my pension will be paid to an Oz a/c and transferred as required.

7 minutes ago, toughlove said:

Just open a second account. They will only know about the account your pension goes into.

I have a declared condo here but if I sold it they wouldn't know. If I was married they would know either

Why? A second account in Oz would have any interest paid reported to ATO and would show up on CL data. As I am not having my OAP paid offshore, what would the benefit be of a second account?

BTW if you sold your condo, your address would change. Do you think there would be no interest in possible rental income, or are you prepared to start a web of deceit for little gain?

2 hours ago, keithpa said:

OK then, the question was " Just wondering if anyone knows if Centrelink looks for overseas bank accounts of OAP applicants, ".   "Looks for, not asks". You should read more carefully before you mock. Tell ya what to do, today, go and draw out all your money, close account. Next day, tell Ctrl. the truth, no foreign band accounts. Day after, open bank account, deposit your money. Normally I would charge for my assistance and advice, but, I give this for free.

Even free, your advice is well overpriced. The application process can take months - I have applied the max 13 weeks early to gain approval before the due date. IF they ask to view bank statements of reported accounts and find transfers to an offshore account, they WILL ask about it, and informing them you closed it before applying will only cause suspicion.

CL is not only interested in residence, as the OAP is also asset limited. Any suspicion of asset concealment and false reporting will lead to closer scrutiny and reviews where they will require production of evidence.

7 hours ago, keithpa said:

Rubbish. In 15 years, I have never been asked. Not saying they never will but "They will certainly ask" is rubbish.

I am currently applying for OAP. The application form asks for ALL your bank a/c details. Is that not "asking"?

On 1/22/2018 at 5:10 PM, Gregster said:

Just wondering if anyone knows if Centrelink looks for overseas bank accounts of OAP applicants, especially if an applicant has had many recent, lengthy “holidays” in a particular country?

They will certainly ask, and if the find you have given an inaccurate response there will be consequences. They do look at your reported accounts, so if you have made transfers, the o/s account will be discoverable.

Under the KISS principle, I have so far avoided o/s accounts, but looking into Currencies Direct and other tx companies. This gives you a 3rd party in middle of transfer that would prevent (???) tracing, and the rates per transfer are better. I have also transferred into a trusted 3rd party account (step daughter), which also gives me a valid reason, if asked, for transfer.

9 News reports that unpopular govt suggesting OA pension increases and increase of income limit to $400/fn ($10,000pa)

On 12/16/2017 at 9:11 PM, sceadugenga said:

Residency for tax purposes is not necessarily the same as residency for Centrelink purposes.

Different government departments do it differently.

 

https://www.elodge.com.au/etax-au/am-i-an-australian-resident-for-tax-purposes/#.WjTxEHkxX3g

Its about time somebody challenged this. How do different government depts get to decide, to their own benefit, who is a resident and who is not to the extent that we lose out under conflicting rulings.

AFAIK under common law you only get one bite of the cherry.

17 hours ago, sceadugenga said:

I think they called it giving notice of intent to apply or something when I did it in 2013, and yes, it was 13 weeks. 

The application can be made in advance so that complicated cases can be processed and the payment made on the first due date. I have a lot of overseas travel and a long period of o/s residence, all of which will need to be dated. The last 4 years, I have spent just over 183 days in Oz each year, so I am claiming both residence and that I have 2 years in-country after holidays deducted.

7 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Are you saying that you can apply for the OAP 13 weeks before the due birthday, i.e. if you are entitled to the OAP at 67, you can apply when your 66 and 39 weeks ?

Yep. AFAIK it was 6 months in advance, but now 13 weeks to allow for processing, and hopefully, approval.