4MyEgo

Aged pension is a right, I am going back for it, I worked and saved all of my working life, that said, I was smart enough to distribute my money out so that I do qualify under the assets tests, albeit there will be some deeming applied, when I apply. The deeming will reduce it by probably $100 a week, that said, by the time I get it and get portability on it, I figure I will still get about 50,000 baht a month here in Thailand, vs me forking a little more than that a month here, so why not take it and run, after you don't have to of worked to receive it, but most of us did, so yes we are entitled to it vs those who didn't as far as I am concerned, we all paid our taxes vs those who didn't. Everybody has a right to the pension, providing they meet the assets criteria and of course the income test, and of course there is a cut off point, e.g. too much in assets = $0 in pension being paid, too much income, $0 in pension. The 2 year jail term is a bummer for anyone wanting it, i.e. 2 years before they depart, or 2 years after they returned as a foreign resident, that said, if one did it right, they could probably re-coupe the 2 years worth of outlay, i.e. what it would cost them to get it, back in 1 -1.5 years at the most, but would have to be frugal during that jail term, so it's still worth it in the long run. You sound like you have a chip on your shoulder living in that self contained garage in Melbourne, the one at the back of your late mum and dad's house, collecting rent from it, of course ?

Pull the other one will you. Politicians only seek to get into their positions to strengthen their wealth or create more of it for themselves, hmmm that makes me think, where is the USA ranked as the Biden's come to mind.

@georgegeorgia In all fairness, he didn't suggest I was writing BS, he was stating that the system was BS. Should read more carefully as opposed to assuming, let's keep it civil gents. @Will27 Unfortunately the court would not be able to uphold the Legislation because that is what makes it Law. Again, incorrect, I believe an apology would be gentleman like, acknowledging ones mistakes makes that person grow, are you prepared to grow ? Would love a copy of the link for my own personal perusal. At the end of the day, if the guy from the Philippines was working in the Philippines, and was paying his taxes in Australia as a resident, he may have been able to get around it, however from what I read in the legislation is that no one can override the 2 year rule, that's my take on it. There is no discretionary power to allow portability of Age or DSP during the 2-year period (note, some exceptions to the 2-year rule apply The above said, it refers to short breaks.

Correction, the legislation goes on to say otherwise. Oooops it's a 2 year jail term as I originally thought. Note the highlighted (bold) sentences. Since 20 September 2000, a former resident who returns to Australia and is granted Age or DSP, or who transfers to Age under SS(Admin)Act section 12, cannot take that pension outside Australia if they leave within 2 years of having resumed residence in Australia. The purpose of this legislation is to discourage people from travelling to Australia just to get an Australian pension to take back overseas. The 2-year period includes, as separate full days, the day on which the recipient returns to Australia to resume Australian residence and the day on which they leave again. There is no discretionary power to allow portability of Age or DSP during the 2-year period (note, some exceptions to the 2-year rule apply - see below). Payment may be suspended for short overseas absences during the 2-year period and does not have to be reclaimed on return to Australia. A short absence from Australia (as long as the person is still classed as an Australian resident) will not impact on the end date of the 2-year period (i.e. the absence still counts towards the person's 2-year period).

You might be onto something. When I read the legislation, it doesn't say anything different, e.g. it would up to the interviewing officer to provide evidence that you don't intend on staying, suffice to say, they can't assume you will go back to Thailand after you receive the pension. The above said, I think if one returned a year earlier, they should be in the clear, i.e. portability after it's approved, if not, there is the appeals avenue. A person must satisfy the SSAct definition of Australian resident in order to lodge a proper claim for a pension. Generally, this means they must be residing in Australia when they lodge their claim. A claim for pension can be lodged by a former resident who has resumed residence in Australia only if, on the evidence available, there is a clear intention to remain permanently in Australia. A person who intends to return to Australia for a defined period only (e.g. 2 years) would not be an 'Australian resident' as per SSAct subsection 7(2). Specific portability rules apply when a person who was formerly an Australian resident returns to Australia and becomes an Australian resident again and is successful in claiming Age or DSP.

Yes he was carrying an Australian Passport, however his name is Gerard Wohlmuth, his surname is typically German and he would be as much an Ozzie as my wife would be with her Thai name in her Ozzie Passport. Welcome to multi-culturalism. RIP

No such thing, they are either and all

I did say this in another post, i.e. the deal was already done, but I hinted who it was done with, no names mentioned, but was suspended for two days, no deals done here on Asean now guilty

I don't make it public that I have enough money to last me till I reach 101, suffice to say, why on earth would I want any Thai to know how much wealth I have accumulated over the years, that would be throwing salt into their wound. Every woman wants to marry a rich guy, regardless if ethnicity. Happiness is within, money to me provides me the freedom and comforts that I like, that said, I am usually a happy guy 24/7. Let's put it another way, money doesn't make me unhappy.

What would Sherlock say, hmmmm, perhaps its a disused commercial rangehood tossed into the sea, could be from a ship ?

Already got that one covered.

As soon as I wake up in the morning, my routine starts with reading this forum, i.e. to find out if I have been suspended by the same Moderator again, for breaching ASEAN policy, even without mentioning the name of who I was referring to, you know, yes that guy ???? Once I check if I can still access the forum and put my views forward, ask questions, contribute etc, then I go back to bed feeling safe and secure because without this forum, where would I be, as you can tell life would be very boring without this forum ????.

ABSOLUTELY nothing, never liked woman with balls.

You have to focus on your future plans, like moving to Thailand, if you haven't already. Work depresses everyone, i.e. unless you love your job, I didn't, that's why I bailed 12 years early and have no regrets. Sitting indoors is a mood killer, I like to get out at least twice, if not 3 times a week, have a couple of beers, shoot some stick, mix it up with positive people, and when I land one who is negative about this or that, I just avoid him like the plaque next time I see him, "don't bring me down", ELO. The weather can depress people, missing a flight can depress people, just keep yourself busy and build a network of positive friends, socialise, and like save the frogs said; get some B12 into you, listen to YouTube music video's I love watching the Voice etc, cry a little, it's a good release, don't know why I do at my age but feel a lot better afterwards. Stay away from doctors and pills, i.e. unless your feeling suicidal. Time to play Powerball for Thursday, $40 millions up for grabs, now winning that would depress me ????

Thanks, yes I agree and it's good to get other opinions so as to be on the same page. Deeming as far as I read says that regardless if you make more than the % they charge you on the value of your shares/money in bank, e.g. 0.25% on the 1st $60,400 and then 2.25% thereafter, they won't charge you more, i.e. it's more or less a fixed rate which offsets things. Not sure I understand what you mean about other non financial assets pushing me over the "assets test", I anticipate having less than the assets test threshold for a non home owner on the single pension, i.e. $543,750, e.g. taking into consideration what it is going to cost me to continue living here till I get there and start receiving the single pension in about 4 years.

I have just come across deeming and am a little concerned when it comes to applying for the age pension in the future. I know one can receive the age pension when they reach 67 years of age subject to meeting the criteria, and can apply 13 weeks beforehand, the threshold for a non-home owner is about $543,750 in assets, however what happens to that money that is in the bank or in shares which is part of that threshold ? If I read correctly for the 1st $60,400 of your investment/assets, a deeming rate is applied at 0.25% and over that it's 2.25% which would mean that you would have deemed to have made an income of $11,026 regardless if you made anything on your money invested, for example in the stock market and this amount would reduce the amount of the pension being paid to you ? Can anyone confirm this or have any experience with this, as I thought if you had under $543,750 as a single person, you meet the assets test, but it looks like, you meet the assets test, but they stick it to you via deeming rates on your investment which is within the assets test ? https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/deeming?context=51411#earnmore

https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/7/1/4 If you live in Australia at least 2 years prior to the age pension being granted, it is basically automatically made portable, i.e. you can have it paid every 4 weeks while you are living overseas. If you are living overseas like me, you can return 2 years beforehand and wait the 2 years, but unless your making some money, it's pointless, e.g. cost of living in Australia vs Thailand. I will return when I am 67 and apply then as they will pay me the pension as soon as it's approved and it will be back paid, add to that rental assistance and the supplement and energy payment, that can go towards the rent for the 2 year jail term that I will endure, doing it at 65 means I will have to pay for everything, and if getting the Jobseeker Allowance (dole), it's much lower than the pension payment so best to go back at 67 and do the 2 year wait.

Your spot on with these questions Will27. Services Australia have to establish that anyone applying are going to stay in Oz to get the pension, if they believe you are going to FO back to Thailand after the 2 year period, you will be denied, and that is what I believe has happened here, e.g. wife is in Thailand working, he said they tried to get her to come back to Oz, if she did, he would have had a better chance. Problem here is too many guys think they are entitled to the pension when they are overseas, then get knocked back when they return because they don't know the legislation, i.e. the applicant must meet the criteria, and if Services Australia believe the applicant is not going to stay after the 2 years, then they will deny the application, one can appeal of course, and good luck with that. Best to say I am here to stay, wife didn't want to come back so we separated, proof would be required of course and that wouldn't be to hard to prove. After the 2 years is up, you can do what you want, they can't stop you, but during the two years you must stay put, albeit I believe they allow you short breaks overseas which doesn't affect the 2 years, but am not 100% on that, just third party sayings, they might stop the pension while your away though ? I will be returning in a few years to apply for it, my wife is younger than me, so I will get the married rate, but for one person, which is less than the single rate by about $150 per fortnight, that said, if I told them that we separated, I can get the single rate, I say separated because divorcing is about $1,000 doing it yourself. Also being separated means she can get jobseeker allowance until she finds a job, which is about $700 per fortnight. If we don't separate she can't get Jobseeker allowance because my assets are also her assets according to the way they assess jobseeker allowance, I believe, and if she is assessed as having part of my assets, it's game over. Now we all know rents in Oz are through the roof, so playing the system for two years doing my due diligence doesn't phase me at all, wife is just going to have to lay low, after all we will be separate oi

60 years and up, 3 mil baht as a minimum, up to 10 mil baht as a backup and you should be fine.

Ever heard of oversupply, coupled with high interest rates and the cost of living increasing ?

It just goes to show how much power Thaksin has, e.g. the country cannot govern without his party joining forces, suffice to say, there is his free get out of jail card. What a clever man, he holds all the aces, yet most of you lot can't see in front of your noses, this is politics at it's best, it's all a game and those in it, make a lot of money, at least Thaksin gave to those who voted for him, as for the others, well, straight to their pockets IMO. I welcome the man back and so do many battling Thai's.

If they can pay the cops here to be at school crossings, they can pay cops to be at repo's, money talks.

Democracy, pretty much the same as the Nanny State I came from, so doesn't bother me, I feel free here compared to back home. Freedom of expression, human rights, pretty much the same as anywhere considering, i.e. protest about any government and they will shut you down pretty quick smart. Bureaucracy is everywhere and doesn't affect me here. 90 days is easy online under 2 minutes, if you feel like you are a criminal, get over it, it is what it is. If you don't have healthcare or money, well your in the $hit so to speak, again, not a problem for me, as it beat the cold weather. Weather is hot or wet, I enjoy it, and it does help to have a well insulated house with A/C, including car with A/C. Pollution is a problem everywhere, but if you keep your windows closed when they are burning, as for it killing us, well so will a lot of other things, so problem solved. Can't see alcohol prices rising to the degree that they are back home, still half the price here. Racism is worldwide and I don't have a problem with Thai's compared to most other nationalities back home. As for owning land, no problem, can own other types of property, that said, it's not as if land values here are rising as far as back home. Hotels are cheap when going on holidays. Fuel is cheap. Alcohol is cheap. Cost to build here is cheap. Rent is cheap. Cars and motorbikes are cheap. Drivers and riders licensers are cheap. Insurance is cheap. Labour is cheap. Overall affordability is cheaper than back home. Yes food and women are also cheap. If you have money here, life is good, if your on the pension, well, life can be counting your pennies inn my opinion. I have nothing to complain about here, pointless really, it is what it is, it's worse back home, as I here from my friends all the time, you got out at the right time they keep saying, so my preference is to stay here as I am comfortable.